Admiralty Islands

• This article is about the Admiralty Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. If you looking for the article about the island in Alaska, see Admiralty Island.
• manus is the med./lat. name for hand

The Admiralty Islands are a group of 18 islands in the Bismarck Archipelago. These are also called the Manus Islands, named after the largest island. The islands form Manus Province of Papua New Guinea. The total area is 2100 km², with a population of 32,713. The capital of the province is Lorengau .

Many of the islands are atolls and uninhabited.

Economy

The primary industries are coconut cultivation and pearl fishing. Among scuba divers, the Admiralty Islands have a reputation as a good diving destination with colorful marine life, coral reefs, shipwrecks, and clear water.

History

The islands became a German protectorate in 1880 and an Australian mandate in 1920.

During World War II the islands were first occupied by the Japanese who established a small base in April 1942 near the village of Rossum on Manus Island.

On February 29, 1944 during World War II, the Admiralty Islands were invaded in Operation Brewer led by American General Douglas MacArthur. The Americans quickly built a big base at Seeadler Harbor, including harbour, wharfes and an airbase, which became an important base for the further war operations in New Guinea as well as on the Philippines. Long abandoned, these bases are in a state of rusted decay.

External links

• Admiralty Islands lowland rain forests (World Wildlife Fund)
• Manus Island