Bismarck Archipelago facts for kids

The Bismarck Archipelago is a group of islands in the western Pacific Ocean. They are located off the northeast coast of New Guinea and are part of Papua New Guinea.

History of the Bismarck Archipelago

People first came to these islands about 33,000 years ago. They sailed there from the land we now call Papua New Guinea. Later, another group of people called the Lapita also arrived.

The first European to visit the islands was Willem Schouten. He was a Dutch explorer and came in 1616.

The islands were not settled by Europeans for a long time. In 1884, they became part of a German protectorate. A protectorate is a country or area that is controlled and protected by a stronger country. This area was called German New Guinea. The islands were named after Otto von Bismarck, who was the main leader, or chancellor, of Germany at that time.

On 13 March 1888, a volcano erupted on Ritter Island. This caused a huge tsunami, sometimes called a megatsunami. Almost all of the volcano fell into the ocean, leaving only a small lake in its volcanic crater.

When World War I began in 1914, soldiers from Australia took control of the islands. After the war, the League of Nations gave Australia a mandate to govern the islands. A mandate meant Australia was given the power to rule the islands. They stayed under Australian control, except when Japan took them during World War II. The islands became part of independent Papua New Guinea in 1975.

Images for kids

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  The first wave of US troops lands on Los Negros, Admiralty Islands, 29 February 1944.

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  Provinces of Papua New Guinea

See also

In Spanish: Archipiélago Bismarck para niños