Lae

For the atoll in the Marshall Islands, see Lae Atoll.

For the Australian warships, see HMAS Lae.

Lae Morobe Province Papua New Guinea
University of Technology library
Lae
District:	Lae District
LLG:	Lae Urban LLG
Coordinates:	6°44′S 147°0′E
Population:	72,967 (2000) (2nd)
Elevation:	8 m (26 ft)
Mean Max Temp Mean Min Temp Annual Rainfall 31 °C 88 °F 23 °C 73 °F 4,500 mm 177.2 in

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'.

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 Like numerous Papua New Guinea towns it sprang up around an airstrip which is now disused as it has been replaced by the new Lae Nadzab Airport, built by Australia as an independence present.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 United States. 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 16 September.

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".^{[citation needed]}

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.

Climate

Climate data for Lae
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	31 (88)	31 (88)	31 (87)	30 (86)	29 (85)	28 (83)	28 (82)	28 (82)	29 (84)	29 (85)	31 (87)	31 (87)	29.6 (85.3)
Average low °C (°F)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	23 (74)	23 (73)	22 (72)	22 (72)	22 (72)	22 (72)	23 (73)	23 (74)	23 (74)	23.0 (73.4)
Precipitation mm (inches)	290 (11.4)	234 (9.2)	323 (12.7)	401 (15.8)	417 (16.4)	427 (16.8)	526 (20.7)	523 (20.6)	439 (17.3)	401 (15.8)	325 (12.8)	330 (13)	4,636 (182.5)
Source: Weatherbase

Notable buildings

The Papua New Guinea University of Technology is based 8 km outside of Lae and is the second largest university in PNG after its 'sister' university the University of Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby. While UPNG concentrates on the arts, pure sciences, law and medicine, Unitech focuses on research in technological or applied sciences. It is the only technological university in the South Pacific, outside of Australia and New Zealand. The university has grown from just 37 students in 1967 to over 2,000 currently each year. By the end of 2003 Unitech had awarded 10,122 degrees, diplomas and certificates to students mainly from PNG and neighbouring Pacific countries.

Lae International Hotel is an important conference centre and has hosted some notable political figures over the years. Lae International Hotel (6°43′50″S 147°0′21″E) has 100 rooms, furnished with wooden furnitures and 4 luxury suites. It contains the Vanda Restaurant, Luluai's Italian Restaurant and Kokomo Coffee Shop.

Lae War Cemetery was established in 1944, is located adjacent to the Botanical Gardens in the centre of the city. The cemetery holds the remains of over 2,800 soldiers, many of whom died in the Lae-Salamua campaign, but also those who died in Japanese detention on the Island.

Lae Golf Course, Sir Ignatus Kilage Sports Stadium, Angau Hospital, Lae Technical College, and Lae Yacht Club are also of note.

Twin town

• Cairns, Australia (Queensland) since 1984

See also

• Invasion of Lae-Salamaua

External links

• Google Maps