Wewak Explained

Wewak
Pushpin Map:Papua New Guinea
Coordinates:-3.55°N 181°W
Pushpin Label Position:right
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within Papua New Guinea
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Papua New Guinea
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:East Sepik Province
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Wewak District
Subdivision Type3:LLG
Subdivision Name3:Wewak Urban LLG
Population Total:25,143
Population As Of:2000
Population Rank:6th
Population Density Km2:auto
Demographics Type1:Languages
Demographics1 Title1:Main languages
Demographics1 Info1:English, Tok Pisin, Kairiru, Boikin
Demographics1 Title2:Traditional languages
Demographics1 Info2:Kairiru
Established Title:Established
Established Date:1919
Elevation M:5
Timezone1:AEST
Utc Offset1:+10
Blank Name:Location
Blank Info:260km (160miles) from Wuvulu Island
Blank1 Name:Mean max temp
Blank1 Info:30.8C
Blank2 Name:Mean min temp
Blank2 Info:24.2C
Blank3 Name:Climate
Blank3 Info:Af

Wewak is the capital of the East Sepik province of Papua New Guinea. It is on the northern coast of the island of New Guinea. It is the largest town between Madang and Jayapura. It is the see city (seat) of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wewak.

History

Between 1943 and 1945, in World War II, Wewak was the site of the largest Japanese airbase in mainland New Guinea. The base was subjected to repeated bombing by Australian and American forces, most notably in one massive attack on 17 August 1943. Directly to the west of the town centre is a peninsula known as Cape Wom, which was the site of the surrender of Japanese forces in New Guinea on 13 September 1945. The site now houses a small memorial. The former Japanese airfield is still in use as the Wewak International Airport.[1] In August 1945 two war crimes trials were held near Wewak for mutilation and cannibalism. First Lieutenant Takehiro Tazaki was convicted and sentenced to death (later commuted to 5 years imprisonment with hard labour) and another accused was acquitted.[2]

Geography

The old centre of the town is on a small peninsula, with the rest of the urban area occupying a narrow band of flat land between the ocean and the coastal range of mountains that emerges a short distance inland.

To the east of the town center is a small peninsula on which is located Boram Hospital,[3] and Wewak International Airport, which is also known as Boram.

Wewak is linked by road to three villages on the Sepik River: Angoram, Timbunke, and Pagwi, though the roads are not always in good condition. Also, a coastal highway extends to the west, linking Wewak with the coastal towns of Aitape and Vanimo, which is the capital of Sandaun province.

Climate

Köppen-Geiger climate classification system classifies its climate as tropical rainforest (Af).[4]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: East Sepik Province Papua New Guinea. Pacific Wrecks. 6 June 2010.
  2. Philip Piccigallo: The Japanese on Trial; Austin 1979; (Kap. 7 "Australia and Others")
  3. Web site: Twenty Gallons of Avgas For Two Lives. Samaritan Aviation. 6 June 2010.
  4. Web site: Climate: Wewak – Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table . Climate-Data.org . 2013-12-18 .
  5. Web site: Wewak Climate and Weather Averages, Papua New Guinea . Weather2Travel . 2013-12-18 .