Toga (island)
Native name: Toge | |
|---|---|
 Map of Toga island | |
 | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Coordinates | 13°25′S 166°41′E / 13.417°S 166.683°E |
| Archipelago | Vanuatu, Torres Islands |
| Area | 18.8[1] km2 (7.3 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 104 m (341 ft) |
| Highest point | Mt Lemeura |
| Administration | |
| Province | Torba Province |
| Largest settlement | Sola |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 250 (2012) |
Toga is an island in the Torres group, within the Torba Province of Vanuatu.[2][3][4]
Geography[edit]
Toga Island is the most southern of the Torres Islands. The island's size is 6 km by 4.5 km. The estimated terrain elevation above sea level is 104 meters.[5] Toga is surrounded by a narrow fringing reef quickly dropping off into deep water. The summit of the island is Mt Lemeura (locally Lēmere [ˈlemərə]) located on the western side of the island.[6] The climate on Toga is humid tropical. The average annual rainfall is about 4000 mm. The island is subject to frequent cyclones and earthquakes.
Population[edit]
Toga is the most populated island in the Torres Islands, with about 250 people. They speak the Toga dialect of the Lo-Toga language. The population lives in two villages: Liqal [liˈkʷal] and Litew [liˈtəw]. An ancient village, now abandoned, was called Qururetaqō [kʷurʉrətakʷo].
Fauna[edit]
Barn owls are known to live in the area. Many samples of the owl's bones were found in a cave in Toga, which were reviewed by scientists. Their prey were geckos and rats.[7]
Name[edit]
The name Toga [toɣa] comes from the Mota language, which was used as the primary language of the Melanesian Mission. Locally, the island is called Toge [ˈtɔɣə] in Lo-Toga and in Hiw. Both these names come from a Proto-Torres-Banks form *Toɣa.
References[edit]
- ^ "Vanuatu". Haos Blong Volkeno. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
- ^ "Welcome to Torres Islands". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ "Torres". Vanuatu Travel. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ "Torres Islands". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ "Toga Island". Geoview. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ Seech, John. "Toga Island, Vanuatu - John Seach". Vanuatu Travel. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ Ineich, Ivan; Pregill, Gregory; Fontaine, Benoit; Olivier, Gargominy (2012-09-01). "Banded geckos, Gekko vittatus (Reptilia, Gekkonidae), as the main prey of barn owls (Tyto alba) on the Torres Islands (northern Vanuatu)". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 39 (3): 179–185. doi:10.1080/03014223.2011.627565.
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