During the late 17th or early 18th century virtually all of the biota on the island was destroyed and has subsequently provided scientists a unique opportunity to study recolonization efforts by plants, animals, and humans.

The 1660 eruption was one of the largest in Papua New Guinea's recent history with an estimated air-fall volume in excess of 11 km3 (2.6 cu mi),[3] comparable to the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo, but the Global Volcanism Program gives a much higher estimate of 30 km3 (7.2 cu mi).

[5] The local population regularly harvests eggs from three species of sea turtle, these are Eretmochelys imbricata bissa, Chelonia mydas, and less commonly, Dermochelys coriacea.

[6] A single impressive human-like stone carving was discovered near the present-day settlement of Bok, the exact age of which is unknown.

[5] The first sighting by Europeans of Long Island was by the Spanish navigator Iñigo Órtiz de Retes on 12 August 1545 when on board of the carrack San Juan he tried to return from Tidore to New Spain.

During World War II, Long Island served as a crucial barge staging area for the Imperial Japanese forces.

[citation needed] Early anthropologists observed that island inhabitants believe in a cargo cult creation myth.

[5][8] Folklore relating to the volcanic eruption on Long Island and its subsequent ash fall have been recorded from surrounding areas such as Astrolabe Bay and the Rai Coast.

Long islanders are quite superstitious about the lake and will seldom ever approach its shoreline as they believe another, stronger, race of humans lives nearby.

[9] Barringtonia speciosa is noted to be one of the most abundant trees on the island, likely due to the mechanism and ease in which its seeds are disseminated.

[5] Long island is host to a wide variety of animal species including reptiles, birds, bats, rodents, and populations of feral pigs, cats, dogs, and chickens.