New Hanover Geography

ALLIED GEOGRAPHICAL SECTION SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA TERRAIN STUDY No. 62
AREA STUDY OF NEW HANOVER AND ISLANDS NORTH AND EAST OF NEW IRELAND

18th August, 1943

(2° 30′ S., 150° 20′ E.)

General Description: (Map No. 4)

(a) Shape:

The German name of the island has been supplanted in New Guinea by the native name Lavongai. It lies east and west, with a length of 32 miles and breadth of 20 miles. The south and S W sides are exposed, but from the western extremity north about to the SE corner a chain of islands and reefs girdle the coast to finish at Byron Strait separating New Hanover from New Ireland. The waters between these islands and the mainland are navigable many large vessels.

 (b) Mountains:

New Hanover is mainly mountainous and volcanic. It is traversed by the Tirpitz Range throughout its length at heights of 2000-2800 feet, divided by a narrow valley about 650 feet above sea level. There are few conspicuous peaks, the highest of which is 2870 feet. The range is broken by many deep and winding valleys. On its south side it descends to near the coast in separate ridges and groups of steep hills, but on the northern side it slopes more gradually to alluvial plains, finishing in a coastal belt of low coral land about 3 miles deep. The peninsula to the west of the range is a low, swampy, limestone plateau. The greater part of the mountains a low, swampy, limestone plateau. The greater part of the mountains is composed

(c) Rivers:

The Tirpitz Range drains on the southern side by many swift but small rivers or streams. On the northern side there are fewer rivers, but, owing to the more gradual descent, they are wider and longer, and wind considerably through the alluvial plains. The four larger—Naisong (Kulimeua), Matanalaua, Min and Mosse—are about 12 miles long. They have a sand bar across their mouth, but the Mosse and Naisong are navigable by launches drawing 3-5 feet for 3 miles at high water, and the other rivers are used by canoes for several miles.

(d) Vegetation:

The raised part of the island is covered in thick tropical rain forest. The coastline is fringed with mangrove throughout. In the southern sector, the mangrove fringe is narrow and there are sago swamps between the spurs inland for about a mile. In the north-western sector, the mangrove belt is deep, and sago swamps are encountered up to 6 miles from the coast. The northern side has a low belt of land, lightly fringed with mangrove, backed by low ground for 2-3 miles inland on which are many patches of sago-covered country. On the east coast, the mangrove forms a thick belt in the much-indented coast. Patches of grassland are found here and along the south coast as far as Meteinge Bay. Coconuts are scattered along the coast in plantations and near villages. The barrier islands are wooded, with, in some cases, a mangrove fringe. Some are extensively planted with coconuts.

(e) Development:

Apart from a few coconut plantations, there has been no attempt at development. There are three plantations on the south coast, and three on the S W coast. On the north coast, there are only two plantations. The large islands off the N E coast have three plantations. The natives have planted small coconut groves around their villages and on the islands.

TEST 2