 | Manus Province: Encyclopedia - Manus Province
Manus Province
Manus Province is the smallest province in Papua New Guinea with a land area of 2100km², but with more than 220,000km² of water. The capital of the province is Lorengau and the total population is approximately 38,000.
The province is made up of the Admiralty Islands (a group of 18 islands in the Bismarck Archipelago) and Wuvulu Island and nearby atolls in the west. The largest islands in the group include Manus Island where Lorengau is located.
Manus Province - Economy
The primary industries are coconut cultivation and pearl fishing. Among scuba divers, the Islands have a reputation as a good diving destination with colorful marine life, coral reefs, shipwrecks, and clear water.
Manus Province - History
The province became a German protectorate in 1880 and an Australian mandate in 1920.
During World War II the occupied by the Japanese who established a small base in April 1942 near the village of Rossun on Manus Island. They also built the first landing strip entirely by manpower at the eastern Point of Los Negros Island in Momote.
On February 29, 1944 during World War II, the Admiralty Islands were invaded in Operation Brewer led by American General Douglas MacArthur. The Americans quickly built a big base at Seeadler Harbor, including harbour, wharves and an airbase, which became an important base for the further war operations in New Guinea as well as on the Philippines. Long abandoned, these bases are in a state of rusted decay.
Other related archives1944, Admiralty Islands, Australian, Bismarck Archipelago, Douglas MacArthur, February 29, German, Japanese, Lorengau, Manus Island, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Seeadler Harbor, World War II, atolls, coconut, islands, pearl
 Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Manus Province", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki |
