Merig

Merig
Island
Location of Merig in Banks Islands
Merig Location in Vanuatu
Coordinates: 14°19′S 167°48′E / 14.317°S 167.800°E / -14.317; 167.800Coordinates: 14°19′S 167°48′E / 14.317°S 167.800°E / -14.317; 167.800
Country	Vanuatu
Province	Torba Province
Population (2009)
• Total	12
Time zone	VUT (UTC+11)

Merig is a small island located 20 kilometres (12 miles) east of Gaua, in the Banks Islands of northern Vanuatu.

The island is about 800 metres (2,600 feet) wide, and has a circumference of 2.2 kilometres (1 mile).

The first recorded sighting of Merig Island by Europeans was by the Spanish expedition of Pedro Fernández de Quirós on 25 April 1606. It was then named Île Sainte Claire.

Merig is only inhabited by one household, consisting of 12 individuals.

They speak Mwerlap, the language of the neighbouring island Merelava.