Kokopo Explained

Kokopo
Pushpin Map:Papua New Guinea
Coordinates:-4.35°N 152.2736°W
Pushpin Label Position:right
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within New Britain and Ireland
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Papua New Guinea
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:East New Britain
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Kokopo District
Subdivision Type3:LLG
Subdivision Name3:Kokopo/Vunamami Urban
Population Total:20,262
Population As Of:2000
Population Rank:8th
Population Density Km2:auto
Demographics Type1:Languages
Demographics1 Title1:Main languages
Demographics1 Info1:Kuanua, Tok Pisin, English
Elevation M:4
Timezone1:AEST
Utc Offset1:+10
Blank Name:Location
Blank Info:20km (10miles) from Rabaul
Blank1 Name:Mean max temp
Blank1 Info:31C
Blank2 Name:Mean min temp
Blank2 Info:23.3C
Blank3 Name:Annual rainfall
Blank3 Info:2003sigfig=4NaNsigfig=4
Blank4 Name:Climate
Blank4 Info:Af

Kokopo is the capital of East New Britain Province in Papua New Guinea. It is administered under Kokopo/Vunamami Urban LLG. The capital was moved from Rabaul in 1994 when the volcanoes Tavurvur and Vulcan erupted. As a result, the population of the town increased more than sixfold from 3,150 in 1990 to 20,262 in 2000.[1]

Kokopo was known as Herbertshöhe (Herbert's Heights), named in honour of Herbert, eldest son of German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, during the German New Guinea administration, which controlled the area between 1884 and formally until 1919. Until 1910, it was the capital of German New Guinea.

On Sunday, March 29, 2015, a strong earthquake, of a preliminary magnitude of at least 7.5, which at that time was the largest earthquake of 2015, was recorded near Kokopo, and a tsunami warning was issued. This was surpassed a month later by the April 2015 Nepal earthquake, which measured a magnitude 7.8.

In 2015, a research and conservation project was suggested to study and protect spinner dolphins[2] living around Kokopo beach, as this population may be threatened if construction of a new port for larger shipping lanes is initiated.[3]

Communication links

The remains of the former capital Rabaul are located some 20km (10miles) to the north-west of Kokopo, when using the Kokopo-Rabaul Highway. There are around 4,000 inhabitants in Rabaul, down from over 17,000 before the latest volcanic eruption.

Rabaul Airport (also called "Tokua Airport"), one of Papua New Guinea's largest domestic airports, is located a few kilometres east of Kokopo.

Climate

Kokopo has a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen Af) with heavy rainfall and hot temperatures year-round.

PNG Hunters

The Papua New Guinea Hunters (PNG Hunters) are a rugby league football club based in Kokopo. They were established in 2013 and currently compete in the QRL's Intrust Super Cup.[4] The Hunters' home ground is Kalabond Oval in Kokopo and their team colours are red, black and gold.[5]

Notes and References

  1. PNG Census 2000
  2. Web site: 2017-03-31. Papua New Guinea 2016 Trip Report. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170331211816/http://www.kbb.com.pg/NG-PNG-Report.pdf. 2017-03-31.
  3. Web site: ハシナガイルカの生息地を守るプロジェクト ~戦後70年。パプアニューギニア・ラバウルの海を潜る~. 2021-12-25. ダイビングと海の総合サイト・オーシャナ. ja.
  4. News: Papua New Guinea gain entry to Queensland Cup 2014. ABC News. 28 November 2013.
  5. News: Pangkatana. John. Q-Cup name unveiled. The National. 24 December 2013.