volcanic island of the Louisiade Archipelago, Papua New Guinea, southwestern Pacific Ocean. It lies 175 miles (280 km) southeast of the island of New Guinea. The largest island of the archipelago, measuring 50 by 15 miles (80 by 24 km), Tagula has an area of 310 square miles (800 square km). Surrounded by a coral reef, the rugged island rises to 2,644 feet (806 metres) at Mount Riu (Mount Rattlesnake). The island exports copra.