Location Pacific Ocean Population 650 (2009) Province Torba Province | Archipelago Vanuatu, Banks Islands Island group Banks Islands | |
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Merelava (or Mere Lava) is an island in the Banks Islands of northern Vanuatu.
Contents
Map of Mere Lava, Vanuatu
It is situated in the southeastern part of the archipelago near Mota and Merig. The island is administratively part of Torba Province. Merelava has also been known as Star Island. It is located about 50 kilometres (31 miles) east of Gaua.
History
Merelava was first sighted by Europeans during the Spanish expedition of Pedro Fernández de Quirós, from 25 to 29 April 1606. The island’s name was then charted as San Marcos.
Population and language
The island has about 650 inhabitants. They all speak an Oceanic language known as Mwerlap or Merlav.
Names
The inhabitants of Merelava call their own island Mwerlap, phonetically [ŋʷɞrlap], in the language of the same name.
The name Merelava (sometimes wrongly transcribed Mere Lava) reflects the way it is called in the neighbouring Mota language, phonetically [ŋ͡mʷereˈlaβa].