Daru Island

Daru Island

Daru Island from space
Daru Island is off the south coast of New Guinea in the Torres Strait
Daru Island
Geography
Location	Torres Strait
Coordinates	09°05′10″S 143°12′27″E / 9.08611°S 143.20750°E / -9.08611; 143.20750
Area	14.7 km2 (5.7 sq mi)
Length	5.0 km (3.11 mi)
Width	3.7 km (2.3 mi)
Highest elevation	27 m (89 ft)
Highest point	unnamed
Administration
Papua New Guinea
Province	Western Province
District	South Fly District
LLG	Daru Urban
Largest settlement	Daru (pop. 12879)
Demographics
Population	12,879 (2000)
Pop. density	876/km2 (2269/sq mi)
Ethnic groups	Kiwai Torres Strait Islanders

Daru Island is an island in the Western Province of Papua New Guinea. It is one of the Torres Strait Islands. The eponymous town on the island is the capital of the province, and houses the vast majority of the island's population of 20,524 (2009). Daru Island is elliptical in shape, with dimensions of 5.0 by 3.7 kilometers, an area of 14.7 km², and an elevation of up to 27 m. The island is separated from the mainland in the north, specifically the mouth of Oriomo River, by the 3.5 km wide Daru Roads. The shortest distance to the larger Bristow Island (also called Bobo Island) in the south is 1.3 km.

Daru Island is one of the few Torres Strait Islands that do not belong to Australia, but to Papua New Guinea. It is also the most highly populated of the Torres Strait Islands, although scarcely any original Torres Strait Islanders live on the island. The main industry on the island is fishing although few fisheries are locally owned. The island has an international airport which is mainly used by Australian aircraft chartered by mining companies for customs clearance or to pick up jet fuel. Commercial flights service Daru Airport four days per week.