new ireland

English - English

Definition of new ireland in English English dictionary: an island in the Bismarck Archipelago; part of Papua New Guinea; An island of the Bismarck Archipelago, a German colony from 1884 to 1921; governed by Australia from 1921 and then by Papua New Guinea from 1975 to the present day; A volcanic island of the southwest Pacific Ocean in the Bismarck Archipelago. First sighted in 1616, it was thought to be part of the island of New Britain until 1797. New Ireland was a German protectorate from 1884 to 1914 and now belongs to Papua New Guinea. formerly Neu-Mecklenburg Island and province (pop., 1999 est.: 111,906), Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea. The island has an area of 3,340 sq mi (8,651 sq km) and is about 200 mi (320 km) long. The terrain is largely mountainous. The province includes many nearby smaller islands. It was discovered by Dutch navigators in 1616 but was little known before 1884, when it became part of a German protectorate. After World War I it was mandated to Australia. The island was occupied by the Japanese in World War II. When Papua New Guinea gained independence in 1975, it became part of that country. Most of the inhabitants live in the north. Copra production dominates commercial development

new ireland