Verron Range
Encyclopedia
The Verron Range is a mountain range
in the southern part of New Ireland
, Papua New Guinea
, composed of limestone
and volcanic rock
. The highest point of the mountains is at 2150 m. Together with the Hans Meyer Range
and the Lelet Plateau, it is one of the main mountainous features of New Ireland. It is located at 4°21′0"S 152°46′0"E in the broader southern part of the island and runs roughly in a north-south-direction, parallel to the Hans Meyer Range. The Weitin valley divides the two ranges, Verron on the west and Hans Meyer on the east.
This range was named "Verron" (Véron) after Pierre-Antoine Véron
(1736-1770), the astronomer
on Louis Antoine de Bougainville
's ship who was able to determine the longitude by means of a solar eclipse
around this location on 13 July 1768. This fact was important for it allowed Véron to establish the width of the Pacific Ocean
with precision for the first time in history. While the island was part of German New Guinea
, this range was named Hahlgebirge (Hahl Range) after German
colonial governor Albert Hahl (1868–1945).
As other high ranges in the region, the Verron Range is covered in thick rainforest
and has been little studied. It is home to many rare species of fauna and flora and is highly biodiverse.
This range is part of the New Britain-New Ireland lowland rain forest terrestrial ecoregion.
Mountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
in the southern part of New Ireland
New Ireland (island)
New Ireland is a large island in Papua New Guinea, approximately 7,404 km² in area. It is the largest island of the New Ireland Province, lying northeast of the island of New Britain. Both islands are part of the Bismarck Archipelago, named after Otto von Bismarck, and they are separated by...
, Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
, composed of limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
and volcanic rock
Volcanic rock
Volcanic rock is a rock formed from magma erupted from a volcano. In other words, it is an igneous rock of volcanic origin...
. The highest point of the mountains is at 2150 m. Together with the Hans Meyer Range
Hans Meyer Range
The Hans Meyer Range is a mountain range in the southern part of New Ireland, Papua New Guinea, at . 2,379 m high Mount Taron, the highest point of the range, is also the highest point of New Ireland...
and the Lelet Plateau, it is one of the main mountainous features of New Ireland. It is located at 4°21′0"S 152°46′0"E in the broader southern part of the island and runs roughly in a north-south-direction, parallel to the Hans Meyer Range. The Weitin valley divides the two ranges, Verron on the west and Hans Meyer on the east.
This range was named "Verron" (Véron) after Pierre-Antoine Véron
Pierre-Antoine Véron
Pierre-Antoine Véron was a French expert astronomer and mathematician. He was was a disciple of astronomer and writer Jérôme Lalande at the Collège Royal. Véron is famous for having made a historical observation of the size of the Pacific Ocean...
(1736-1770), the astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
on Louis Antoine de Bougainville
Louis Antoine de Bougainville
Louis-Antoine, Comte de Bougainville was a French admiral and explorer. A contemporary of James Cook, he took part in the French and Indian War and the unsuccessful French attempt to defend Canada from Britain...
's ship who was able to determine the longitude by means of a solar eclipse
Solar eclipse
As seen from the Earth, a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, and the Moon fully or partially blocks the Sun as viewed from a location on Earth. This can happen only during a new moon, when the Sun and the Moon are in conjunction as seen from Earth. At least...
around this location on 13 July 1768. This fact was important for it allowed Véron to establish the width of the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
with precision for the first time in history. While the island was part of German New Guinea
German New Guinea
German New Guinea was the first part of the German colonial empire. It was a protectorate from 1884 until 1914 when it fell to Australia following the outbreak of the First World War. It consisted of the northeastern part of New Guinea and several nearby island groups...
, this range was named Hahlgebirge (Hahl Range) after German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
colonial governor Albert Hahl (1868–1945).
As other high ranges in the region, the Verron Range is covered in thick rainforest
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
and has been little studied. It is home to many rare species of fauna and flora and is highly biodiverse.
This range is part of the New Britain-New Ireland lowland rain forest terrestrial ecoregion.