# New Britain

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This article is about the island of New Britain in Papua New Guinea. For other uses of the name, see [New Britain (disambiguation)](/source/New_Britain_(disambiguation)).

**New Britain** (tpi: *Niu Briten*) is the largest [island](/source/Island) in the [Bismarck Archipelago](/source/Bismarck_Archipelago), part of the [Islands Region](/source/Islands_Region) of [Papua New Guinea](/source/Papua_New_Guinea). It is separated from [New Guinea](/source/New_Guinea) by a northwest corner of the [Solomon Sea](/source/Solomon_Sea) (or with an island hop of [Umboi](/source/Umboi_Island) the [Dampier](/source/Dampier_Strait_(Papua_New_Guinea)) and [Vitiaz Straits](/source/Vitiaz_Strait)) and from [New Ireland](/source/New_Ireland_(island)) by [St. George's Channel](/source/St._George's_Channel_(Papua_New_Guinea)). The main towns of New Britain are [Rabaul](/source/Rabaul)/[Kokopo](/source/Kokopo) and [Kimbe](/source/Kimbe). The island is roughly the size of [Taiwan](/source/Taiwan).

When the island was part of [German New Guinea](/source/German_New_Guinea), its name was **Neupommern** ("New [Pomerania](/source/Pomerania)"). In common with most of the Bismarcks it was largely formed by volcanic processes, and has active volcanoes including [Ulawun](/source/Ulawun) (highest volcano nationally), [Langila](/source/Langila), the [Garbuna Group](/source/Garbuna_Group), the [Sulu Range](/source/Sulu_Range), and the volcanoes [Tavurvur](/source/Tavurvur) and [Vulcan](/source/Vulcan_(volcano)) of the [Rabaul caldera](/source/Rabaul_caldera). A major eruption of Tavurvur in 1994 destroyed the [East New Britain](/source/East_New_Britain) provincial capital of [Rabaul](/source/Rabaul). Most of the town still lies under metres of ash, and the capital has been moved to nearby [Kokopo](/source/Kokopo).

## Geography

New Britain extends from 148°18′28″ to 152°24′15″ E longitude and from 4°08′00″ to 6°18′57″ S latitude. It is crescent-shaped, approximately 520 km (320 mi) along its southeastern coastline, and from 29 to 146 km (18 to 91 mi) wide, not including a small central peninsula. The air-line distance from west to east is 477 km (296 mi). The island is the [38th largest in the world](/source/List_of_islands_by_area), with an area of 35,140 km2 (13,570 sq mi).

Steep cliffs form some sections of the coastline; in others the mountains are further inland, and the coastal area is flat and bordered by coral reefs. The highest point, at 2,334 metres (7,657 ft), is the [stratovolcano](/source/Stratovolcano) [Mount Ulawun](/source/Mount_Ulawun) in the east.[1][2] Most of the terrain is covered with tropical rainforest, and several large rivers are fed by the high rainfall.

The Nakanai Range in East New Britain is composed largely of limestone [karst](/source/Karst), which extends from the mountain peaks to the southern coast. Erosion of the porous limestone has created large sinkholes, or dolines, and extensive caves and river cave systems. The Nakanai Caves, together with two other [karst](/source/Karst) regions on the New Guinea mainland, were nominated to the [World Heritage Tentative List](/source/World_Heritage_Tentative_List) in 2007 as The Sublime Karsts of Papua New Guinea.[3]

## Administrative divisions

New Britain forms part of the [Islands Region](/source/Islands_Region), one of four [regions of Papua New Guinea](/source/Regions_of_Papua_New_Guinea). It comprises the mainland of two [provinces](/source/Provinces_of_Papua_New_Guinea):

- [East New Britain](/source/East_New_Britain) with headquarters in [Kokopo](/source/Kokopo) (formerly in Rabaul)
- [West New Britain](/source/West_New_Britain) with headquarters in [Kimbe](/source/Kimbe)

## History

In research science, there is evidence with Pleistocene-era cultural deposits discovered in open-site excavations in near Yombon, which show that New Britain has been inhabited by indigenous Papuans for thousands of years, with human occupation dating back to 21,000 BC.[4]

### Modern history

For the missionary history, see [Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Solomon Islands](/source/Apostolic_Vicariate_of_Northern_Solomon_Islands).

#### 1700–1914

[William Dampier](/source/William_Dampier) became the first known British man to visit New Britain on 27 February 1700; he dubbed the island with the Latin name *Nova Britannia* (lit. 'New [Britain](/source/Britain_(placename))').

Whaling ships from Britain, Australia and the United States called at the island in the 19th century for food, water and wood. The first on record was the *Roscoe* in 1822. The last known whaling visitor was the *Palmetto* in 1881.[5]

In November 1884, Germany proclaimed its [protectorate](/source/Protectorate) over the New Britain Archipelago; the German colonial administration gave New Britain and [New Ireland](/source/New_Ireland_(island)) the names of Neupommern (or Neu-Pommern; "New [Pomerania](/source/Pomerania)") and [Neumecklenburg](/source/New_Ireland_(island)) (or Neu-Mecklenburg; "New [Mecklenburg](/source/Mecklenburg)") respectively, and the whole island group was renamed the Bismarck Archipelago. New Britain became part of [German New Guinea](/source/German_New_Guinea).

In 1909, the [indigenous](/source/Indigenous_peoples) population was estimated at 190,000; the foreign population at 773 (474 white). The expatriate population was practically confined to the northeastern [Gazelle Peninsula](/source/Gazelle_Peninsula), which included the capital, [Herbertshöhe](/source/Kokopo) (now Kokopo). At the time 5,448 hectares (13,460 acres) had been converted to plantations, primarily growing [copra](/source/Copra), cotton, coffee and rubber. Westerners avoided exploring the interior initially, believing that the indigenous peoples were warlike and would fiercely resist intrusions.

#### World War I

On 11 September 1914, New Britain became the site of one of the [earliest battles of World War I](/source/World_War_I#Opening_hostilities) when the [Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force](/source/Australian_Naval_and_Military_Expeditionary_Force) landed on the island. They quickly overwhelmed the German forces and occupied the island for the duration of the war.

#### Interwar period

After [World War I](/source/World_War_I), the [Treaty of Versailles](/source/Treaty_of_Versailles) was signed in June 1919. Germany was stripped of all its possessions outside Europe. In 1920 the [League of Nations](/source/League_of_Nations) included New Britain, along with the former German colony on New Guinea, in the [Territory of New Guinea](/source/Territory_of_New_Guinea), a mandated territory of Australia.

#### World War II

Main article: [New Britain campaign](/source/New_Britain_campaign)

During [World War II](/source/World_War_II) the [Japanese](/source/Empire_of_Japan) attacked New Britain soon after the outbreak of hostilities in the Pacific Ocean. Strategic bases at [Rabaul](/source/Rabaul) and [Kavieng](/source/Kavieng) ([New Ireland](/source/New_Ireland_(island))) were defended by a small Australian detachment, [Lark Force](/source/Lark_Force). During January 1942, the Japanese heavily bombed [Rabaul](/source/Rabaul). On 23 January, [Japanese marines](/source/Imperial_Japanese_Navy_Land_Forces) landed by the thousands, starting the [Battle of Rabaul](/source/Battle_of_Rabaul_(1942)). Two hundred and fifty civilians were evacuated from places on New Britain in March 1942,[6][7] but others were captured in Rabaul when it fell. The Japanese used Rabaul as a key base until 1944; it served as the key point for the failed invasion of [Port Moresby](/source/Port_Moresby) on [New Guinea](/source/New_Guinea) (May to November 1942).

New Britain was invaded by the [U.S. 1st Marine Division](/source/1st_Marine_Division_(United_States)) in the [Cape Gloucester](/source/Cape_Gloucester_(Papua_New_Guinea)) area of the very western end of the island, and also by [U.S. Army](/source/United_States_Army) soldiers at some other coastal points. As for Cape Gloucester, with its swamps and mosquitos, the Marines said that it was "worse than [Guadalcanal](/source/Guadalcanal_campaign)". They captured an airfield but accomplished little toward reducing the Japanese base at Rabaul.

The [Allied plan](/source/Operation_Cartwheel) involved bypassing Rabaul by surrounding it with air and naval bases on surrounding islands and on New Britain itself. The adjacent island of [New Ireland](/source/New_Ireland_(island)) was bypassed altogether. Much of the story from the Japanese side, especially the two suicide charges by the Baalen group, are retold in [Shigeru Mizuki](/source/Shigeru_Mizuki)'s *[Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths](/source/Onward_Towards_Our_Noble_Deaths)*. The television film *[Sisters of War](/source/Sisters_of_War)* recounts experiences of [Australian Army](/source/Australian_Army) nurses and Catholic nuns during the conflict.

#### After 1945

The population of the main town of Rabaul was evacuated as a result of volcanic activity in 1994 which buried the town under a thick layer of volcanic ash.

## People and culture

The indigenous people of New Britain fall into two main groups: the [Papuans](/source/Indigenous_people_of_New_Guinea), who have inhabited the island for tens of thousands of years, and the [Austronesians](/source/Austronesian_people), who arrived around three thousand years ago. There are around ten Papuan languages spoken and about forty Austronesian languages, as well as [Tok Pisin](/source/Tok_Pisin) and English. The Papuan population is largely confined to the eastern third of the island and a couple of small enclaves in the central highlands. At [Jacquinot Bay](/source/Jacquinot_Bay), in the south-east, they live beside the beach where a waterfall crashes directly into the sea.[8]

The population of New Britain was 493,585 in 2010. Austronesian people make up the majority on the island. The major towns are [Rabaul](/source/Rabaul)/[Kokopo](/source/Kokopo) in [East New Britain](/source/East_New_Britain) and [Kimbe](/source/Kimbe) in [West New Britain](/source/West_New_Britain).

New Britain hosts diverse and complex traditional cultures. While the [Tolai](/source/Tolai_people) of the Rabaul area of East New Britain have a [matrilineal](/source/Matrilineal) society, other groups are [patrilineal](/source/Patrilineal) in structure. There are numerous traditions which remain active today, such as the *[dukduk](/source/Duk-Duk)* secret society (also known as *tubuan*) in the Tolai area.

## Languages

Non-[Austronesian](/source/Austronesian_languages) ([Papuan](/source/Papuan_languages)) languages spoken on New Britain:[9]: 784

- [Taulil–Butam languages](/source/Taulil%E2%80%93Butam_languages): [Taulil](/source/Taulil_language), [Butam](/source/Butam_language) (extinct) (originally from [New Ireland](/source/New_Ireland_(island)))
- *[Sulka](/source/Sulka_language)* (originally from [New Ireland](/source/New_Ireland_(island)))
- [Baining languages](/source/Baining_languages): [Mali](/source/Mali_language), [Kaket](/source/Qaqet_language), [Kairak](/source/Kairak_language), [Simbali](/source/Simbali_language), [Ura](/source/Ura_language_(Papua_New_Guinea))
- *[Kol](/source/Kol_language_(Papua_New_Guinea))*
- *[Makolkol](/source/Makolkol_language)*
- *[Anêm](/source/An%C3%AAm_language)*
- *[Ata](/source/Ata_language)*

The last two are spoken in [West New Britain](/source/West_New_Britain), and the rest in [East New Britain](/source/East_New_Britain).

Austronesian languages include [Tolai](/source/Tolai_language), [Lungalunga](/source/Lungalunga_language), Siasi, Kimbe, [Lamogai](/source/Lamogai_language), [Mengen](/source/Mengen_language) and other [North New Guinea languages](/source/North_New_Guinea_languages).

## Ecology

The island is part of two [ecoregions](/source/Ecoregion). The [New Britain–New Ireland lowland rain forests](/source/New_Britain%E2%80%93New_Ireland_lowland_rain_forests) extend from sea level to 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) elevation. The [New Britain–New Ireland montane rain forests](/source/New_Britain%E2%80%93New_Ireland_montane_rain_forests) cover the mountains of New Britain above 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) elevation.

Forests on New Britain have been rapidly destroyed in recent years, largely to clear land for [oil palm](/source/Oil_palm) plantations. Lowland [rainforest](/source/Rainforest) has been hardest hit, with nearly a quarter of the forest below 100 metres (330 ft) disappearing between 1989 and 2000. If those rates of [deforestation](/source/Deforestation) continue, it is estimated that all forest below 200 metres (660 ft) will be cleared by 2060.[10][11] Despite this, most forest birds on New Britain are still widespread and secure in conservation status, though some forest-dependent species such as the [New Britain kingfisher](/source/White-mantled_kingfisher) are considered to be at risk of extinction if current trends continue.[12]

## See also

- [Postage stamps of New Britain](/source/Postage_stamps_of_New_Britain)

## References and sources

### References

1. ["Melanesia"](https://www.peakbagger.com/range.aspx?rid=75). *Peakbagger*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20201020215132/https://www.peakbagger.com/range.aspx?rid=75) 20 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 March 2020.

1. ["Ulawun Volcano"](https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/ulawun.html). *Volcano Discovery*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200610053134/https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/ulawun.html) 10 June 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 March 2020.

1. Gabriel, J.; Specht, J.; Leavesley, M.; Kelly, M.; Wood, M.; Foale, S. et al. (2018). *The Nakanai Ranges of East New Britain, Papua New Guinea*. Cairns: James Cook University.

1. Kirch, Patrick Vinton (1997). *The Lapita Peoples: Ancestors of the Oceanic World*. Oxford: Blackwell. pp. 29–32.

1. Langdon, Robert (1984). *Where the whalers went: an index to the Pacific ports and islands visited by American whalers (and some other ships) in the 19th century*. Canberra: Pacific Manuscripts Bureau. p. 186. ISBN 086784471X.

1. Freund, A. P. H. (19 July 1946). ["250 Rabaul Refugees Were Rescued in New Britain in March, 1942"](https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-316132682/view?partId=nla.obj-316142906#page/n45/mode/1up). *XVII(1) Pacific Islands Monthly*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210929074701/https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-316132682/view?partId=nla.obj-316142906#page/n45/mode/1up) 29 September 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 29 September 2021.

1. Freund, A. P. H. (19 September 1946). ["Dodging The Japs Around Vitiaz Straits In 1942"](https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-316132939/view?partId=nla.obj-316143422#page/n16/mode/1up). *XVII(2) Pacific Islands Monthly*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210929075731/https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-316132939/view?partId=nla.obj-316143422#page/n16/mode/1up) 29 September 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 29 September 2021.

1. Tansley, Craig (24 January 2009). ["Treasure Islands"](http://www.theage.com.au/travel/travel-feature/treasure-islands-20090121-7mbc.html?page=-1). *[The Age](/source/The_Age)*. [Fairfax Media](/source/Fairfax_Media). pp. Traveller supplement (pp. 10–11). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200126125640/https://www.theage.com.au/travel/travel-feature/treasure-islands-20090121-7mbc.html?page=-1) 26 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 January 2009.

1. Stebbins, Tonya; Evans, Bethwyn; Terrill, Angela (2018). "The Papuan languages of Island Melanesia". *The Languages and Linguistics of the New Guinea Area: A Comprehensive Guide*. Vol. 4. The World of Linguistics. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton. pp. 775–894. ISBN 978-3-11-028642-7.

1. Buchanan, Graeme; Butchart, Stuart; Dutson, Guy; Pilgrim, John D.; Steininger, Mark K.; Bishop, K. David; Mayaux, Philippe (2008). ["Using remote sensing to inform conservation status assessment: estimates of recent deforestation rates on New Britain and the impacts upon endemic birds"](http://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC40005). *Biological Conservation*. **141** (1): 56–66. [Bibcode:2008BCons.141...56B](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2008BCons.141...56B). [doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2007.08.023](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2007.08.023). [ISSN 0006-3207](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0006-3207). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180421031155/http://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC40005) 21 April 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 20 April 2018.

1. ["In Papua New Guinea, deforestation for oil palm plantations is causing declines in endemic birds"](http://datazone.birdlife.org/sowb/casestudy/in-papua-new-guinea-deforestation-for-oil-palm-plantations-is-causing-declines-in-endemic-birds-). [BirdLife International](/source/BirdLife_International). 2008. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230603070308/http://datazone.birdlife.org/sowb/casestudy/in-papua-new-guinea-deforestation-for-oil-palm-plantations-is-causing-declines-in-endemic-birds-) 3 June 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 15 June 2023.

1. Davis, Robert A.; Dutson, Guy; Szabo, Judit K. (2018). "Conservation status of threatened and endemic birds of New Britain, Papua New Guinea". *Bird Conservation International*. **28** (3): 439–450. [doi:10.1017/S0959270917000156](https://doi.org/10.1017/S0959270917000156). [ISSN 0959-2709](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0959-2709)

## External links

- [Nationsonline.org: Solomon Islands](http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/solomon_islands.htm)
- [Ethnologue.com: Map of languages of New Britain](http://www.ethnologue.com/show_map.asp?name=PG&seq=140)
- Australian War Memorial, [Operations against German Pacific territories](http://www.awm.gov.au/units/event_145.asp) — *(6 August−6 November 1914)*.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [New Britain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Britain) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Britain?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.