Native name: Mahaga | |
|---|---|
 Map of Santa Isabel, neighbouring islands, and towns and villages | |
 | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Archipelago | Solomon Islands archipelago |
| Area | 2,999 km2 (1,158 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 1,120 m (3670 ft) [1] |
| Highest point | Mount Sasari |
| Administration | |
| Province | Isabel Province |
| Largest settlement | Buala |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 35,257 (2020) |
| Pop. density | 11.76/km2 (30.46/sq mi) |
Santa Isabel (also known asIsabel,Ysabel andMahaga) is the largestisland inIsabel Province,Solomon Islands. It is also the longest island, with the third largest surface area, in the country.
Choiseul lies to the north-west,Malaita to the south-east. ThePacific Ocean lies to the north, andGuadalcanal (Isatabu) to the south.
The highest point in Santa Isabel is Mount Sasari, 1,220 metres (4,000 ft). The Marutho river runs down Mount Sasari to the ocean at Hofi. Almost all the rivers or streams run from that centre point except for those at the other tip of the island on the Katova side.
The administrative centre isBuala. The nearest airport isFera Airport on neighbouringFera Island.
The first European landing in the Solomon Islands archipelago was made at Santa Isabel Island, by theSpanish explorerÁlvaro de Mendaña on 7 February 1568. It was charted asSanta Isabel de la Estrella (Spanish for "St. Elizabeth of the Star"). A settlement was established by the Spaniards, and a small boat (known in the accounts as "thebrigantine") was built to survey and chart the surrounding sea and islands. These local explorations led bymaestre de campoPedro Ortega Valencia andAlférezHernando Enríquez resulted in the "discoveries" of the islands ofMalaita,Guadalcanal,Savo,Vangunu,Choiseul,Makira,Ulawa,Malaupaina,Malaulalo,Ali'ite, andUgi Island.[2][3] The Spanish immediately came into contact with Solomon Islanders and at first the relationship was cordial. However, the Spanish expedition's need for fresh food and water quickly led to tension and conflict, the Solomon Islanders' subsistence economy being unable to provide continuous supplies to the Spanish.[4]
Having found nogold and little food, and beset by attacks and sickness, the Spanish colonists shifted their colony to the site of today'sHoniara onGuadalcanal, and the settlement on Santa Isabel was abandoned.
Santa Isabel islanders suffered attacks fromblackbirding in the nineteenth century (the often-brutal recruitment or kidnapping of labourers for thesugar plantations inQueensland andFiji).
In April 1885, a German Protectorate was declared over theNorth Solomon Islands, including Santa Isabel Island. In 1900, under the terms ofTreaty of Berlin, signed on 14 November 1899, Germany transferred the North Solomon Islands (except for Bougainville and its surrounding islands) to theBritish Solomon Islands Protectorate in exchange for the British giving up all claims toSamoa. Missionaries settled on Santa Isabel Island under both protectorates, converting most of the population toChristianity. In the early 20th century, several British and Australian firms began large-scalecoconut planting.
DuringWorld War II, theImperial Japanese Navy established a seaplane base atRekata Bay on the northeast coast. The base was bombed by American forces from August 1942 to August 1943. In the following month, the Japanese evacuated the base. Large bomb craters can still be seen near the former Japanese base.
Since the independence of Solomon Islands in July 1978, Santa Isabel Island has been administered as part ofIsabel Province.
On 27 May 2011, seventeen men were arrested for burning down the houses in Ulubea riverside settlement, 33 houses in all, as a result of a property dispute.[5][6] The number was later expanded to 31 men.[7]
The population of Santa Isabel speak as many as eight languages in addition to English andSolomon Islands Pijin.
| Central | |
|---|---|
| Choiseul | |
| Guadalcanal | |
| Isabel | |
| Makira-Ulawa | |
| Malaita | |
| Rennell and Bellona | |
| Temotu | |
| Western | |
8°01′50″S159°10′34″E / 8.03056°S 159.17611°E /-8.03056; 159.17611
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
