Port Moresby facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Port Moresby Pot Mosbi
Downtown Port Moresby
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Port Moresby Location in Papua New Guinea Show map of Papua New Guinea Port Moresby Location in Oceania Show map of Oceania
Country	Papua New Guinea
Division	National Capital District
Established	1873
Area
• Total	240 km2 (90 sq mi)
Elevation	35 m (115 ft)
Population  (2011 census)
• Total	364,145
• Density	1,517/km2 (3,930/sq mi)
Languages
• Main languages	Motu, Tok Pisin, English
Time zone	UTC+10 (AEST)
Postal code	111

Port Moresby, also referred to as Pom City or simply Moresby, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea and the largest city in the South Pacific outside of Australia and New Zealand. It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, on the south-western coast of the Papuan Peninsula of the island of New Guinea. The city emerged as a trade centre in the second half of the 19th century. During World War II it was a prime objective for conquest by the Imperial Japanese forces during 1942–43 as a staging point and air base to cut off Australia from Southeast Asia and the Americas.

In 2000 it had a population of 254,158. As of 2011^[update], it had a population of 364,145, giving it an annual growth rate of 2.1% over a nine-year period. The place where the city was founded has been inhabited by the Motu-Koitabu people for centuries. The first Briton to see it was Captain John Moresby in 1873. It was named in honour of his father, Admiral Sir Fairfax Moresby.

Although Port Moresby is surrounded by Central Province, of which it is also the capital, it is not part of that province, but forms the National Capital District.

Port Moresby hosted the APEC summit in November 2018, however there were concerns about security given the capital's reputation for violent crime.

Images for kids

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  A Hiri expedition arriving in Port Moresby in the 1990s

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  Queensland raises the British flag at Port Moresby in 1883

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  Government House in Port Moresby—still used today though substantially enlarged and altered—, at the beginning of 20th century.

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  Douglas Street, Port Moresby: Old hotel lot, vacant for 30 years, and new building behind it.

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  The longstanding downtown United Church with next door office building in 2013 were replaced with one building, the church on the ground floor.

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  Downtown

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  Urban sustainability analysis of the greater urban area of the city, using the Circles of Sustainability method of the UN Global Compact Cities Programme.

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  Walter Bay from hills immediately east of downtown Port Moresby

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  Ela Beach

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  Coastal housing at Hanuabada in Port Moresby

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  Jacksons International Airport, looking east across the airstrip.

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  Port Moresby, seen from the International Space Station

See also

In Spanish: Puerto Moresby para niños