Merig | |
Settlement Type: | Island |
Pushpin Map: | Vanuatu |
Pushpin Label Position: | right |
Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Vanuatu |
Coordinates: | -14.3167°N 215°W |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | Vanuatu |
Subdivision Type1: | Province |
Subdivision Name1: | Torba Province |
Seat Type: | Municipality seat |
Unit Pref: | Metric |
Area Total Km2: | 0.5 |
Area Note: | [1] |
Population Total: | 12 |
Population As Of: | 2009 |
Population Density Km2: | auto |
Timezone: | VUT |
Utc Offset: | +11 |
Merig is a small island located 200NaN0 east of Gaua, in the Banks Islands of northern Vanuatu.
The island is about 800m (2,600feet) wide, and has a circumference of 2.20NaN0.
The name Merig pronounced as /ŋ͡mʷeriɣ/ comes from the Mota language. It comes from a Proto-Torres-Banks form *mʷera riɣi "the small boy" via haplology to *mʷeriɣi. It contrasts with Merelava, from *mʷera lava "the big boy". The native term in Mwerlap is N̄wërig pronounced as /ŋʷɞˈriɣ/, from the same etymon.
The first recorded sighting of Merig Island by Europeans was by the Spanish expedition of Pedro Fernández de Quirós on 25 April 1606.[2] It was then named Île Sainte Claire.[3]
Merig is only inhabited by one household, consisting of 12 individuals.[4]
They speak Mwerlap,[5] the language of the neighbouring island Merelava.