Nissan Island (alsoGreen Island[1] orSir Charles Hardy Island[2]) is the largest of theGreen Islands ofPapua New Guinea. It is located at4°30′S154°13′E / 4.500°S 154.217°E /-4.500; 154.217, about 200 km east ofRabaul onNew Britain and about 200 km north-west ofBougainville.[3] The island is administered underNissan Rural LLG in theAutonomous Region of Bougainville.[4] Nissan island, along with other nearby islands, has been described as a "stepping stone island" and it is believed that this island plays an important role in helping various plant and animal species spread throughout the region.[3]
Based upon pottery fragments discovered in archeological excavations researchers have determined that the inhabitants of this island commonly engaged in trade with the inhabitants ofBuka Island.[3] Commonly traded items would have included pigs, pottery, andshell money.[3]
British and Americanwhaling vessels visited the island in the nineteenth century for food, water and wood. The first on record was theAddison in 1837, and the last wasPalmetto in 1881.[5]
DuringWorld War II, in theBattle of the Green Islands, US and New Zealand troops recaptured several islands from heavily outnumbered Imperial Japanese forces. The New Zealand3rd Divisionlanded on Nissan Island on 15 February 1944[6] as part of theSolomon Islands campaign to isolate the Japanese stronghold atRabaul. Shortly after the landingstwo airfields were constructed on the island.[7]Richard Nixon was a supply officer on the base, and is remembered as being popular with the indigenous inhabitants. There was also aPT boat base on another island nearby. There were approximately 17,000allied troops on the island at that time. Much of the indigenous population was removed toGuadalcanal for about seven to nine months. After that time the front line had moved closer toJapan and the island was no longer needed in the war effort.[citation needed]
Islands ofPapua New Guinea | |
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| Bismarck Archipelago | |
| Louisiade Archipelago | |
| North Solomon Islands | |
Authority control databases: National |
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