Mendi
Mendi, Papua New Guinea, is the provincial capital of the Southern Highlands Province. The Lai River flows by the town.[1][2] It is served by Mendi Airport. The town falls under Mendi Urban LLG.
Mendi | |
|---|---|
Mendi Location within Papua New Guinea | |
| Coordinates: 6°8′52″S 143°39′26″E / 6.14778°S 143.65722°E | |
| Country | Papua New Guinea |
| Province | Southern Highlands |
| District | Mendi-Munihu District |
| LLG | Mendi Urban |
| Elevation | 1,620 m (5,310 ft) |
| Population (2013) | |
| • Total | 56,055 |
| • Rank | 10th |
| Languages | |
| • Main languages | Tok Pisin, Angal, Kewa |
| • Traditional language | Angal |
| Time zone | UTC+10 (AEST) |
| Postcode | 251 |
| Climate | Cfb |
Geography edit
The town is located in the Mendi River Valley, 1,675 metres or 5,495 feet above sea level, on the limestone hills from west to east.[3] The Kikori River originates from the mountainous area where Mendi is located, and the Erave and Strickland rivers flow through the Giluwe Mountains, which contain the second highest peak of Papua New Guinea.
Climate edit
The Köppen-Geiger climate classification system classifies its climate as a subtropical highland climate (Cfb).[4] Mendi features cool mornings, warm afternoons and heavy rainfall throughout the year.
| Climate data for Mendi | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 23.8 (74.8) | 23.6 (74.5) | 23.4 (74.1) | 23.6 (74.5) | 23.6 (74.5) | 22.6 (72.7) | 21.9 (71.4) | 22.3 (72.1) | 22.7 (72.9) | 23.3 (73.9) | 23.7 (74.7) | 23.7 (74.7) | 23.2 (73.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 18.3 (64.9) | 18.3 (64.9) | 18.2 (64.8) | 18.2 (64.8) | 18.2 (64.8) | 17.1 (62.8) | 16.8 (62.2) | 17.2 (63.0) | 17.5 (63.5) | 17.6 (63.7) | 17.8 (64.0) | 18.2 (64.8) | 17.8 (64.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 12.8 (55.0) | 13.1 (55.6) | 13.1 (55.6) | 12.8 (55.0) | 12.8 (55.0) | 11.7 (53.1) | 11.8 (53.2) | 12.1 (53.8) | 12.4 (54.3) | 12 (54) | 11.9 (53.4) | 12.7 (54.9) | 12.4 (54.4) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 239 (9.4) | 261 (10.3) | 286 (11.3) | 246 (9.7) | 209 (8.2) | 192 (7.6) | 211 (8.3) | 244 (9.6) | 263 (10.4) | 270 (10.6) | 221 (8.7) | 252 (9.9) | 2,894 (114) |
| Source: Climate-Data.org, altitude: 1,740 metres (5,710 ft)[4] | |||||||||||||
Economy edit
Mendi's population is dense and the economy is relatively good. Crops grown in the town and its surrounding areas include vegetables, coffee, and tea; there is also a sawmill in the town.[5] Mendi is mostly dependent on air transport, though there is road access through the nearby town of Mount Hagen.[3]
2018 State of Emergency edit
In June 2018, a regional court in Mendi ruled against a losing candidate's challenge to a provincial election. Rioting followed, with looting and arson, including to a Link PNG plane at the regional airport.[6] The central government of Papua New Guinea declared a state of emergency, suspended the Southern Highlands provincial government, and sent over 200 Defence Force troops to maintain order. The state of emergency lasted for 9 months.[7]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Naime, Quintina (26 April 2016). "Lai River footbridge in danger of collapsing". Loop. Papua New Guinea. from the original on 20 March 2018.
- ^ Irion, G.; Petr, T. (1983). "Clay mineralogy of selected soils and sediments of the Purari River basin". In Petr, T. (ed.). The Purari — tropical environment of a high rainfall river basin. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Springer Verlag. pp. 91–92. ISBN 978-94-009-7263-6.
- ^ a b "Mendi | Melanesia, Highlands, Culture | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Climate: Mendi - Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table". Climate-Data.org. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
- ^ "Mendi youths take up farming – The National". www.thenational.com.pg. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
- ^ "'It's so scary': Angry protesters burn plane in PNG's Highlands". ABC News. 14 June 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
- ^ Australian Broadcasting Commission, 'Papua New Guinea declares nine-month state of emergency over riots', 16 June 2018.