Native name: N̄wërlap Nickname: Mwerlap | |
|---|---|
 Location of Merelava in the Banks Islands | |
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| Geography | |
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Coordinates | 14°27′S168°03′E / 14.45°S 168.05°E /-14.45; 168.05 |
| Archipelago | Vanuatu,Banks Islands |
| Area | 18 km2 (6.9 sq mi) |
| Highest point | Mount Teu |
| Administration | |
Vanuatu | |
| Province | Torba Province |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 650 (2009) |
Merelava (orMere Lava) is an island in theBanks Islands of theTorba Province of northernVanuatu.
The inhabitants of Merelava call their own islandMwerlap, more accuratelyN̄wërlap[ŋʷɞrˈlap].
The nameMerelava orM̄ere Lava reflects the way it is called in the neighboringMota language ‒ phonetically[ŋ͡mʷerelaβa]. According toCodrington,[1] the etymology of this name (inProto-Torres-Banks) is likely to be *mʷera-i laβa >*mʷerelaβa, literally “the big boy”; it contrasts withthe neighboring island M̄erig[ŋ͡mʷeriɣ], from *mʷera riɣi “the small boy”. These words refer metaphorically to the islands themselves.
Cognates in other Torres-Banks languages includeMwotlapM̄eylap[ŋ͡mʷɛjˈlap].
Merelava is situated in the southeastern part of the archipelago nearMota andMerig. Merelava has also been known asStar Island. It is located about 50 kilometres (31 miles) east ofGaua.
Merelava is a nearly round volcanic island with a diameter of almost 4.5 km and an area of 18 km2. It is formed by a basaltic stratovolcano, which reaches in Mount Teu, also called Star Peak, a height of 883 m above the sea level.
The main village isTesmet on the west coast of the island. Other villages, starting clockwise at Tesmet, are Levetmise (northwest), Lekweal (north), Lewetneak (northeast), and Aot (southeast, second largest).
Merelava was first sighted by Europeans during the Spanish expedition ofPedro Fernández de Quirós, from 25 to 29 April 1606. The island's name was then charted asSan Marcos.[2]
Merelava was reportedly seen smoking when it was first encountered by Quirós.[3]
The island has about 650 inhabitants.[4] They all speak anOceanic language known asMwerlap.[5]
{{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal= (help)| International | |
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