volcanic island of the Louisiade Archipelago in Papua New Guinea, southwestern Pacific Ocean. It is situated 125 miles (200 km) southeast of the island of New Guinea. The island measures about 25 miles by 6 miles (40 by 10 km) and has an area of some 100 square miles (260 square km). The terrain is mountainous, rising to 3,400 feet (1,050 metres) at Mount Koia Tau. The site of gold discoveries in the late 1890s, gold mining in the early 20th century, and open-pit silver and gold mining from 1990 to 2001, Misima now produces some copra. The largest settlement on the island is Bwagaoia, in the southeast.