Solomon Islands
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Santa Ana Island, Solomon Islands
Makira Province
(previously known as Owa Rafa or Owa Raha)
Santa Ana is a small fertile island (12 sq km) located 7.5 km east of Makira Island. Two sea caves at Rate and Feru are believed to be the site of first habitation about 1280 BC. The island is a raised coral atoll. It was reached by Mendana's first expedition in 1568.
There are two brackish lakes on the island - Wairafa (1.6 km x 700 m) and Waipiapia (400 m x 300 m). The island's anchorage is at Mary Bay which is 2.5-4 hr from Kirakira by motorised canoe. The summit is Mt Faraina at 143 m.
Santa Ana is noted for carved wooden bowls which are often shaped like sharks. The islanders physically resemble Melanesians but their culture has some Polynesian features.
At Nataghera there are two custom houses with 500 years of ancestral remains. The houses are off limits to women and taking photos is not usually permitted.
There is an airstrip in the south of the island.
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