Yeta (Port Lihou Island), Queensland
Encyclopedia
Yeta or Port Lihou Island is an island
in the Torres Strait
, in Queensland
's north between the Australia
n mainland and Papua New Guinea
. It is located at 10°44′S 142°14′E.
Yeta is a small island that lies off the south coast of Muralag, separated by a channel that is three kilometers long but only a few meters wide at the northeastern end (170 m at the southwestern end). It is approximately 2.8 by 2.8 km in size. The area is 3.97926 km².
Since May 2001 the Kaurareg People have held the native title rights to most of the island.
Yeta is the name given by the Muralag/Kaurareg people. Its English name of Port Lihou was given by Lieutenant
John Lihou, R.N.
, in 1823.
"Lihou, then Master of the merchant ship Zenobia, was on passage from Manila
to South America
and had chosen a route through Torres Strait. This was the first occasion a ship was navigated through Torres Strait from west to east. It was also the first occasion a ship was navigated through the Coral Sea
from Torres Strait, south-eastward to the south-ward of New Caledonia
.
The Zenobia entered Endeavour Strait in January, 1823, and discovered a shallow port on the south coast of Prince of Wales Island, subsequently named Port Lihou."
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
in the Torres Strait
Torres Strait
The Torres Strait is a body of water which lies between Australia and the Melanesian island of New Guinea. It is approximately wide at its narrowest extent. To the south is Cape York Peninsula, the northernmost continental extremity of the Australian state of Queensland...
, in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
's north between the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n mainland and Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
. It is located at 10°44′S 142°14′E.
Yeta is a small island that lies off the south coast of Muralag, separated by a channel that is three kilometers long but only a few meters wide at the northeastern end (170 m at the southwestern end). It is approximately 2.8 by 2.8 km in size. The area is 3.97926 km².
Since May 2001 the Kaurareg People have held the native title rights to most of the island.
Yeta is the name given by the Muralag/Kaurareg people. Its English name of Port Lihou was given by Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
John Lihou, R.N.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, in 1823.
"Lihou, then Master of the merchant ship Zenobia, was on passage from Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
to South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
and had chosen a route through Torres Strait. This was the first occasion a ship was navigated through Torres Strait from west to east. It was also the first occasion a ship was navigated through the Coral Sea
Coral Sea
The Coral Sea is a marginal sea off the northeast coast of Australia. It is bounded in the west by the east coast of Queensland, thereby including the Great Barrier Reef, in the east by Vanuatu and by New Caledonia, and in the north approximately by the southern extremity of the Solomon Islands...
from Torres Strait, south-eastward to the south-ward of New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
.
The Zenobia entered Endeavour Strait in January, 1823, and discovered a shallow port on the south coast of Prince of Wales Island, subsequently named Port Lihou."