D'Entrecasteaux Islands

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D'Entrecasteaux Islands are a group of inhabited volcanic islands off of the southeastern tip of New Guinea. The chain is situated in Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea. The islands were named for the French navigator J. A. B. d'Entrecasteaux.

The group consists of five major islands, (from north to south) Goodenough (Nidula), Fergusson (Moratau), Sanaroa, Dobu and Normanby (Duau), and numerous small islets.

The people of this group of islands are indigenous subsistence horticulturalists, living in small, traditional settlements. Many peoples of this area produced and traded clay pots as well as participated in the Kula exchange of shell valuables, travelling widely to other islands on sea-going sailing canoes. During the more recent past, people harvested copra and pearlshells. The area has been subject to mineral exploration in recent years.

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