This page includes a comprehensive, annotated index of current and historical names of all the islands in the Western Islands of the Bismarck Archipelago as well as other indexes and relevant information necessary to conduct bibliographic, historical and general research regarding the Western Islands.
Index of Islands Codes
(As used by The Wuvulu Research Center and on The Wuvulu Web Site)
- A Aua
- AW Awin
- AD Admiralty Islands
- BA Bismarck Archipelago
- H Hermit
- HA Heina
- K Kaniet
- L Liot
- M Manu
- N Ninigo
- P Pelleluhu
- PR Pupol Reef
- S Sae
- SA Sama
- SU Sumasuma
- W Wuvulu
- WI Western Islands
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Annotated Index of
Current and Historical Geographical Names in the Western Islands
The current name of each island or atoll (bold and
underlined) is followed by a (code) to facilitate
cross-referencing with the Annotated Index of Island Names in the
Western Islands below. Each section contains historical
names spelled out exactly as found in the literature. A name
followed by an asterisk (*) denotes an island part of a group, i.e.:
Maron* (H) is an island in the Hermit group (code H). The names
of individual islands are often cited by themselves in the literature
to refer to or describe the group of islands to which they belong.
See also Annotated
Index of Place Names in the Western Islands.
The listings are from West to East.
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Wuvulu Island (W)
Latitude 1o43' South, longitude 142o50' East.
Wuvulu is a low coral island of volcanic origin with a maximum elevation of 3 m (10 feet) above sea level. It is approximately 19.3 km (12 miles) in circumference and 4 km (2½ miles) by 7.2 km (4½ miles) in diameter with a surface area of 1,400 ha (3,600 acres). The island is completely encircled by a fringing coral reef with no natural harbor, making it impossible to anchor ships.
Wuvulu is the westernmost and southern mostisland in the Western Islands of the Bismarck Archipelago, located 224.5 nautical miles (416 km) to the west of Manus Island and the Admiralty Islands, 140.3 nautical miles (260 km) north of Wewak, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, and more than 593 nautical miles (1,100 km) south of the Carolines Archipelago.
See also Annotated Index of Place Names on Wuvulu Island.
Bobolo
Bóbolo
Hombres Blancos (refers to both Wuvulu and Aua islands)
Ile du Tigre
Ilhas do Mons blancos (refers to both Wuvulu and
Aua islands)
Isola de lhombres blancos (refers to both Wuvulu
and Aua islands)
Islas de Hombres blancos (refers to both Wuvulu
and Aua islands)
Islas hombres blancos (refers to both Wuvulu and
Aua islands)
Los Hombres Blancos (refers to both Wuvulu and
Aua islands)
Mally
Mary
Mathy
Mati
Matti
Matty
Matty Inseln
Matty-Inseln
Matty's Island
Maty
Popolo
Tigarinsel
Tiger
Tiger-Insel
Tiger Island
Tigerinsel
Tigerön
Viwulu
Vuvulu
Wavulu
Wuoulu
Wurvulu
WUU
WUV
Wuvuilu
Wuvulu
Wuvula
Wuvulo
Wuvuloo
Wuwulu
Wuwula
Wuwulo
Wuwulu
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Aua Island (A)
Latitude 1o27' South, longitude
143o4' East.
The closest island to Wuvulu Island, to the
north-east.
Ana
Aria
Arua
Au'u
Ava
Douro
Dourur
Du Rour
Duror
Durour
Durour's Island
Duroure
Hombres Blancos (refers to both Aua and Wuvulu islands)
Huhn
Huon
Hun
Hún
Hunt
Ilhas do Mons blancos (refers to both Wuvulu and
Aua islands)
Isola de lhombres blancos (refers to both Aua
and Wuvulu islands)
Islas de Hombres blancos (refers to both Aua and
Wuvulu islands)
Los Hombres Blancos (refers to both Aua and Wuvulu islands)
Uva
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Awin Atoll (AW)
Latitude 1o39' South, longitude
144o1' East.
The southern most atoll of the Ninigo Group to
the south-west of the Ninigo Islands.
The two islands (*) of this group are listed clockwise from the
southern most.
1. Islands on the periphery of the
lagoon
Maletin*
Awin* (also Awinn)
2. Other names for Awin Atoll
Saboh Island
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Ninigo Group (NG)
Refers to a group of atolls, islands and reefs
including, clockwise from the southern most:
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Back to Ninigo Islands
Back to Ninigo Islands
3. Other names for the Ninigo Islands
Bougainville low islands named after French Admiral
Louis Antoine de Bougainville who "discovered" the Ninigo
Islands in 1771 aboard the King's frigate La Boudeuse
Chequer Islands
Chess-Bank
Chess-board
Chessboard
Echequier
Echiquier
Echiquiers
Exchequer
Exchequers
Exchiquier
Is. Basses (see Bougainville low islands)
Is. Basses de Bougainville (see Bougainville low islands)
Isles Basses
L'Echequier
L'Echiquier
Les Mille iles
Los Mil Islas
Mil Islas
Mille Isles
Nindigo
Ninego Group
Ninigo-Group
Ninigo-Gruppe
Ninigos
Ningo
Schachbrett
Schess-Boaro
Back to Ninigo Islands
4. Alphabetical names in the Ninigo Islands
Ahu* (also Amik)
Amik* (also Ami)
Amot*
Bahanat*
Bougainville low islands
Chacheon*
Chauch*
Chequer Islands
Chess-Bank
Chess-board
Chessboard
Echequier
Echiquier
Echiquiers
Exchequer
Exchequers
Exchiquier
Hepi*
Hepisasa*
Hottom*
Is. Basses
Is. Basses de Bougainville
Isles Basses
Kamochin*
Keholl*
L'Echequier
L'Echiquier
Lau*
Les Mille iles
Longam* (also Longan)
Longan* (also Longam)
Los Mil Islas
Maichuch*
Mal* (the major island in the Ninigo Islands)
Memam* (also Menan)
Menan* (also Memam)
Mil Islas
Mille Isles
Nahanu*
Ngi*
Nindigo
Ninego Group
Ninigo-Group
Ninigo-Gruppe
Ninigos
Ningo
Nunu*
Onia*
Pelipa*
Pihon* (also Pihun)
Pihun* (also Pihon)
Pingilap*
Pisa*
Potaminam* (also Potaminan)
Potaminan* (also Potaminam)
Puol*
Sabucho*
Sand I.*
Sawapil*
Schachbrett
Schess-Boaro
Talil*
Wahangahun*
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Pelleluhu Group (P)
Latitude 1o8' South, longitude
144o24' East.
An atoll, part of the Ninigo Group, to the
north-east of the Ninigo Islands.
The 13 islands (*) of this group are listed clockwise from the
southern most.
Szighwalin*
Pelleluhu* (also Pelalhun, Pelleluhn)
Palitolla*
Pennehan* (northern most island in the Pelleluhu Group and Ninigo Group)
Pahait*
Somaniat*
Bilapalap*
Manu*
Hamoha*
Moat*
Ahaltin*
Bircha*
Guam*
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Heina Group (HA)
Latitude 1o7' South, longitude
144o30' East.
The eastern most atoll of the Ninigo Group, to
the north-east of the Ninigo Islands and Pelleluhu Group.
The 6 islands (*) of this group are listed clockwise from the
southern most, followed by other names for this group.
1. Islands and islets on the periphery of the lagoon
Kat*
Sa*
Mottum*
Tall*
Na*
Laualau*
2. Other names for the Heina Group
Hani
Hehna
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Back to Hermit Group
2. Islands and islets inside the Hermit
lagoon
AKib* (also Arkeb)
Maron* (also Maronn, Maroon, Moron)
Jalun* (also Djalum, Djalun, Geloon, Gelun)
with an elevation of 800', the highest island in the Western Islands.
Tset* (also Tet, Zet)
Luf* (also Louf, Lub, Luf-Atoll, Luf-luf,
Lup)
North Gochonsipi*
South Gochonsipi*
Back to Hermit Group
3. Other names for the Hermit Islands
Agomes
Bechu
Caimana
Eremit
Eremitanos
Eremite
Eremiten
Eremiteninseln
Ermitanos
Ermite
Germit
Hermitanos
Hermite
Hermiten
Hermitinseln
Hermits
Hermitten
Iles des Hermites
Iles Ermite
Is. de los Ermilanos
Isle Nord
Les Hermnites
La Caimana
La Caramania
Lacaymana
Los Emeritanos
Los Eremitanos
Los Hermitanos
Taliu
The Beautiful Lady with the Poisoned Lips (so named
because of its forbidding and dangerous reefs)
Back to Hermit Group
4. Alphabetical names in the Hermit Islands
AKib* (also Arkeb)
Amot* (also Amota)
Amota* (also Amot)
Agomes
ArKeb* (also Akib)
Bechu
Caimana
Djalum* (also Jalun, Djalun, Geloon,
Gelun)
Djalun* (also Jalun, Djalum, Geloon,
Gelun)
Eremit
Eremitanos
Eremite
Eremiten
Eremiteninseln
Ermitanos
Ermite
Geloon* (also Jalun, Djalum, Djalun,
Gelun)
Gelun* (also Jalun, Djalum, Djalun,
Geloon)
Germit
Hermitanos
Hermite
Hermiten
Hermitinseln
Hermits
Hermitten
Iles des Hermites
Iles Ermite
Is. de los Ermilanos
Isle Nord
Jalun* (also Djalum, Djalun, Geloon,
Gelun)
Kenai*
Kocheran* (also Kocherau)
Kocherau* (also Kocheran)
Kochapiti
La Caimana
La Caramania
Lacaymana
Leabon*
Les Hermnites
Loof* (also Ló, Louf, Lub, Luf, Luf-Atoll,
Luf-luf, Lup)
Los Emeritanos
Los Eremitanos
Los Hermitanos
Ló* (also Loof, Louf, Lub, Luf, Luf-Atoll,
Luf-luf, Lup)
Louf* (also Ló, Lub, Luf, Luf-Atoll,
Luf-luf, Lup)
Lub* (also Ló, Loof, Louf, Luf, Luf-Atoll,
Luf-luf, Lup)
Luf* (also Loof, Lóu, Louf, Lub, Luf-Atoll,
Luf-luf, Lup)
Luf-Atoll* (also Loof, Lóu, Louf, Lub, Luf,
Luf-luf, Lup)
Luf-luf* (also Loof, Lóu, Louf, Lub, Luf,
Luf-Atoll, Lup)
Lup* (also Loof, Lóu, Louf, Lub, Luf,
Luf-Atoll, Luf-luf)
Machan* (also Makan)
Makan* (also Machan)
Maron* (also Maronn, Maroon, Moron)
Maronn* (also Maron, Maroon, Moron)
Maroon* (also Maron, Maronn, Moron)
Mono*
Moron* (also Maron, Maronn, Moroon)
North Gochonsipi*
Pemei* (also Pemé)
Pemé* (also Pemei)
Pechu* (also Peegue)
Peegue* (also Pechu)
Pianau*
South Gochonsipi*
The Beautiful Lady with the Poisoned Lips (so named
because of its forbidding and dangerous reefs)
Taliu
Tatahau*
Tset* (also Zet)
Zet* (also Tet)
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Sae Islands (S)
Latitude 0o47' South, longitude
145o17' East.
The northern most islands in the Western
Islands, north-east of the Hermit Islands.
The Sae and Kaniet Islands are routinely referred
to as the "Kaniet (Sae) Islands". They are in fact
two distinct groups albeit close to one another. The Sae
Islands are the smallest of these two groups.
For other names for the Sae Islands, see: Other
names for the Kaniet (Sae) Islands below.
Sae*
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Kaniet Islands (K)
Latitude 0o56' South, longitude
145o30' East.
The eastern most group of small islands in the Western Islands, north-east of the Hermit Islands.
The Kaniet and Sae Islands are routinely referred
to as the "Kaniet (Sae) Islands". They are in fact
two distinct groups albeit close to one another. The Kaniet
Islands are the largest of these two groups.
The 4 islands and one islet (*) of this group are listed clockwise
from the southern most, followed by other names for this group.
1. Islands and islets on the periphery of the lagoon
Taling*
Tatak*
Islet*
Suf*
Vasan*
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2. Other names for the Kaniet (Sae)
Islands
Anachoret
Anachorete
Anachoreten
Anachorètes
Anachorites
Anacoretas
Anachorts
Anchoret
Anchoreten
Anchorite
Anchoriter
Anchorites
Camerson
Comerson
Commerçon
Commerson
Is. des Anachoretes
Kamiets
Kanies
Kaniët
Kunies
Kuniët
Les Anachorètes
Les Anachorettes
Les Moines
Les Monjos
Los Anacoretas
Los Monjos
Los Monges
Monges
Monks
Suf*
Taling*
Tatak*
Vasan*
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Admiralty Islands (AD)
The closest group of islands to the east of the Western Islands.
The Manus Province seat of Government at Lorengau on Manus Island
administers the Western Islands.
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Annotated Alphabetical Index of Island
Names in the Western Islands (WI)
The name of each island or atoll is followed by a code to
facilitate cross-referencing with the Annotated Index of Current
and Historical Names in the Western Islands above. The
names are spelled out exactly as found in the literature. A name
followed by an asterisk (*) denotes a major island part of a group,
i.e.: Maron* (H) is a major island in the Hermit (code H) group.
These names are thus marked because they are often cited by themselves
in the literature to refer to or describe the group of islands to
which they belong.
See also Annotated
Index of Place Names in the Western Islands.
Index
A B C D E
F G H I J
K L M N O
P Q R S T
U V W X Y
Z
|
A |
Akib* (H) (also
Arkeb)
Agomes (H)
Ahaltin* (P)
Ahu* (N)
Allison (M)
Allison-inseln (M)
Ami* (N)
(see Amik)
Amik* (N)
(also Ami)
Amot* (H) (also
Amota)
Amota* (H) (see
Amot)
Ana (A)
Anachoret (K)
Anachorete (K)
Anachoreten (K)
Anachorètes (K)
Anachorites (K)
Anacoretas (K)
Anachorts (K)
Anchoret (K)
Anchoreten (K)
Anchorite (K)
Anchoriter (K)
Anchorites (K)
Archipel Bismarck (BA)
Aria (A)
Arkeb* (H) (see
Akib)
Aua (A)
Ava (A)
Awin (AW) (also
Awinn)
Awinn (AW) (see
Awin) |
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A B C D E F G
H I J K L M N O
P Q R S T U V W
X Y Z
|
B |
Bahanat* (N)
Bechu (H)
Bilapalap*(P)
Bircha*(P)
Bismarck Archipelago (BA)
Bismarckarchipel (BA)
Bobolo (W)
Bóbolo (W)
Boudeuse (L)
Bouddeuse (L)
Bougainville low islands (N)
Britannia Archipelago (BA) |
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A B C D E F G
H I J K L M N O
P Q R S T U V W
X Y Z
|
C |
Caimana (H)
Cammerson (S)
Chacheon* (N)
Chauch* (N)
Chequer Islands (N)
Chess-Bank (N)
Chess-board (N)
Chessboard (N)
Comerson (S)
Commerçon (S)
Commerson (S) |
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A B C D E F G
H I J K L M N O
P Q R S T U V W
X Y Z
|
D |
Djalum* (H) (see
Jalun*)
Djalun* (H) (see Jalun*)
Djarun* (H) (see Jalun*)
Douro (A)
Dourur (A)
Du Rour (A)
Duror (A)
Durour (A)
Durour's Island (A)
Duroure (A) |
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A B C D E F G
H I J K L M N O
P Q R S T U V W
X Y Z
|
E |
Echequier (N)
Echiquier (N)
Echiquiers (N)
Eremit (H)
Eremitanos (H)
Eremite (H)
Eremiten (H)
Eremiteninseln (H)
Ermitanos (H)
Ermite (H)
Exchequer (N)
Exchequers (N)
Exchiquier (N) |
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A B C D E F G
H I J K L M N O
P Q R S T U V W
X Y Z
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A B C D E F G
H I J K L M N O
P Q R S T U V W
X Y Z
|
G |
Geloon* (H) (see
Jalun*)
Gelun* (H) (see Jalun*)
Germit (H)
Guam* (P) |
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A B C D E F G
H I J K L M N O
P Q R S T U V W
X Y Z
|
H |
Hamoha* (P)
Hani (HA)
Hehna (HA)
Heina (HA)
Hepi* (N)
Hepisasa* (N)
Hermit (H)
Hermitanos (H)
Hermite (H)
Hermiten (H)
Hermitinseln (H)
Hermits (H)
Hermitten (H)
Hombres Blancos (W) & (A)
Hottom* (N)
Huhn (A)
Huon (A)
Hun (A)
Hún (A)
Hunt (A) |
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A B C D E F G
H I J K L M N O
P Q R S T U V W
X Y Z
|
I |
Ile Boudeuse (L)
Ile du Tigre (W)
Iles Basses (N)
Iles de l'Ouest (WI)
Iles des Hermites (H)
Iles Ermite (H)
Iles Occidentales (WI)
Ilhas do Mons blancos(W) & (A)
Is. Basses (N)
Is. Basses de Bougainville (N)
Is. de los Ermilanos (H)
Is. des Anachoretes (K)
Isola de lhombres blancos (W) & (A)
Islas de Hombres blancos (W) & (A)
Islas hombres blancos (W) & (A)
Isle Nord (H)
Isles Basses (N) |
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A B C D E F G
H I J K L M N O
P Q R S T U V W
X Y Z
|
J |
Jalun* (H) (see
Djalum, Djalun, Djarun, Geloon, Gelun) |
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A B C D E F G
H I J K L M N O
P Q R S T U V W
X Y Z
|
K |
Kamochin* (N)
Kanies (K)
Kaniet (K)
Kaniët (K)
Kat* (HA)
Keholl* (N)
Kenai* (H)
Kocheran* (H) (also
Kocherau)
Kocherau* (H) (see
Kocheran)
Kochapiti (H)
Kunies (K)
Kuniët (K) |
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A B C D E F G
H I J K L M N O
P Q R S T U V W
X Y Z
|
L |
Laualau* (HA)
L'Echequier (N)
L'Echiquier (N)
La Boudeuse (L)
La Bouddeuse (L)
La Caimana (H)
La Caramania (H)
Lacaymana (H)
Lau* (N)
Leabon* (H)
Les Anachorètes (K)
Les Anachorettes (K)
Les Hermnites (H)
Les Mille iles (N)
Les Moines (S)
Les Monjos (K)
Liot (L)
Longam* (H) (see
Longan)
Longan* (H) (also
Longam)
Loof* (H)
Los Anacoretas (K)
Los Emeritanos (H)
Los Eremitanos (H)
Los Hermitanos (H)
Los Hombres Blancos (W) & (A)
Los Mil Islas (N)
Los Monjos (K)
Los Monges (K)
Lóu* (H)
Louf* (H) (see Luf)
Lub* (H) (see Luf)
Luf* (H) (also Loof,
Lóu, Louf, Lub, Luf-Atoll, Luf-luf, Lup)
Luf-Atoll* (H) (see
Luf)
Luf-luf* (H) (see
Luf)
Lup* (H) (see
Luf) |
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A B C D E F G
H I J K L M N O
P Q R S T U V W
X Y Z
|
M |
Makan* (H) (also
Machan)
Machan* (H) (see
Makan)
Mal* (N)
Maletin* (AW)
Mally (W)
Malus (M)
Manu (M)
Manu* (P)
Manus (M)
Maron* (H)
(also Maronn, Maroon, Moron)
Maronn* (H) (see
Maron)
Maroon* (H) (see
Maron)
Mary (W)
Mathy (W)
Mati (W)
Matti (W)
Matty (W)
Matty-Inseln (W)
Matty Inseln (W)
Matty's Island (W)
Maty (W)
Memam* (N) (see
Menan)
Menan* (N) (also
Memam)
Mil Islas (N)
Mille Isles (N)
Monges (K)
Mono* (H)
Monks (S)
Moron* (H) (see
Maron)
Mottum* (HA) |
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A B C D E F G
H I J K L M N O
P Q R S T U V W
X Y Z
|
N |
Na* (HA)
Nahanu* (N)
Ngi* (N)
Nindigo (N)
Ninigo (N)
Ninigo-Group (N)
Ninigo-Gruppe (N)
Ninigos (N)
Ningo (N)
north west Islands (WI)
North Gochonsipi* (H)
North Western Islands (WI)
Nunu* (N)
NW Islands (WI) |
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A B C D E F G
H I J K L M N O
P Q R S T U V W
X Y Z
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A B C D E F G
H I J K L M N O
P Q R S T U V W
X Y Z
|
P |
Pahait* (P)
Palitolla* (P)
Pataku* (SA) (also
Pateku) Pateku* (SA) (see Pataku) Pechu* (H) (also Peegue)
Peegue* (H) (see
Pechu)
Pelalhun* (P) (see
Pelleluhu)
Pelleluhn* (P) (see
Pelleluhu)
Pelleluhu (P) (also
Pelalhun, Pelleluhn)
Pelipa* (N)
Pemé (H) (see
Pemei)
Pemei (H) (also
Pemé)
Pennehan* (P)
Pianau* (H)
Pingilap* (N)
Pihon* (N) (see
Pihun)
Pihun* (N) (also
Pihon)
Pisa* (N)
Popolo (W)
Potaminam* (N) (also
Potaminan)
Potaminan* (N) (see
Potaminam)
Puol* (N) |
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A B C D E F G
H I J K L M N O
P Q R S T U V W
X Y Z
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A B C D E F G
H I J K L M N O
P Q R S T U V W
X Y Z
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A B C D E F G
H I J K L M N O
P Q R S T U V W
X Y Z
|
S |
Sa* (HA)
Saboh* (AW)
Sabucho* (N)
Sae (K)
Sama (SA)
Sand I.* (N)
Sawapil* (N)
Schachbrett (N)
Schess-Boaro (N)
Similam* (SA)
Somaniat* (P)
South Gochonsipi* (H)
Sumasuma (SU)
Szighwalin* (P) |
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|
T |
Tall* (HA)
Talil* (N)
Taliu (H)
Tatahau* (H)
Tet (H) (Tset) Tigarinsel (W)
Tiger (W)
Tiger Island (W)
Tiger-Insel (W)
Tigerinsel (W)
Tigerön (W)
The Beautiful Lady with the Poisoned Lips (H)
Tet* (H) (see Tset)
Tset* (H) (also Tet, Zet) |
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U |
Ufe (L)
Uva (A)
Uwe (L) |
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W |
Wahangahun* (N)
Wuvulu (W)
Wavulu (W)
Western Island (WI)
Western Isles (WI)
Western Isles Group (WI)
Westliche Inseln (WI)
Westliche Isles (WI)
Westlichen Inseln (WI)
Wuoulu (W)
Wurvulu (W)
WUU (W)
WUV (W)
Wuvuilu (W)
Wuvula (W)
Wuvulo (W)
Wuvuloo (W)
Wuwulu (W)
Wuwula (W)
Wuwulo (W)
Wuwulu (W) |
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