Lagoon shoreline on Majuro, February 1973 |
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Majuro (Marshall islands)
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Archipelago | Marshall Islands |
| Area | 3.75 sq mi (9.71 km2) |
| Highest elevation | 10 ft (3 m) |
| Highest point | Laura |
| Country | |
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Marshall Islands
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| Demographics | |
| Population | 25,400 (as of 2004) |
| Density | 2,618.56 /km2 (6,782.04 /sq mi) |
| Ethnic groups | Marshallese |
Majuro ( /ˈmædʒəroʊ/) (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[update]), is the capital and largest city of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Majuro has a port, shopping district, hotels, and an international airport.
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The major population centers are the D–U–D communities: the islets of Delap–Uliga–Djarrit (listed from south to north, on the eastern edge of the atoll). As of 2008, Majuro has a population of 30,000.[2] Most people are Christians.[2]
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.
| Climate data for Majuro | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 29.6 (85.2) |
29.7 (85.5) |
29.8 (85.7) |
29.9 (85.9) |
29.9 (85.9) |
29.9 (85.9) |
30.2 (86.3) |
30.3 (86.5) |
30.2 (86.4) |
30.1 (86.1) |
29.7 (85.5) |
29.9 (85.9) |
29.94 (85.90) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 24.9 (76.9) |
25.1 (77.1) |
25 (77) |
25.1 (77.1) |
24.9 (76.8) |
24.8 (76.7) |
24.9 (76.9) |
24.9 (76.8) |
24.9 (76.8) |
24.9 (76.9) |
24.9 (76.9) |
24.9 (76.9) |
24.94 (76.90) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 206 (8.1) |
178 (7) |
208 (8.2) |
272 (10.7) |
279 (11) |
292 (11.5) |
312 (12.3) |
292 (11.5) |
320 (12.6) |
361 (14.2) |
338 (13.3) |
292 (11.5) |
3,350 (131.9) |
| Source: Weatherbase [3] | |||||||||||||
Humans have inhabited the atoll for at least 2,000 years.[4]
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.
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.[5]
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.
Majuro's economy is driven by the service sector.[2]
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.[6]
Air Marshall Islands has its headquarters in Majuro.[7]
Uliga is home to the College of the Marshall Islands, Assumption High School, and Uliga Elementary School where English is taught to all students.
Djarrit is mostly residential. It has the largest public primary and a secondary schools in the country, including Marshall Islands High School located near the north end of Majuro.
The University of South Pacific has a presence on Majuro.[2]
In 2006, infant mortality was 3.0%.[2]
Marshall Islands International Airport, offering domestic and international service, is located on Majuro Atoll. It is served by two passenger airlines: United Airlines and Air Marshall Islands.
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.
Most of the roadway from Delap to Laura is a single two-lane paved road.
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.[8][9]
| City | Region | Country | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guam | Guam | United States | 1973 |
| Kawai | Nara | Japan | |
| Tapei | Republic of China Taipei–Keelung metropolitan area | Republic of China | 1999 |
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