Majuro

Majuro

Lagoon shoreline on Majuro, February 1973
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
Highest elevation	3 m (10 ft)
Highest point	Laura
Country
Marshall Islands
Demographics
Population	30,000 (as of 2008)
Density	2,618.56 /km2 (6,782.04 /sq mi)
Ethnic groups	Marshallese

Majuro /ˈmædʒəroʊ/ (Marshallese: Mājro, [mʲæzʲ(ɛ͡ʌ)rˠɤ͡oo̯])^[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 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.

Geography

At the western end of the atoll, about 50 kilometres (30 mi) 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 3 metres (10 feet) above sea level.

Djarrit is mostly residential.

Climate

Being slightly north of the Equator, Majuro has a tropical climate with temperatures always above 21 °C (70 °F).

History

Lagoon side with native dwellings

Humans have inhabited the atoll for at least 2,000 years.^[4]

Majuro Atoll was claimed by the Empire of Germany with the rest of the Marshall Islands in 1884, and the Germans established a trading outpost. As with the rest of the Marshalls, Majuro 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 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 evacuated their fortifications to Kwajalein and Enewetak about a year earlier. A single Japanese warrant officer had been left as a caretaker. 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 when it was supplanted by Ulithi (Yap, Federated States of Micronesia).^[5]

Following 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.

Demographics

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 had a population of 30,000.^[6]

Religion

Most of the population is Christian.^[6] The majority follows the United Church of Christ. The Cathedral of the Assumption of the Roman Catholic Apostolic Prefecture of the Marshall Islands is located in Majuro.^[7]

Islamic influence has been increasing. There is a sizable number of Ahmadi Muslims. The first mosque opened in Majuro in September 2012.^[8]

Economy

Majuro's economy is driven by the service sector.^[6]

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 off oil.^[9]

Air Marshall Islands has its headquarters in Majuro.^[10]

Education

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

Housed in Uliga are the College of the Marshall Islands, Assumption High School, and Uliga Elementary School where English is taught to all students.

The Marshall Islands High School is near the north end of Majuro.

The University of South Pacific has a presence on Majuro.^[6]

Delap has the Seventh Day Adventist High School and Elementary School where English is taught to all students.^[11]

Health

Majuro Hospital has 81 beds.^[12] It is the main hospital for Majuro, as well as many of the outer islands.

In 2006, infant mortality was 3.0%.^[6]

Average life expectancy at birth is 59 and 60 years for males and females respectively.^[13]

Transportation

Air

Marshall Islands International Airport, offering domestic and international services, is on Majuro Atoll. It is served by four passenger airlines: United Airlines, Our Airline, Air Marshall Islands, and Asia Pacific Airlines.^[14]

Air Marshall Islands flies to most of the Marshalls' inhabited atolls once a week.^[15] It offers daily service between Majuro and Kwajalein except Thursdays and Sundays.^[16]

Boat

Majuro Lagoon is an active port. The Marshall Islands Shipping Corporation operates three ships (Aeaman, Langdrik, Ribuukae) and a landing craft (Jelejeletae). These vessels 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 Rita to Laura is a single two-lane paved road.

Sports

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.^[17][18]

Sister cities

City	Region	Country	Year
Guam	Guam	USA	1973
Kawai	Nara	Japan
Taipei[19]		Taiwan	1999

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Majuro.

• Marshall Islands site
• Entry at Oceandots.com at the Wayback Machine (archived December 23, 2010)
• Recent photos of the rural portions of Majuro
• World War II photos of Majuro
• Battle of Kwajalein and Enewetak

Republic of the Marshall Islands Bold indicates populated islands Italics indicate single island Ratak Chain (Sunrise, Eastern) Bokak (Taongi) Bikar Utirik Toke Mejit Ailuk Jemo Likiep Wotje Erikub Maloelap Aur Majuro Arno Mili Knox (Nadikdik) Ralik Chain (Sunset, Western) Enewetak Ujelang Bikini Rongerik Rongelap Ailinginae Wotho Ujae Lae Kwajalein Lib Namu Jabat Ailinglaplap Jaluit Kili Namorik Ebon

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