BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO

bismarck archipelago, the collective name of a large number of islands lying n. and n.e. of new guinea, between 1 deg. and 7 deg. s., and 146 deg. and 153 deg. e., belonging to germany. the largest island is new pomerania, and the archipelago also includes new mecklenburg, new hanover, with small attendant islands, the admiralty islands and a chain of islands off the coast of new guinea, the whole system lying in the form of a great amphitheatre of oval shape. the archipelago was named in honour of the first chancellor of the german empire, after a german protectorate had been declared in 1884. (see admiralty islands, new mecklenburg, new pomerania, new guinea.)