Cikobia-i-Lau
{{Short description|Island of Fiji}}
{{Distinguish|Cikobia-i-Ra}}{{Infobox islands
|name=Cikobia-i-Lau
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|population=100
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|country_admin_divisions=Northern Division
|country_admin_divisions_title=Division
|country=Fiji
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|image_name=Fiji map.png
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|archipelago=Vanua Levu Group
|coordinates={{coord|17|17|S|178|47|W|scale:2500000|display=inline}}
|location=Pacific Ocean
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|image_caption=Map of Vanua Levu
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{{coord|17|16|53|S|178|47|11|W|type:landmark|display=title}}Cikobia-i-Lau,{{refn|The island is distinct from Cikobia-i-Ra or "Leeward Cikobia", which is the northern most of the Fijian islands.|name=first|group=note}} or Cirikalia, is an island in the Lau Islands in the north-east of Fiji. The island has historically been called Thikombia,{{Cite journal|last=Nunn|first=Patrick D.|date=1990|title=Coastal Processes and Landforms of Fiji: Their Bearing on Holocene Sea-Level Changes in the South and West Pacific|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4297680|journal=Journal of Coastal Research|volume=6|issue=2|pages=279–310|jstor=4297680|issn=0749-0208}} Thimkombia-i-Lau{{Cite journal|last=Nunn|first=Patrick D.|date=August 1987|title=Late Cenozoic tectonic history of Lau Ridge, Southwest Pacific, and associated shoreline displacements: Review and analysis|journal=New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics|language=en|volume=30|issue=3|pages=241–260|doi=10.1080/00288306.1987.10552620|issn=0028-8306|doi-access=free}} or Farewell Island.
Environment
In the Quaternary period, Cikobia-i-Lau was one of the most seismically active islands in Fiji. In 1976 white-tailed tropic birds were using the islands cliffs as nest sites.{{Cite journal|last=Tarburton|first=M|title=Some recent observations on sea birds nesting in Fiji|url=http://www.notornis.osnz.org.nz/system/files/Notornis_25_4.pdf#page=51|journal=Notornis|volume=25|issue=4|access-date=2021-04-14|archive-date=2022-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207065731/http://notornis.osnz.org.nz/system/files/Notornis_25_4.pdf#page=51|url-status=dead}} The island is forested, has one village, as well as some caves, cliffs and gardens.
In 2016 Cyclone Winston damaged the island and its infrastructure, and repairs supported by the Fijian and New Zealand governments began in March.{{Cite web|title=Cikobia starts repair works|url=https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/cikobia-starts-repair-works/|access-date=2021-04-14|website=Fiji Broadcasting Corporation}}
Society
In 1982 Cikobiai-Lau's islanders rescued a Californian family who had spent 25 days adrift before being stranded on a sand bar close to the island.{{Cite web|title=Family survives ordeal at sea|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/12/07/Family-survives-ordeal-at-sea/2584408085200/|access-date=2021-04-14|website=UPI|language=en}}
Notable people
Gallery
File:Yanuyanu & Cikobia from ridge behind Sawana, Vanua Balavu Fiji 1977.jpg|Patchwork of vegetation in foreground, looking past Yanuyanu Island across the huge lagoon towards Cikobia-i-Lau in the distance
File:Moussonia brodieae (MNHN-IM-2000-27439).jpeg|Holotype specimens of Moussonia bronieae, snails endemic to the island.{{Cite web|title=Holotype Moussonia brodieae|url=https://science.mnhn.fr/institution/mnhn/collection/im/item/2000-27439|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-14|website=science.mnhn.fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414215448/https://science.mnhn.fr/institution/mnhn/collection/im/item/2000-27439 |archive-date=2021-04-14 }}
File:NASA Sees Cyclone Evan in 3-D (8281242347).jpg|Cyclone over Cikobia-i-Lau, 2012
Notes
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