Native name: Niu Ailan | |
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![]() New Ireland's main towns and nearby islands | |
Geography | |
Coordinates | 3°20′S 152°00′E / 3.33°S 152°E |
Archipelago | Bismarck Archipelago |
Area | 7,404 km2 (2,859 sq mi) |
Length | 360 km (224 mi) |
Width | 10 km (6 mi) - 40 km (25 mi) |
Highest elevation | 2,340 m (7680 ft) |
Highest point | Mount Taron |
Administration | |
Papua New Guinea | |
Province | New Ireland Province |
Largest settlement | Kavieng (pop. 10,600) |
Demographics | |
Population | 118,350[1] (2002) |
New Ireland (Tok Pisin: Niu Ailan), or Latangai, is a large island in Papua New Guinea, approximately 7,404 km2 (2,859 sq mi) in area with c. 120,000 people.[2] It is named after the island of Ireland. It is the largest island of New Ireland Province, lying northeast of the island of New Britain. Both islands are part of the Bismarck Archipelago, named after Otto von Bismarck, and they are separated by Saint George's Channel.
The administrative centre of the island and of New Ireland province is the town of Kavieng located at the northern end of the island. While the island was part of German New Guinea, it was named Neumecklenburg ("New Mecklenburg").