Merauke

Last updated

Merauke
Town (District)
Tugu Lingkaran Brawijaya 969.jpg
Lingkaran Brawijaya (Libra) 969 monument in Merauke
OpenStreetMap
Merauke
Indonesia Western New Guinea location map.png
Red pog.svg
Merauke
Location in Western New Guinea and Indonesia
Indonesia location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Merauke
Merauke (Indonesia)
Coordinates: 8°28′S140°20′E / 8.467°S 140.333°E / -8.467; 140.333
CountryFlag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia
Province South Papua
Regency Merauke Regency
Government
 • Head of districtKristian Ndiken
Area
 • Total
500.41 km2 (193.21 sq mi)
Population
 (mid 2024 estimate)
 • Total
116,864
 • Density230/km2 (600/sq mi)
  [1]
Demographics
 • Languages Auyu, Kolopom, Mandobo, Marind, Muyu, Mombum (natives) Javanese (dominant), and others
Time zone UTC+9 (Indonesia Eastern Time)
Area code (+62) 975
Climate Aw
Website http://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 2024 was 116,864 (comprising 60,068 males and 56,796 females). [1]

Contents

Communities

The district is sub-divided into eleven urban kelurahan and 5 rural villages (desa). These are listed below with their official codes (kode wilayah) and their populations as at mid 2023, [6] together with their post codes. The names of the five desa (rural villages) are followed by asterisks.

Kode
Wilayah		Name of
kelurahan
or desa		Pop'n
Estimate
mid 2023		Post
code
93.01.01.2001Nasem *57299618
93.01.01.1002Samkai11,80199615
93.01.01.1003Karang Indah9,82899614
93.01.01.1004Mandala15,15899617
93.01.01.1005Maro11,01599613
93.01.01.1006Kelapa Lima12,03899612
93.01.01.1007Rimba Jaya11,77399610
93.01.01.2008Wasur *65299611
93.01.01.1009Bambu Pemali7,78899616
93.01.01.1010Seringgu Jaya8,05599619
93.01.01.1011Kamundu6,99699607
93.01.01.1012Kamahedoga3,04399606
93.01.01.1013Muli8,64099608
93.01.01.2014Bokem *46499604
93.01.01.2015Buti *2,41499605
93.01.01.2016Nggolar *30499609
93.01.01Totals110,541

History

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 No 12 Squadron aircrew Merauke Dec 1943.jpg
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. [7]

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". [8]

Climate

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)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
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 days14.714.715.712.99.88.36.83.33.04.25.310.3109
Average relative humidity (%)84858484848281818081828383
Source 1: Meteomanz [9]
Source 2: Deutscher Wetterdienst (extremes) [10] Danish Meteorological Institute (humidity) [11]

Religion

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

Education

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

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

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2025, Kabupaten Merauke Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.9401)
  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. ↑ Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Distrik Merauke Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.9401040)
  7. ↑ Klemen, L. "The last Dutch fortress in the East Indies - Merauke, Dutch New Guinea, 1942". The Netherlands East Indies 1941-1942.
  8. ↑ "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.
  9. ↑ "SYNOP/BUFR observations. Data by months". Meteomanz. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  10. ↑ "Klimatafel von Merauke" (PDF) (in German). Deutscher Wetterdienst. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  11. ↑ "STATION NUMMER 97980" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 April 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2020.

8°28′S140°20′E / 8.467°S 140.333°E / -8.467; 140.333

Flag map of Indonesia.svg

This Indonesia location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.