Ureparapara
Ureparapara, in the Banks Islands
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Archipelago | Vanuatu, Torres Islands |
| Area | 39 km2 (15 sq mi) |
| Highest point | Mt Qusetowqas |
| Administration | |
| Province | Torba Province |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 437 (2009) |
Coordinates: 13°32′S 167°20′E / 13.533°S 167.333°E
Ureparapara (also known as Parapara for short) is the third largest island in the Banks group of northern Vanuatu, after Gaua and Vanua Lava.
The first recorded European who arrived to Ureparapara was the Spanish explorer Pedro Fernández de Quirós on 15 June 1606. He first named the island Pilar de Zaragoza; however, later on, it is charted as Nuestra Señora de Montserrate both by him and his chaplain Fray Martin de Munilla.
Ureparapara island is an old volcanic cone that has been breached by the sea on its east coast, forming Divers Bay. Apart from this indentation, the island is circular in shape, with a diameter of fifteen kilometres (9.3 miles). The land area is 39 square kilometres (15 square miles).
The population was 437 in 2009. There are three villages on the island. The main village is Léar (Leserepla). The others are Lehali (on the west coast) and Leqyangle.
Two languages are traditionally spoken on the island, Löyöp and Lehali.
The name Ureparapara reflects the way the island is named in the language of Mota, which was once chosen by missionaries, at the end of the 19th century, as the reference language for the area.
The island is locally named Noypēypay [nɔjpejˈpaj] in Lehali, and Aö [aˈø] in Löyöp
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Wikipedia