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Lae

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Lae is a major city in Papua New Guinea.

It is the capital of the Morobe Province. You can find it on the northern coast of the Huon Gulf. The city sits near the delta of the Markham River. It is the second-largest city in the whole country.

Maoke Plate map-fr
Maoke Plate map-fr

Lae is a very busy place for trade. It is the largest cargo port in Papua New Guinea. The city is also a hub for industry. It is the starting point for the Highlands Highway. This road connects the coast to the Highlands Region.

Lae has a long and changing history. In the late 1800s, German missionaries arrived in the area.

LutheranLiteCare
LutheranLiteCare

A man named Johann Flierl sailed to nearby Simbang in 1886. Later, gold was found in the region. This led to a big gold rush. A man named Cecil John Levien helped build an airstrip in 1927. This helped move gold from mines in Wau. In July 1937, the famous pilot Amelia Earhart was last seen flying from this airport. During World War II, the Japanese occupied the town in 1942. The Allies eventually took control of Lae in September 1943.

RSLmonument
RSLmonument

The ground beneath Lae is very active. The city sits on the South Bismarck tectonic plate.

Maoke Plate map-fr
Maoke Plate map-fr

It is located near the edge of the Pacific plate and the Indo-Australian plate. This area is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. Because these plates move, the region has many earthquakes. Large earthquakes have happened near Lae in 1999 and 2007. A tall landmark called Mount Lunaman is nearby.

Japanese tunnel in Mt. Lunaman in Chinatown
Japanese tunnel in Mt. Lunaman in Chinatown

During the war, soldiers used tunnels inside this hill. Some people believe these tunnels were used for storage. Local people call the mountain Lo' Wamung, which means "first hill."

The weather in Lae is very wet and tropical. It has a tropical rainforest climate. It rains a huge amount every single year. The temperature stays about the same throughout the year. This rain helps many things grow in the area. Because of the rain, the Morobe Province grows great food. Lae has the best food market in Papua New Guinea.

StMaryCatholic
StMaryCatholic

People come to buy fresh taro, bananas, and sweet potatoes. You can also find many fruits and vegetables there. The market gets food from the Highlands provinces too.

Lae is a place of learning and growth. It is known as the Garden City. The Papua New Guinea University of Technology is located just outside the city.

This university focuses on applied sciences and research. The city also has many large businesses. These companies help supply goods to many different regions. The local government works to keep the city safe and modern. They want Lae to be a vibrant place to live. It is a city that connects the coast to the mountains.

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🖼️ Images & Media (9)
File:LutheranLiteCare.jpg
LutheranLiteCare.jpg
File:StMaryCatholic.jpg
StMaryCatholic.jpg
File:RSLmonument.jpg
RSLmonument.jpg
File:OldRSL.jpg
OldRSL.jpg
File:Maoke Plate map-fr.png
Maoke Plate map-fr.png
File:Japanese tunnel in Mt. Lunaman in Chinatown.jpg
Japanese tunnel in Mt. Lunaman in Chinatown.jpg
File:Lae Botanical Gardens DC3.jpg
Lae Botanical Gardens DC3.jpg
File:LaeInternationalHotel.jpg
LaeInternationalHotel.jpg
File:Lae Yacht Club.jpg
Lae Yacht Club.jpg
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