Mago
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Mago Island (pronounced [maŋo]) is a volcanic island that lies in the northwest sector of Fiji's northern Lau Group of islands. One of the largest private islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the pristine island consists of 22 square kilometres (8.4 square miles) of land.
Mago is located 166 statute miles ENE of the Fiji capital of Suva and 14 miles (23 km) SW of the tiny island of Namalata, near Vanua Balavu, where descendants of original Mago inhabitants still reside. Mago Island is relatively undeveloped at present and inhabited only by a few caretakers of Indo-Fijian descent. During the 1860s a cotton plantation established by the Ryder brothers of Australia flourished there. In 1884 there was a well established sugar cane plantation plus a sugar mill on the island.[1] The Mill was shut down in 1895 and it was dismantled and used to enlarge the Penang Mill in Ra.[2] The Ryders were succeeded by the Borron family who ran a successful copra plantation on the island for many years and donated Borron House, an historic mansion in the Fiji capital city Suva, to the Fiji Government.
In early 2005 Mago Island was purchased by Hollywood actor/director Mel Gibson for $15 (9?) million from Japan's Tokyu Corporation. Descendants of original native inhabitants of Mago, who were displaced in the 1860s, have protested Gibson's purchase.
Satellite images of the island dating from 2008 show an airstrip of 1100 metres under construction. There is no port on the island, a short stone pier is located on the island's north side. There is only one village on the island, which is loosely arranged, more like a resort than a village. Agriculture consists of only a few small areas of fields.
Mago is located 166 statute miles ENE of the Fiji capital of Suva and 14 miles (23 km) SW of the tiny island of Namalata, near Vanua Balavu, where descendants of original Mago inhabitants still reside. Mago Island is relatively undeveloped at present and inhabited only by a few caretakers of Indo-Fijian descent. During the 1860s a cotton plantation established by the Ryder brothers of Australia flourished there. In 1884 there was a well established sugar cane plantation plus a sugar mill on the island.[1] The Mill was shut down in 1895 and it was dismantled and used to enlarge the Penang Mill in Ra.[2] The Ryders were succeeded by the Borron family who ran a successful copra plantation on the island for many years and donated Borron House, an historic mansion in the Fiji capital city Suva, to the Fiji Government.
In early 2005 Mago Island was purchased by Hollywood actor/director Mel Gibson for $15 (9?) million from Japan's Tokyu Corporation. Descendants of original native inhabitants of Mago, who were displaced in the 1860s, have protested Gibson's purchase.
Satellite images of the island dating from 2008 show an airstrip of 1100 metres under construction. There is no port on the island, a short stone pier is located on the island's north side. There is only one village on the island, which is loosely arranged, more like a resort than a village. Agriculture consists of only a few small areas of fields.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mago_Island
Nearby cities:
Coordinates: 17°26'49"S 179°9'29"W
- Vanua Balavu 35 km
- Tavenui 122 km
- Wallis & Futuna (Hoorn Islands) 486 km
- Vava'u 540 km
- Ha'apai Group of Islands 563 km
- Tongatapu 567 km
- Savai’i 815 km
- Upolu 861 km
- Tutuila 959 km
- Niue 988 km
- Vekai Reef 38 km
- Bell/Vavaniose Reef 50 km
- Malevuvu Reef 51 km
- Dibbles/Kibo Reef 56 km
- Vatuvatulelevu Reef 60 km
- Nokeva Reef 67 km
- Nanuku Passage 71 km
- Gaiu Reef 76 km
- Motua Levu Reef 97 km
- Heemskercq Reefs 104 km
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