Rossel Island facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Rossel Island

Native name: Yela Island
Rossel as seen from space.
Rossel Island Location in Papua New Guinea
Geography
Location	Oceania
Coordinates	11°21′S 154°09′E / 11.350°S 154.150°E / -11.350; 154.150
Archipelago	Louisiade Archipelago
Adjacent bodies of water	Solomon Sea
Total islands	1
Major islands	Rossel
Area	292.5 km2 (112.9 sq mi)
Length	34 km (21.1 mi)
Width	11 km (6.8 mi)
Highest elevation	838 m (2,749 ft)
Highest point	Mount Rossel
Administration
Papua New Guinea
Province	Milne Bay
District	Samarai-Murua District
LLG	Yaleyamba Rural Local Level Government Area
Island Group	Rossell Islands
Largest settlement	Jinjo (pop. ~900)
Demographics
Population	5553 (2014)
Pop. density	19 /km2 (49 /sq mi)
Ethnic groups	Papauans, Austronesians, Melanesians.
Additional information
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10)
ISO code	PG-MBA

Rossel Island, also known as Yela, is the easternmost island in the Louisiade Archipelago. It is part of the Milne Bay Province in Papua New Guinea. The island was named after de Rossel, an officer on a French expedition in the late 1700s. Nearby islands include Tree Islet to the northwest and Wule Island to the west.

Island Geography and Features

Rossel Island is a mountainous place. It stretches about 34 kilometers (21 miles) from east to west and is up to 11 kilometers (7 miles) wide. With an area of 292.5 square kilometers (113 square miles), it is the second-largest island in its archipelago, after Vanatinai.

During the southeast monsoon season, the higher parts of the island are often covered in clouds. The mountains have short, narrow ridges with occasional peaks. These ridges are smooth and covered in green plants.

Most of the coastline has mangrove trees or thick jungle. Some sandy beaches can be found too. On the north side, very steep hills go down to the shore. The south side of the island has many points and bays, with steep hills leading down to the sea.

Mount Rossel: The Highest Point

The highest point on the island is Mount Rossel. It is located near the eastern end and rises 838 meters (2,749 feet) high. This peak has steep ridges reaching north and west. However, it slopes more gently to the southeast, towards Cape Deliverance.

The southwest ridge has two noticeable peaks, each 549 meters (1,801 feet) high. The eastern peak, Mount Mo, has a flat top. The western peak is shaped like a cone. At the western end of the island, there is another cone-shaped peak that is 347 meters (1,138 feet) high.

Rossel Reef and Lagoon

A coral reef surrounds Rossel Island. This reef creates two large water areas called lagoons. The bigger one, Rossel Lagoon, is in the west. It stretches almost 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the island's northwest point.

The reef around this lagoon is narrow and has four openings on the west side of the island. The reef on the south side of the island is continuous. The water in the lagoon is usually 37 to 64 meters (121 to 210 feet) deep. There are many scattered shallow areas, but most of them are just below the surface. Because the water is so clear, these shallow spots can often be seen easily when the light is good.

Island Climate

Yela Island has a tropical rainforest climate. This means it gets a lot of rain all year round. The main village, Jinjo, experiences this climate.

Island History

Europeans first saw and mapped Rossel Island on July 14, 1606. This was done by a Spanish expedition led by Luís Vaz de Torres. They named it Tierra de San Buenaventura.

The island was later named after Elisabeth Paul Eduard de Rossel. He was a French astronomer who was part of an expedition looking for a missing French explorer in the late 1700s.

In 1858, a French ship called Saint Paul was shipwrecked near the island. It was carrying over 300 Chinese workers on their way to Australia. Sadly, many of the people on board did not survive the shipwreck and its aftermath.

Plants and Animals

Rossel Island is covered in thick forests. The entire south coast is a dense jungle. Sometimes, you can find patches of grass.

• One special plant, Guioa plurinervis, grows only on this island.
• Another plant group, Rosselia, was named after the island. These plants are found in New Guinea.

Island Population

In 2014, about 5,553 people lived on Rossel Island. They were spread across 31 villages. The largest village is Jinjo, located on the east coast. The local people speak a unique language called Yélî Dnye language. Experts are still trying to understand how this language is related to others.

See also

In Spanish: Isla Rossel para niños