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Wewak

Wewak
One of Wewak's beaches
One of Wewak's beaches
Wewak is located in Papua New Guinea
Wewak
Wewak
Location within Papua New Guinea
Coordinates: 3°33′S 143°38′E / 3.550°S 143.633°E / -3.550; 143.633
Country Papua New Guinea
Province East Sepik Province
District Wewak District
LLG Wewak Urban LLG
Established 1919
Elevation 5 m (16 ft)
Population (2000)
 • Total 25,143
 • Rank 6th
Languages
 • Main languages English, Tok Pisin, Kairiru, Boikin
 • Traditional languages Kairiru
Time zone AEST (UTC+10)
Location 260 km (160 mi) from Wuvulu Island
Mean max temp 30.8 °C (87.4 °F)
Mean min temp 24.2 °C (75.6 °F)
Climate Af

Wewak is the capital of the East Sepik province of Papua New Guinea. It is located on the northern coast of the island of New Guinea. It is the largest town between Madang and Jayapura. It is the see city (seat) of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wewak.

Between 1943 and 1945, during World War II, Wewak was the site of the largest Japanese airbase in mainland New Guinea. The base was subjected to repeated bombing by Australian and American forces, most notably in one massive attack on 17 August 1943. Directly to the west of the town centre is a peninsula known as Cape Wom, which was the site of the surrender of Japanese forces in New Guinea on 13 September 1945. The site now houses a small memorial. The former Japanese airfield is still in use as the Wewak International Airport. In August 1945 two war crimes trials were held near Wewak for mutilation and cannibalism. First Lieutenant Takehiro Tazaki was convicted and sentenced to death (later commuted to 5 years imprisonment with hard labour) and another accused was acquitted.

The old centre of the town is situated on a small peninsula, with the rest of the urban area occupying a narrow band of flat land between the ocean and the coastal range of mountains that emerges a short distance inland.

To the east of the town center is a small peninsula on which is located Boram Hospital, and Wewak International Airport, which is also known as Boram.

Wewak is linked by road to three villages on the Sepik River: Angoram, Timbunke, and Pagwi, though the roads are not always in good condition. In addition, a coastal highway extends to the west, linking Wewak with the coastal towns of Aitape and Vanimo, which is the capital of Sandaun province.


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