Majuro

Majuro
Majuro

Lagoon shoreline on Majuro, February 1973
Majuro is located in Marshall islands
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Majuro (Marshall islands)
Geography
Location Pacific Ocean
Coordinates 7°4′N 171°16′E / 7.067°N 171.267°E / 7.067; 171.267
Archipelago Marshall Islands
Area 3.75 sq mi (9.71 km2)
Highest elevation 10 ft (3 m)
Highest point Laura
Country
Marshall Islands Marshall Islands
Demographics
Population 25,400 (as of 2004)
Density 2,618.56 /km2 (6,782.04 /sq mi)
Ethnic groups Marshallese

Majuro (play /ˈmæər/) (Marshallese: Mājro, /mʲatʲrˠɘɦˠʷ/ or [mæʑɛ͡ʌr̴ɤ͡oo̯]),[1] is a large coral atoll of 64 islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district of the Ratak Chain of the Marshall Islands. The atoll itself has a land area of 9.7 square kilometres (3.7 sq mi) and encloses a lagoon of 295 square kilometres (114 sq mi). As with other atolls in the Marshall Islands, Majuro consists of narrow land masses.

The main population center, also named Majuro, population 25,400 (as of 2004), is the capital and largest city of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Majuro has a port, shopping district, hotels, and an international airport.

Contents

Demographics

The major population centers are the D–U–D communities: the islets of DelapUligaDjarrit (listed from south to north, on the eastern edge of the atoll).

Geography

At the western end of the atoll, about 30 miles (48 km) from D–U–D by road, is the island community of Laura, a growing residential area with a popular beach. Laura has the highest elevation point on the atoll, estimated at less than 10 feet above sea level.

Laura has the best soil for planting and has several farms.

History

Lagoon side with native dwellings

Humans have inhabited the atoll for at least 2,000 years.[2]

Majuro Atoll was claimed by the Empire of Germany along with the rest of the Marshall Islands in 1884, and the Germans established a trading outpost. As with the rest of the Marshalls, Maruro was captured by the Imperial Japanese Navy in 1914 during World War I and mandated to the Empire of Japan by the League of Nations in 1920. The Japanese administration of the island came under the South Pacific Mandate, but mostly left local affairs in hands of traditional local leaders until the start of World War II.

U.S. Fifth Fleet at Majuro Atoll 1944.

On January 30, 1944, United States troops invaded, but found that Japanese forces had previously evacuated their fortifications to Kwajalein and Enewetak about a year earlier. A single Japanese warrant officer had been left on the island as a care taker. With his capture, the islands were secured. This gave the U.S. Navy use of one of the largest anchorages in the Central Pacific. The lagoon became a large forward naval base of operations, and was the largest and most active port in the world until the war moved westward and it was supplanted by Ulithi.[3]

Following the end of World War II, Majuro came under the control of the United States as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. It supplanted Jaluit Atoll as the administrative center of the Marshall Islands, a status that it retains after the independence of the Marshall Islands in 1986.

Economy

Uliga is the main business district, and banking and tourism are increasingly important.[citation needed]

The government offices are located in Delap. Located at the eastern point of Majuro Atoll is the capitol building for the Marshall Islands. Delap also has several large stores.

Copra (coconut oil) is one of the main exports of the Marshall Islands, and Majuro receives copra shipments from most of the smaller populated atolls surrounding the area. Sport fishing is popular, and scuba divers are attracted to the area. Majuro serves as a transportation hub for the Marshall Islands, both for air service and shipping.

On September 15, 2007, Witon Barry, of the Tobolar Copra processing plant in the Marshall Islands' capital of Majuro, said power authorities, private companies and entrepreneurs had been experimenting with coconut oil as an alternative to diesel fuel for vehicles, power generators and ships. Coconut trees abound in the Pacific's tropical islands. Copra from 6 to 10 coconuts makes 1 litre oil.[4]

Air Marshall Islands has its headquarters in Majuro.[5]

Education

Students at the Majuro Cooperative School raise the Republic of Marshall Islands flag at a flag raising ceremony during a Pacific Partnership 2009 community service project

Uliga is home to the College of the Marshall Islands, Assumption High School, and Uliga Elementary School where English is taught to all students.[citation needed]

Djarrit is mostly residential. It has the largest public primary and a secondary schools in the country,[citation needed] including Marshall Islands High School located near the north end of Majuro.

Transportation

Air

Marshall Islands International Airport, offering domestic and international service, is located on Majuro Atoll. It is served by two passenger airlines: Continental Airlines and Air Marshall Islands.

Boat

Majuro Lagoon is an active port that is visited by ships and boats used for various activities. The Marshall Islands Shipping Corporation operates three ships (Aeaman, Langdrik, Ribuukae) and a landing craft (Jelejeletae). These boats are the main link for transporting people and supplies to and from the outer islands.

Additionally, the lagoon acts as a harbor for commercial fishing vessels, cruisers, sport fishing boats, outrigger sailing canoes and the occasional luxury yacht.

Roads

Most of the roadway from Delap to Laura is a single two-lane paved road.[citation needed]

Sport

Majuro was initially scheduled to host the seventh edition of the Micronesian Games, in 2010. It subsequently renounced its hosting rights, citing a lack of adequate infrastructure.[6][7]

Sister cities

City Region Country Year
Guam  Guam  United States 1973
Kawai  Nara  Japan
Tapei Republic of China Taipei–Keelung metropolitan area  Taiwan 1999

References

External links

Coordinates: 7°04′N 171°16′E / 7.067°N 171.267°E / 7.067; 171.267


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Majuro — Majuro …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Majuro — Majuro, población 25.400 (a partir de 2004), es mencionada a veces como la capital de la República de las islas Marshall. Las comunidades D U D o Dalap Uliga Darrit, localizadas en el punto oriental del atolón Majuro son la capital de las islas… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Majuro —   [mɑː dʒʊərəʊ], Atoll in der Ratakgruppe der Marshallinseln …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Majuro — cotes du lagon de Majuro, Février 1973 7°5′44″N 171°22′41″E …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Majuro — En este artículo sobre geografía se detectaron los siguientes problemas: Necesita ser wikificado conforme a las convenciones de estilo de Wikipedia. Carece de fuentes o referencias que aparezcan en una fuente acreditada. P …   Wikipedia Español

  • Majuro — Original name in latin Majuro Name in other language MAJ, Madzhuro, Majur, Majuro, Mazouro, Маджуро State code MH Continent/City Pacific/Majuro longitude 7.08971 latitude 171.38027 altitude 6 Population 25400 Date 2010 08 06 …   Cities with a population over 1000 database

  • Majuro — Ma·ju·ro (mə jo͝orʹō) The capital of the Marshall Islands, an atoll of the southern Ratak Chain. Population: 20,000. * * * Atoll (pop., 1999: 23,676) in the Ratak (eastern) chain of the Marshall Islands and capital of the Republic of the Marshall …   Universalium

  • Majuro — /məˈdʒuroʊ/ (say muh joohroh) noun the capital of the Marshall Islands, on Majuro Island …  

  • Majuro Atoll — Majuro cotes du lagon de Majuro, Février 1973 7°5′44″N …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Majuro Island — bezeichnet ein langgestrecktes Motu auf dem südlichen Riffkranz des Majuro Atolls; siehe Laura Island (Marshallinseln) eine Inselansammlung im Osten des Majuro Atolls; siehe Delap Uliga Darrit Diese Seite ist eine …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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