Misool

Misool, formerly spelled Mysol (Dutch: Misoöl) and Misol[1], is one of the four major islands in the Raja Ampat Islands in West Papua (formerly Irian Jaya), Indonesia. Its area is 2,034 km². The highest point is 561 m[2] and the main towns are Waigama, located on the island's northern coast, and Lilinta.

Misool
Misool
Geography
LocationOceania
Coordinates1°53′41″S 130°5′1″E
ArchipelagoRaja Ampat Islands
Area2,034 km2 (785 sq mi)
Area rank205
Highest elevation561 m (1,841 ft)
Administration
Province West Papua
Location of Misool

The inhabitants speak the Biga language and the Matbat language, as well as Indonesian.[3][4]

Other main islands of this group off the western end of West Papua are Salawati, Batanta and Waigeo, and there are numerous smaller islands such as Kofiau.[5]

Fauna

  • Echymipera kalubu, Common Spiny Bandicoot
  • Echymipera rufescens
  • Dorcopsis muelleri
  • Phalanger orientalis
  • Spilocuscus maculatus
  • Petaurus breviceps
  • Macroglossus minimus
  • Melanotaenia flavipinnis and Melanotaenia misoolensis, Misool rainbowfish[6][7]
  • Nyctimene aello
  • Pteropus conspicillatus
  • Aselliscus tricuspidatus
  • Pipistrellus papuanus
  • Paradisasea minor, Lesser Bird-of-Paradise

History

Part of the Dutch colonial empire, the Netherlands East Indies.

Occupied on 1942 by the Japanese. Imperial Japanese Navy base until 1945.[8]

References

  1. Google Books search for Misol Indonesia
  2. ISLAND DIRECTORY. UN SYSTEM-WIDE EARTHWATCH Web Site.
  3. Ethnologue - Biga
  4. Ethnologue - Matbat
  5. "Traditional kingdoms of Maluku, early 15th century, and the spheres of influence of Ternate and Tidore, early 16th century". Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2011-02-10.
  6. Allen, G.R., Hadiaty, R.K. & Unmack, P.J. (2014): Melanotaenia flavipinnis, a new species of Rainbowfish (Melanotaeniidae) from Misool Island, West Papua Province, Indonesia, aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology, 20 (1): 35-52.
  7. Allen, G. 1996. Melanotaenia misoolensis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 4 August 2007.
  8. No. 92 of the Japanese Monographs — "Southwest Area Naval Operations, Apr. 1942 – Apr. 1944", 10 September 1947.


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