Lae
Encyclopedia
Lae, the capital of Morobe Province
, is the second-largest city in Papua New Guinea
. It is located at the start of the Highlands Highway
which is the main land transport corridor from the Highlands region to the coast. Lae is the largest cargo port of the country and the home of the University of Technology
or 'Unitech'.
which is now disused as it has been replaced by the new Lae Nadzab Airport
, built by Australia as an independence present. Unfortunately, this airport is 40 potholed kilometres from the city. Cargo arrived in Lae and then was transported by air to the goldfields in Wau.
In July 1937 Lae made world news when American aviator, Amelia Earhart
, was last seen flying out of the airport on her way back to the USA. She was never seen again.
When the volcanic eruptions occurred in Rabaul
in 1937 a decision was made to transfer the capital of the Territory of New Guinea to Lae. World War II
got in the way of the transfer and in 1942 the town was occupied
by the Empire of Japan
on 8 March 1942. Lae, Rabaul and Salamaua
became the major Japanese bases in New Guinea.
In mid-1943, after defeats in the Kokoda Track campaign
, the Battle of Buna–Gona and at the Battle of Wau
, the Japanese were forced to retreat to Lae and Salamaua. However, the Salamaua–Lae campaign involved many weeks of fierce fighting, before the town fell to the Allies on September 16.
Lae's development after the war is directly linked to the development of the highlands. Coffee
and tea
were being grown and a port was needed. Later priority was given on road access, and the Highlands Highway came into existence. During the mineral boom of the 1980s and 90s Lae's importance as an economic hub became clearer.
In 1991 Lae and Port Moresby hosted the South Pacific Games.
Lae is currently known for its high rainfall and the great number of potholes in its roads, earning it the nickname "Pothole City".
On 18 April 2010, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck 30 km or 20 mi east of Lae, with no immediate reports of damage.
On 24 September 2011 the annual Papua New Guinea national rugby league team
's match against the Australian Prime Minister's XIII took place outside Port Moresby
for the first time at Lae's stadium, which was packed to capacity for the match.
Morobe Province
Morobe Province is a province on the northern coast of Papua New Guinea. The provincial capital, and largest city, is Lae. The province covers 34,500 km², including 719 km² maritime area, with a population of 539,725...
, is the second-largest city in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
. It is located at the start of the Highlands Highway
Highlands Highway
The Highlands Highway, sometimes known as the Okuk Highway, is the main land highway in Papua New Guinea. It connects several major cities and is vital for the movement of people and goods between the populous Highlands region and the coast....
which is the main land transport corridor from the Highlands region to the coast. Lae is the largest cargo port of the country and the home of the University of Technology
Papua New Guinea University of Technology
The Papua New Guinea University of Technology or Unitech is based 8 km outside of Lae, in the Morobe Province of Papua New Guinea. It has 13 teaching departments and 3 affiliated colleges....
or 'Unitech'.
History
The town was born in the gold rush era of the 1920s and 30s. Like numerous Papua New Guinea towns it sprang up around an airstripLae Airport (Papua New Guinea)
Lae Airport was an airport located at Lae, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea.-History:Built without government permission by Cecil J. Levien, on behalf of Guinea Gold N.L., to assist the gold mine productions around Wau in 1927. The first flight into the airfield was a DH-37 flown bt E. A. “Pard”...
which is now disused as it has been replaced by the new Lae Nadzab Airport
Lae Nadzab Airport
Lae Nadzab Airport is a regional airport located in Lae, Papua New Guinea. It is served by regional aircraft with domestic flight.-Airlines and destinations:-History:...
, built by Australia as an independence present. Unfortunately, this airport is 40 potholed kilometres from the city. Cargo arrived in Lae and then was transported by air to the goldfields in Wau.
In July 1937 Lae made world news when American aviator, Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Mary Earhart was a noted American aviation pioneer and author. Earhart was the first woman to receive the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded for becoming the first aviatrix to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean...
, was last seen flying out of the airport on her way back to the USA. She was never seen again.
When the volcanic eruptions occurred in Rabaul
Rabaul
Rabaul is a township in East New Britain province, Papua New Guinea. The town was the provincial capital and most important settlement in the province until it was destroyed in 1994 by falling ash of a volcanic eruption. During the eruption, ash was sent thousands of metres into the air and the...
in 1937 a decision was made to transfer the capital of the Territory of New Guinea to Lae. World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
got in the way of the transfer and in 1942 the town was occupied
Invasion of Lae-Salamaua
The Invasion of Lae-Salamaua, called Operation SR by the Japanese, was an operation by Imperial Japanese forces to occupy the Salamaua-Lae area in the Territory of New Guinea 8–13 March 1942 during the Pacific campaign of World War II...
by the Empire of Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
on 8 March 1942. Lae, Rabaul and Salamaua
Salamaua
Salamaua was a small town situated on the north-eastern coastline of Papua New Guinea part of Morobe province. The settlement was built on a minor isthmus between the coast with mountains on the inland side and a headland...
became the major Japanese bases in New Guinea.
In mid-1943, after defeats in the Kokoda Track campaign
Kokoda Track campaign
The Kokoda Track campaign or Kokoda Trail campaign was part of the Pacific War of World War II. The campaign consisted of a series of battles fought between July and November 1942 between Japanese and Allied—primarily Australian—forces in what was then the Australian territory of Papua...
, the Battle of Buna–Gona and at the Battle of Wau
Battle of Wau
The Battle of Wau, 29–31 January 1943, was a battle in the New Guinea campaign of World War II. Forces of the Empire of Japan sailed from Rabaul and crossed the Solomon Sea and, despite Allied air attacks, successfully reached Lae, where they disembarked...
, the Japanese were forced to retreat to Lae and Salamaua. However, the Salamaua–Lae campaign involved many weeks of fierce fighting, before the town fell to the Allies on September 16.
Lae's development after the war is directly linked to the development of the highlands. Coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
and tea
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
were being grown and a port was needed. Later priority was given on road access, and the Highlands Highway came into existence. During the mineral boom of the 1980s and 90s Lae's importance as an economic hub became clearer.
In 1991 Lae and Port Moresby hosted the South Pacific Games.
Lae is currently known for its high rainfall and the great number of potholes in its roads, earning it the nickname "Pothole City".
On 18 April 2010, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck 30 km or 20 mi east of Lae, with no immediate reports of damage.
On 24 September 2011 the annual Papua New Guinea national rugby league team
Papua New Guinea national rugby league team
The Papua New Guinea national rugby league team represents Papua New Guinea internationally in the sport of rugby league football.In Papua New Guinea, Rugby league is highly popular and is regarded as the country’s national sport. The national side are known as the Kumuls...
's match against the Australian Prime Minister's XIII took place outside Port Moresby
Port Moresby
Port Moresby , or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea . It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea, which made it a prime objective for conquest by the Imperial Japanese forces during 1942–43...
for the first time at Lae's stadium, which was packed to capacity for the match.