Nendo Island

Nendo, Nendoe correctly, is the largest and most important of the Santa Cruz Islands. The island is located in the southeast of the Solomon Islands group and is politically to the Western Pacific island nation of the Solomon Islands (Province: Temotu ).

Geography

Nendo has an area of 519 km ². The highest point is 549 m above sea level. The island is also known as Santa Cruz, Ndeni, Nitendi or Ndende. Lata is the capital of the island and the province. There is also the only airport in the province.

In the northwest of Nando is the small island Malo, in the southeast is Nibanga, each about a kilometer away.

History

The name " Santa Cruz " became the island by the Spanish navigator Álvaro de Mendaña De Neira given in 1595, who unsuccessfully attempted to found a colony. The attempt was abandoned because of the hostility of the native tribes and because of malaria. Mendaña died on October 18, 1595 on the island of malaria.

Population and Culture

The population Nendos consists largely of Melanesians. In the census of 1999, almost 10,000 residents were counted.

On Nendo was paid with the Red Feather money. Until recently, this was the traditional Zehlungsmittel for the bride price. The Red Feather money consists of 5 cm wide and 9 m long glued red stripes from the feathers of the native bird Myzomela carnalis, which belongs to the family of honeyeaters.

The Santa Cruz - language belongs to the Austronesian family of languages.

Tourism

Nendo is now and cruise ships under way, whose passengers are made familiar with the folklore of the island.