Vanua Lava

Vanua Lava is the second largest of the Banks Islands in Torba Province, Vanuatu, after slightly larger Gaua. It is located about 120 km north-northeast of Espiritu Santo and north of Gaua. Name The name Vanua Lava comes from the Mota language, which was used as the primary language of the Melanesian Mission. Locally, the island is called Vōnōlav / in Vurës and Mwesen, Vunulava in Vera'a, and Vunulāv in Lemerig. In the immigrant language Mwotlap, it is referred to as Apnōlap (with the locative prefix a-). Cognates in other Torres-Banks languages include Lakon Vanōlav . All of these terms come from a Proto-Torres–Banks form *βanua laβa "Large Land". History Vanua Lava was first sighted by Europeans during the Spanish expedition of Pedro Fernández de Quirós from 25 to 29 April 1606. The island’s name was then charted as Portal de Belén (“Nativity scene” in Spanish).