- Reef Islands
The Reef Islands are a loose collection of islands in the northwestern part of the
Solomon Islands province ofTemotu . These islands have historically also been known by the names of Swallow Islands and Matema Islands.The islands lie about 80 km (50 mi.) north of
Nendo , the most important of theSanta Cruz Islands . The center of the group is at approximately 10°12'36" S lat., 166°10'12" E. long.The islands or
atoll s of the group are:
*Nifiloli
*Fenualoa
*Ngalo
*Ngawa
*Ngandeli
*Grimbanga Temoa
*Grimbanga Nende
*Matema (island)
*Ngatendo
*Pigeon Island"Numa Miombilou" or "Great Reef" is one continuous shoal, extending about 25 km (15 mi.) west of Nifiloli. About 10 km (6 mi.) to the south of this shoal are 4 small
coral reef s:
*Malani
*Malim
*Manuwa
*MatumbiSeparated from these groups are what are called the "outer islands":
*Nalongo and Nupani at 10°6'36" S. lat., 165°19'12" E. long., located at about 75 km (45 mi.) northwest of the main group
*Nukapu located about 35 km (21 mi.) to the northwest of the main group
*Makalom about 17 km (10 mi.) to the northwest of the main group
*Pileni about 9 km (5.5 mi.) to the northwest of the main group
*Patteson Shoal about 100 km (60 mi.) to the of the main groupThe inhabitants of the islands speak either the
Äiwoo language , or Pileni, a Polynesian outlier language.References
* [http://anglicanhistory.org/oceania/oferrall_santacruz1908/ Santa Cruz and the Reef Islands] , 1908 account by W. C. O'Ferrall, Anglican missionary from 1897-1904.
ee also
*
Oceania
*Pacific Islands
*Pacific Ocean
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