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Archipelago

    Pacific OceanPapua New Guinea

    3°28′S 153°13′E

    Tanga Islands

    Part of Papua New Guinea

    The Tanga Islands are an island group in Papua New Guinea, located north-east of New Ireland and part of the Bismarck Archipelago. Tanga is made up of four main islands — Boang, Malendok, Lif and Tefa — and a number of smaller, uninhabited islands. Boang (ca.

    Aerial view of Tanga City in Tanzania. Toten Island can be seen within the Tanga Bay
    Aerial view of Tanga City in Tanzania. Toten Island can be seen within the Tanga Bay

    Ali A. Fazal / CC BY-SA 3.0

    Chart

    11 landforms

    Overview

    The Tanga Islands are an island group in Papua New Guinea, located north-east of New Ireland and part of the Bismarck Archipelago. Tanga is made up of four main islands — Boang, Malendok, Lif and Tefa — and a number of smaller, uninhabited islands. Boang (ca. 27 km2) consists entirely of a raised, relatively flat-topped plateau of Pleistocene, coralline limestone, which rises up to 170 m above sea level (asl.) and has sheer cliffs around a large part of its perimeter. The islands are the remnants of a stratovolcano which collapsed to form a caldera. Lif (283 m), Tefa (155 m), and Malendok (472 m) islands are on the caldera rim, while Bitlik and Bitbok islands are lava domes constructed near the center of the caldera. They are inhabited by the Tanga people. Former Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Sir Julius Chan and Sumsuma, the leader of the Rabaul Strike of 1929 and Papua New Guinea's First Unionist are from the Tanga Islands. Secret Societies practiced on the Islands are Sokapana, Tubuan and Ingiet. Mask dances include Lor, Tedak and Kipong are performed during cultural occasions.

    From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Census, cataloged

    • Major islands4
    • Minor islands2
    • Islets5
    • Rocks & skerries0

    Major islands

    4
    • Malendok Island

      Area
      33.2 km²
      High point
      469 m

      Malendok Island is an island of the Tanga Islands of Papua New Guinea, located to the east of New Ireland. It is located to the south-west of Boang Island and north-east of Lif Island and Tefa Island. 5 sq mi). Most inhabitants live in small hamlets on the coast. On the south-western side is a coconut plantation.

    • Boang Island

      Area
      28.2 km²
      High point
      164 m

      Boang Island is an island of the Tanga Islands of Papua New Guinea, located to the east of New Ireland. It is located to the north-east of Malendok Island, and although smaller it is more populous and considered the socio-economic hub of the islands.

    • Tefa Island

      Area
      1.8 km²
      High point
      144 m

      Tefa Island is a small island of the Tanga Islands of Papua New Guinea, located to the east of New Ireland. It is located to the south of Malendok Island and south of Lif Island. The main settlement is Tefa.

    • Lif Island

      Area
      1.8 km²
      High point
      269 m

      Lif Island is a small island of the Tanga Islands of Papua New Guinea, located to the east of New Ireland. It is located to the south-west of Malendok Island and north of Tefa Island. The main settlements are Balamfal and Kitkita.

    Minor islands

    2

    Islets

    5

    Figures

    Comparative heights

    Sea level200 m400 m600 m469 mMalendok269 mLif164 mBoang144 mTefa79 mBitbok30 mBitlik27 mBitkangkunmale18 mNekin15 mBitkesinmer9 mNatlu9 mSummiul
    High points by island, metres above sea level.

    Islands by area

    0.0010.010.1110100Malendok: 33.2 km²MalendokBoang: 28.2 km²BoangTefa: 1.8 km²TefaLif: 1.8 km²LifBitkangkunmale: 0.23 km²BitkangkunmaleBitbok: 0.14 km²BitbokBitkesinmer: 0.03 km²BitkesinmerNekin: 0.03 km²NekinBitlik: 0.02 km²BitlikNatlu: 0.6 haNatluSummiul: 0.5 haSummiul
    km², log scale
    Malendok Island33.2 km²
    Boang Island28.2 km²
    Tefa Island1.8 km²
    Lif Island1.8 km²
    Bitkangkunmale Island0.23 km²
    Bitbok Island0.14 km²
    Bitkesinmer Island0.03 km²
    Nekin Island0.03 km²
    Bitlik Island0.02 km²
    Natlu Island0.6 ha
    Summiul Island0.5 ha

    Sources

    Facts

    • Geometry, areas and high points: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Copernicus GLO-30, via Talus.
    • Wikidata
    • Talus
    • Wikipedia

    Photographs