Cikobia-i-Lau

17°16′53″S 178°47′11″WCikobia-i-Lau,[note 1] or Cirikalia, is an island in the Lau Islands in the north-east of Fiji. The island has historically been called Thikombia,[1] Thimkombia-i-Lau[2] or Farewell Island.[1]

Not to be confused with Cikobia-i-Ra.
Cikobia-i-Lau
Map of Vanua Levu
Geography
LocationPacific Ocean
Coordinates17°17′S 178°47′W
ArchipelagoVanua Levu Group
Administration
Fiji
DivisionNorthern Division
Demographics
Population100 (2017)

Environment

In the Quaternary period, Cikobia-i-Lau was one of the most seismically active islands in Fiji.[1] In 1976 white-tailed tropic birds were using the islands cliffs as nest sites.[3] The island is forested, has one village, as well as some caves, cliffs and gardens.[3]

In 2016 Cyclone Winston damaged the island and its infrastructure, and repairs supported by the Fijian and New Zealand governments began in March.[4]

Society

In 1982 Cikobiai-Lau's islanders rescued a Californian family who had spent 25 days adrift before being stranded on a sand bar close to the island.[5]

Notable people

In 2016 the head man was Ledua Sele.[4]

  • Patchwork of vegetation in foreground, looking past Yanuyanu Island across the huge lagoon towards Cikobia-i-Lau in the distance
    Patchwork of vegetation in foreground, looking past Yanuyanu Island across the huge lagoon towards Cikobia-i-Lau in the distance
  • Holotype specimens of Moussonia bronieae, snails endemic to the island.
    Holotype specimens of Moussonia bronieae, snails endemic to the island.[6]
  • Cyclone over Cikobia-i-Lau, 2012
    Cyclone over Cikobia-i-Lau, 2012

Notes
  1. The island is distinct from Cikobia-i-Ra or "Leeward Cikobia", which is the northern most of the Fijian islands.

References
  1. Nunn, Patrick D. (1990). "Coastal Processes and Landforms of Fiji: Their Bearing on Holocene Sea-Level Changes in the South and West Pacific". Journal of Coastal Research. 6 (2): 279–310. ISSN 0749-0208. JSTOR 4297680.
  2. Nunn, Patrick D. (August 1987). "Late Cenozoic tectonic history of Lau Ridge, Southwest Pacific, and associated shoreline displacements: Review and analysis". New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics. 30 (3): 241–260. doi:10.1080/00288306.1987.10552620. ISSN 0028-8306.
  3. Tarburton, M. "Some recent observations on sea birds nesting in Fiji" (PDF). Notornis. 25 (4).
  4. "Cikobia starts repair works". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
  5. "Family survives ordeal at sea". UPI. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
  6. "Holotype Moussonia brodieae". science.mnhn.fr. Archived from the original on 2021-04-14. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
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