Morobe Province
| Morobe | |
|---|---|
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| geography | |
| Country: | Papua New Guinea |
| Waters: | Pacific Ocean |
| Islands: | Umboi and Tami Islands approx. 20 offshore islands |
| Geographical location: | 6 ° 50 ′ S , 146 ° 40 ′ E |
| Basic data | |
| Surface: | 34,500 km² |
| Residents: | 674.810 |
| Population density: | 20 inhabitants / km² |
| Capital: | Lae |
| Situation map | |
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Morobe (German outdated: Adolfhafen ) is one of the 19 provinces of Papua New Guinea . It is around 34,500 km² and has a population of around 674,810 (2011 census). The capital is Lae , with almost 148,000 inhabitants in 2011 the second largest city in the country.
geography
Morobe is located in the northeast part of New Guinea. On the north coast of the province there are lowlands, the east coast around the Huon Gulf and the inland consist of partly high mountains. Several islands belong to Morobe, including Umboi with 777 km² and the Tami Islands . The largest river in the province is the Markham River .
economy
Morobe is one of the most industrialized and densely populated province of Papua New Guinea. In addition to metal processing companies, the world's largest plywood factory is located here. Morobe is also a leader in the raising of cattle and chickens. Tourism also plays a role.
The road situation is better than in most of the provinces. The well-known Highlands Highway , which leads into the highland provinces, begins in the capital , and the coastal roads are also generally easy to drive.
Neighboring provinces are Madang to the north, Eastern Highlands to the west, Gulf , Central and Oro to the south .
History and Gold Rush
Prehistoric times
The area of today's Morobe Province was inhabited at least 40,000 years ago. Stone axes found near Bobongora date from this time. Older settlements were probably located near the coast, but have been flooded by rising sea levels.
German colonial times
The first more intensive contact with Europeans goes back to the end of the 19th century, when the German New Guinea Company founded a first settlement in Finschhafen in 1885 . However, as a result of malaria and other tropical diseases, the colonization attempt was soon abandoned and relocated to New Britain . During the First World War , the German captain Hermann Detzner hid with a few men in the interior of the province and only surrendered in November 1918.
Gold rush
In 1921, under Australian rule, gold was found in Wau . A few years later, as a result of the gold rush , gold prospectors poured into Wau via the port of Salamaua and there was an economic boom . At that time, Morobe and Guinea Airways held the world record for air freight, as there were no roads yet and transport over mountain paths was very tedious for the prospectors. Attacks by the actual inhabitants of the impassable area and tropical diseases resulted in a high death toll. In 1926 another, more productive gold field was found very close to Wau and made it necessary to fly in heavy equipment. For a short time, more air freight was moved between Lae and Wau than in the rest of the world combined. It wasn't until 1965 that the last of the major mines closed.
Today's provincial capital Lae , at that time still in the spelling Lehe , was a small mission station at the beginning of the gold rush. It soon developed around its airstrip.
Second World War
During the Second World War , the Morobe towns of Lae and Salamaua, along with Rabaul, became the main Japanese bases in New Guinea. In early 1943 Japan lost a battle against Australia at Wau , which led to the recapture of Laes and Salamaua by Australia by September. The destroyed Salamaua was never rebuilt and is now just a small village.
Post war history
The rapidly increasing export of coffee , tea and minerals led to the expansion of the seaport in Lae in the 1980s and 1990s.
Districts and LLGs
Morobe Province is divided into nine districts. Each district consists of one or more "areas at the local administrative level", Local Level Government (LLG) Areas , which are divided into Rural (rural) or Urban (urban) LLGs.
| District | Administrative center | Designation of the LLG areas |
|---|---|---|
| Bulolo district | Bulolo | Mumeng Rural |
| Waria Rural | ||
| Watut Rural | ||
| Wau-Bulolo Urban | ||
| Wau Rural | ||
| Buang Rural | ||
| Finschhafen district | Gagidu | Hube Rural |
| Kotte Rural | ||
| Finschhafen Urban | ||
| Yabim-Mape Rural | ||
| Burum-Kuat Rural | ||
| Huon district | Salamaua | Morobe Rural |
| Salamaua Rural | ||
| Wampar Rural | ||
| Kabwum District | Kabwum | Deyamos Rural |
| Komba (Seko) Rural | ||
| Yus Rural | ||
| Selepet Rural | ||
| Lae district | Lae | Ahi Rural |
| Lae Urban | ||
| Markham District | Kaiapit | Onga-Waffa Rural |
| Umi-Atzero Rural | ||
| Wantoat-Leron Rural | ||
| Menyamya District | Menyamya | Kapao Rural |
| Nanima Kariba | ||
| Kome Rural | ||
| Wapi Rural | ||
| Nawae District | Boana | Labuta Rural |
| Nabak Rural | ||
| Wain-Erap Rural | ||
| Tewae-Siassi District | Wasu | Sialum Rural |
| Siassi Rural | ||
| Wasu Rural |
languages
In Morobe Province, 41 Austronesian languages and 57 non-Austronesian "mainland languages" ( Papuan languages ) are spoken. Tok Pisin is the main lingua franca . In 1995, 52.2 percent of the population could write at least one language. Mostly it was one of the local languages (46.1%), Tok Pisin (42.9%), English (27.2%) or Hiri Motu (2.2%). The Lutheran church languages Kate and Yabem are important beyond their own circle of speakers . However, this is falling in favor of the lingua franca Tok Pisin.
See also: Languages of Papua New Guinea
religion
In 1995, 77.6 percent belonged to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (see also Lutheran Church ) and 5.8 percent to the Catholic Church . 34 percent of the students enrolled attended church schools.
Individual evidence
- ↑ German Colonial Lexicon. Edited by Heinrich Schnee. - Leipzig: Quelle & Meyer 1920. - 3 vols.
- ^ National Statistical Office of Papua New Guinea
Bougainville | Central | Eastern Highlands | East New Britain | East Sepik | Enga | Gulf | Hela | Jiwaka | Madang | Manus | Milne Bay | Morobe | New Ireland | Oro | Sandaun | Simbu (Chimbu) | Southern Highlands | Western | Western Highlands | West New Britain | National Capital District (Port Moresby)