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Merauke

Coordinates: 8°28′S 140°20′E / 8.467°S 140.333°E / -8.467; 140.333
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Merauke
Lingkaran Brawijaya (Libra) 969 monument in Merauke
Lingkaran Brawijaya (Libra) 969 monument in Merauke
OpenStreetMap
Map
Merauke is located in Western New Guinea
Merauke
Merauke
Merauke is located in Indonesia
Merauke
Merauke
Merauke (Indonesia)
Coordinates: 8°28′S 140°20′E / 8.467°S 140.333°E / -8.467; 140.333
Country Indonesia
ProvinceSouth Papua
RegencyMerauke Regency
Government
 • Head of districtKristian Ndiken
Area
 • Total500.41 km2 (193.21 sq mi)
Population
 (mid 2023 estimate)
 • Total110,541
 • Density220/km2 (570/sq mi)
 [1]
Demographics
 • LanguagesAuyu, Kolopom, Mandobo, Marind, Muyu, Mombum (natives) Javanese (dominant), and others
Time zoneUTC+9 (Indonesia Eastern Time)
Area code(+62) 975
ClimateAw
Websitehttp://www.merauke.go.id

Merauke is a large town (kelurahan) and an administrative district (distrik) in Merauke Regency of South Papua Province, Indonesia. It is also the administrative centre of Merauke Regency, and is considered to be the easternmost city in Indonesia, although it currently lacks city status. The town was originally called Ermasoe.[2] It is next to the Maro River where the Port of Merauke is located.[3] Merauke District covers a land area of 500.41 km2, and had a population of 87,634 at the 2010 Census.[4] which at the 2020 Census had increased to 102,351;[5] the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 110,541 (comprising 56,578 males and 53,963 females).[1]

Communities

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The district is sub-divided into eleven urban kelurahan and 5 rural villages (kampung). These are listed below with their official codes (kode wilayah) and their populations as at mid 2023,[1] together with their post codes. The names of the five desa are followed by asterisks.

Kode
Wilayah
Name of
kelurahan
or desa
Pop'n
Estimate
mid 2023
Post
code
93.01.01.2001 Nasem * 572 99618
93.01.01.1002 Samkai 11,801 99615
93.01.01.1003 Karang Indah 9,828 99614
93.01.01.1004 Mandala 15,158 99617
93.01.01.1005 Maro 11,015 99613
93.01.01.1006 Kelapa Lima 12,038 99612
93.01.01.1007 Rimba Jaya 11,773 99610
93.01.01.2008 Wasur * 652 99611
93.01.01.1009 Bambu Pemali 7,788 99616
93.01.01.1010 Seringgu Jaya 8,055 99619
93.01.01.1011 Kamundu 6,996 99607
93.01.01.1012 Kamahedoga 3,043 99606
93.01.01.1013 Muli 8,640 99608
93.01.01.2014 Bokem * 464 99604
93.01.01.2015 Buti * 2,414 99605
93.01.01.2016 Nggolar * 306 99609
93.01.01 Totals 41,642

History

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Merauke was established in February 1902 as a military post by the Dutch, to prevent raids by the Marind-anim into neighbouring British New Guinea and the northwest Torres Strait Islands (Boigu, Dauan and Saibai). The Dutch also tried to establish a rice colony there, but to no avail.

In the late 1920s and early 1930s, Merauke was used as a transit point between Java, and the Boven-Digoel internment camp where many Indonesian Communist Party members were being sent.

RAAF No. 12 Squadron pilots in the mess at Merauke in December 1943

Merauke was the site of an Allied air and naval base, Naval Base Merauke, during World War II and there was ground fighting between Australian and Japanese patrols in the area.[6]

The expression "Sabang to Merauke" is used as shorthand for the territorial extent of Indonesia from west to east, for instance in the name of Sabang Merauke Raya Air Charter. For instance, President Suharto stated in 1968 that "independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity from Sabang to Merauke are for the Indonesian people matters of principle".[7]

Climate

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Merauke has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw) with moderate to little rainfall from May to November and heavy rainfall from December to April.

Climate data for Merauke (2000–2020)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 33.9
(93.0)
32.8
(91.0)
33.3
(91.9)
33.3
(91.9)
33.3
(91.9)
32.2
(90.0)
32.2
(90.0)
32.8
(91.0)
33.3
(91.9)
35.6
(96.1)
36.1
(97.0)
35.0
(95.0)
36.1
(97.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 31.4
(88.5)
31.3
(88.3)
31.1
(88.0)
31.2
(88.2)
30.6
(87.1)
29.5
(85.1)
28.9
(84.0)
29.3
(84.7)
30.5
(86.9)
31.5
(88.7)
32.2
(90.0)
32.3
(90.1)
30.8
(87.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 24.6
(76.3)
24.6
(76.3)
24.6
(76.3)
24.5
(76.1)
24.2
(75.6)
23.6
(74.5)
22.5
(72.5)
22.0
(71.6)
22.5
(72.5)
23.2
(73.8)
24.4
(75.9)
24.9
(76.8)
23.8
(74.9)
Record low °C (°F) 20.0
(68.0)
21.1
(70.0)
20.6
(69.1)
19.4
(66.9)
18.9
(66.0)
16.7
(62.1)
17.2
(63.0)
14.4
(57.9)
14.4
(57.9)
15.6
(60.1)
17.2
(63.0)
20.6
(69.1)
14.4
(57.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 279.0
(10.98)
278.0
(10.94)
329.2
(12.96)
230.4
(9.07)
170.3
(6.70)
58.7
(2.31)
35.4
(1.39)
66.3
(2.61)
21.6
(0.85)
53.0
(2.09)
96.5
(3.80)
165.5
(6.52)
1,783.9
(70.22)
Average precipitation days 14.7 14.7 15.7 12.9 9.8 8.3 6.8 3.3 3.0 4.2 5.3 10.3 109
Average relative humidity (%) 84 85 84 84 84 82 81 81 80 81 82 83 83
Source 1: Meteomanz[8]
Source 2: Deutscher Wetterdienst (extremes)[9]Danish Meteorological Institute (humidity)[10]

Religion

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The Cathedral of St. Francis Xavier in Merauke is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Merauke.

Education

[edit]

Merauke hosts the Musamus Merauke University, a state-run public university. It was founded as an academy in 2001 and officially became university in 2006.

Merauke as the name

[edit]

Merauke is used for the name of United States navy ship, USS Merauke (ID-2498).

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Distrik Merauke Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.9401040)
  2. ^ A Dictionary of the Aneityumese Language: In Two Parts, I. Aneityumese and English, II. English and Aneityumese; Also, Outlines of Aneityumese Grammar, and an Introduction by John Inglis, Williams & Norgate, 1882
  3. ^ Port of Merauke
  4. ^ Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
  5. ^ Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.
  6. ^ Klemen, L. "The last Dutch fortress in the East Indies - Merauke, Dutch New Guinea, 1942". The Netherlands East Indies 1941-1942.
  7. ^ "Transcript: Speech given by President Suharto at state dinner in honour of the Australian prime minister, Mr. John Gorton" (PDF). Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 13 June 1968.
  8. ^ "SYNOP/BUFR observations. Data by months". Meteomanz. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Klimatafel von Merauke" (PDF) (in German). Deutscher Wetterdienst. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  10. ^ "STATION NUMMER 97980" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 April 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2020.

8°28′S 140°20′E / 8.467°S 140.333°E / -8.467; 140.333