Map of the Santa Cruz Islands

  NASA picture of Nendo, the largest of the Santa Cruz Islands

The Santa Cruz Islands are a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, part of Temotu Province of the Solomon Islands. They lie approximately 250 miles (400 km) to the southeast of the Solomon Islands Chain. The Santa Cruz Islands lie just north of the archipelago of Vanuatu, and are considered part of the Vanuatu rain forests ecoregion.

The largest island is Nendo, which is also known as Santa Cruz Island proper (505.5 km², highest point 549 m (1,801 ft), population over 5000). Lata, located on Nendo, is the largest town, and the capital of Temotu province.

Other islands belonging to the Santa Cruz group^[1] are Vanikoro (173.2 km², population 800, which is actually two islands, Banie and its small neighbor Teanu) and Utupua (69.0 km², highest point 380 m (1,247 ft), population 848).

The Santa Cruz Islands are less than five million years old, and were pushed upward by the tectonic subduction of the northward-moving Indo-Australian Plate under the Pacific Plate. The islands are mostly composed of limestone and volcanic ash over limestone. The highest point in the Santa Cruz Islands is on Vanikoro, 924 m (3,031 ft).

The term Santa Cruz Islands is sometimes used to encompass all of the islands of the present-day Solomon Islands province of Temotu.

The native languages of the islands are classified as the Reef Islands – Santa Cruz languages, within the Oceanic subgroup of the Austronesian language family.

The islands were visited by Spanish explorer Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira, the first European to sight them, on his second Pacific expedition in 1595. Mendaña died on the island of Nendo, which he had named Santa Cruz, in 1596.

During World War II, the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands was fought north of the Santa Cruz group and some sea planes were based in Graciosa Bay, with one reportedly having sunken there. Chemical ordnance stored on Vanikoro Island was not completely removed until the 1990s.

  References

1. ^ Dieter Mueller-Dombois, F. Raymond Fosberg: Vegetation of the Tropical Pacific islands (page 89. Springer 1998. ISBN 0-387-98285-X. Online in Google Books

• Santa Cruz and the Reef Islands, by W.C. O'Ferrall—1908 account with many illustrations by missionary in Santa Cruz from 1897-1904.
• John Seach: Solomon Islands page

  See also

• American Caesar: Douglas MacArthur, 1880-1964, by William Manchester, p. 320
• Melanesia
• Oceania
• Pacific Islands

Islands of the Solomon Islands by province Central Aeaun Gavutu Mbanika Nggela Islands Pavuvu Russell Islands Savo Tanambogo Tulagi Choiseul Choiseul Cyprian Bridge Island Nuatambu Rob Roy Taro Vaghena Guadalcanal Guadalcanal Korasahalu Marau Sound Nughu Tavanipupu Vulelua Isabel Arnarvon Furona Island Kerehikapa Maleivona Ramos San Jorge Santa Isabel Sikopo Makira-Ulawa Ali'ite Makira Malaulalo Malaupaina Pio Santa Ana Santa Catalina Ugi Ulawa Malaita Adagege Alite Anuta Paina Funaafou Langa Langa Lagoon Lau Lagoon Laulasi Maana'omba Malaita Maramasike Mbasakana Ndai Ontong Java Roncador Reef Sikaiana Sulufou Rennell and Bellona Bellona Indispensable Reefs Rennell Temotu Anuta Banie Duff Islands Fatutaka Fenualoa Lomlom Makalom Malo Matema Nendö Nifiloli Nukapu Nupani Patteson Shoal Pigeon Pileni Reef Islands Santa Cruz Islands Taumako Teanu Tikopia Tinakula Utupua Vanikoro Western Arundel Faisi Fauro Ghizo Ghoi Kavachi Kennedy Kiambe Kingguru Kohinggo Kolombangara Liapari Logha Lola Lumbari Marovo Matikuri Mbava Mborokua Mbulo Mondomondo Mono Nakaza New Georgia New Georgia Islands Nggatokae Nusatupe Ranongga Rendova Shortland Shortland Islands Simbo Stirling Telina Tetepare Treasury Islands Vella Lavella Uepi Vangunu Vonavona

Coordinates: 11°00′S 166°15′E / 11°S 166.25°E / -11; 166.25

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