Louisiade
Louisiade
an archipelago in the Coral Sea, southeast of New Guinea (Melanesia); part of Papua New Guinea. The archipelago consists of ten small volcanic islands and numerous small coral reefs. Total area, approximately 2,200 sq km. Population, about 3,000 (Papuans). The main islands, including Tagula, Rossel, and Misima, are mountainous (elevations to 806 m) and covered with evergreen forests. The islands have small deposits of gold. Coconut palms are grown, and there is fishing. The Louisiade Archipelago was discovered in 1606 by the Spanish seafarer L. Torres.