Palikir (pronoonced: päˌlēkĭr) is a toun an caipital o the Federatit States o Micronesie in the wastren Paceefic Ocean.[2][3][4] It is a muckle dounset o 6444 fowk as o 2000, compared tae the population o the island, 32,395. It is situatit in the northren mainland aurie the Pohnpei island which is a heich coral-capped volcanic island. Nearby tae the northeast is the island’s ither muckle dounset, the coastal ceety o Kolonia.[5] The toun contains govrenment biggins an the Palikir Elementary Schuil.

Palikir
Palikir (in north-western side) within the island of Pohnpei
Palikir (in north-western side)
within the island of Pohnpei
Coordinates: 6°55′2″N 158°9′32″E / 6.91722°N 158.15889°E / 6.91722; 158.15889
KintraFederatit States o Micronesie FS Micronesie
StatePohnpei State Pohnpei
MunicipalitySokehs
Population
 (2009)
 • Total7,000
Time zoneUTC+11[1]

History

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Micronesie wis ruled bi tribal chiefs in auncient times. Palikir wis formerly a tiny veelage. The earliest colonists wur the Portuguese who wur followed bi the Spainyie, in the saxteent century who colonized the islands. Later the German's teuk ower an then its control passed tae the Japanese. Subsequent tae Warld War II, the island remained wi the Unitit States Govrenment till it attained unthirldom in 3 November 1986.[6] Durin the Warld War II, the Japanese biggit an airport near the present toun.[7] The govrenment o the Federated States o Micronesie decidit tae convert the Palikir aurie intae a toun tae hoose the central admeenistration o the islands an eventually acame the caipital ceety. It wis declared the caipital o Micronesie in 1989.[8] US aid o US $ 15 million wis made available tae develop it intae a modren toun.[9] Aw govrenment offices, residential hooses, an an aa the residence o the Preses o the Melanesie Islands wur biggit. It is nou the major hub o the socio-economic an admeenistration o the kintra, despite still bein a very smaa toun.[6]

Geografie

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Palikir is locatit in the northwastren centre o Pohnpei Island (formerly kent as Ponape). Geologically the terrain consists heich muntains tae law coral atolls.[10] It is the mucklest, heichest, wettest an maist scenic island o Micronesie.[9] The caipital ceety is close tae Koloni, which is Pohnpei’s mucklest toun an wis earlier its caipital.[2] Unnerwatter reefs are foond aw roond the coastal region o the island.[3] Dolohmwar (Totolom) is the heichest muntain in the island which rises tae a heicht o 791 m.[6] Palikir is surroondit bi hivily widit forest an is 10 km tae the wast o Kolonia which wis the auld caipital. It wis declared the caipital o Micronesie in 1989.[8]

Climate

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The climate is tropical wi rainfaw recordit throughoot the year.[10]

Climate data for Palikir, Pohnpei
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average heich °C (°F) 24
(75)
24
(76)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
23
(74)
23
(73)
23
(73)
23
(73)
23
(73)
23
(73)
24
(75)
24
(74)
Average law °C (°F) 24
(75)
24
(76)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
23
(74)
23
(73)
23
(73)
23
(73)
23
(73)
23
(73)
24
(75)
24
(74)
Average precipitation cm (inches) 30
(12)
26
(10.4)
36
(14.2)
45
(17.6)
49
(19.4)
43
(17.1)
44
(17.5)
42
(16.6)
41
(16)
41
(16.2)
40
(15.8)
41
(16)
478
(188.8)
Source: Weatherbase [11]

Demographics

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The population o the caipital ceety is 7000 as o 2009, as against 106,487 o the tot population o the kintra. The population growthe is slichtly on the negative side. The naitionality o the fowk is Micronesie wi ither common uisages o Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese. Inglis is the common an offeecial leid while each o the major islands hae thair awn local leid sic as Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, an Kosrean. Releegious follaein is Christianity for mair nor 96% o the fowk wi Roman Catholics dominatin the scene. The ceety haes been categorized unner "heich degree o hardship wi a typical hardship premium o 30%" as per the internaitional perspective.[10][12]

Admeenistration

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Palikir is the caipital o the islands which attained a separate naitionhuid unner the Federatit States o Micronesie (FSM) in Mey o 1979. The kintra attained unthirldom on 3 November 1986 efter the US-admeenistered UN Trusteeship wis terminatit. FSM haes constitutional govrenment an operates frae Palikir, the caipital whaur the govrenment heidit bi the Preses is situatit. It entered intae the Compact o Free Association wi the US frae 3 November 1986 an intae the Amendit Compact frae Mey 2004. The kintra adoptit its Constitution on 10 Mey 1979, which is observed as a Naitional Day.[6]

Economy

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The economy o the caipital ceety is reflectit in the economic resoorces o the Micronesie Islands (600 islands an islets includin Pohnpei whaur the caipital o the islands is locatit.[7]) as a whole. The economy o the island is basically o subsistence fairmin an fishin (fish processin an aquacultur). Products sic as fish, bananas, black pepper, an garments are mainly exportit tae Japan. Importit items are fuid, manufactured guids, machinery an equipment an beverages.[6][10] The local economy is dependent on its tropical agricultural an plantation products o copra, breadfruit, taros, betel nuts, sweet tatties, casava, tropical fruits an vegetables, trochus shells, an cacao an rice. Livestock fairming sic as pigs an poultry are raised. Fishin is an aa a major economic activity.[6][7] Wi the exception o phosphates (o heich-grade), thare is minimal minin activity. Baith the ceety an the kintra are nominally independent but in fact, depend on financial support stemmin frae its Compact o Free Association wi the US. As o 2012 the inflation rate wis 2%. an the cost o livin in Palikir is reportit tae very heich in comparison wi ither places in the kintra.[10]

The ceety itself haes commercial establishments sic as shops, bars an businesses, makin it is ane o the maist commercial ceeties o the kintra. Mony o the streets are paved an an aa hae signage. Tho thare wur 17,000 tourists in 2007 in Pohnpei, the infrastructur haes been unable tae accommodate everyane who wants tae veesit. The leasin o fishin licenses tae foreign companies, Japanese, Korean an Taiwanese, helps the economy, but the marine resoorces o the federation coud dwindle bi continuous fishin excesses. The toun contains the Palikir Elementary Schuil, a learnin resoorces centre, a friendship sports centre providit wi Cheenese investment; the govrenment biggins are locatit in a complex in the northren pairt o the toun.[13]

Notable fowk

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References

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  1. "Current local time in Palikir". Time and Date. Retrieved 7 Apryle 2013.
  2. a b "Micronesia, Federated States of" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. Archived frae the original (pdf) on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 8 Mey 2013.
  3. a b "Pohnpei: underwater reef". Kids.britannica.com. Retrieved 8 Mey 2013.
  4. "National Government". FSM Government. Retrieved 7 Apryle 2013.
  5. "Palikir". Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 7 Mey 2013.
  6. a b c d e f "Micronesia, Federated States of". Ducksters.com. Retrieved 8 Mey 2013.
  7. a b c "Pohnpei". Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 7 Mey 2013.
  8. a b "Palikir". Infoplease.com. Retrieved 8 Mey 2013.
  9. a b David Leonard (1 Julie 2001). Diving the Pacific: Volume 1: Micronesia and the Western Pacific Islands. Tuttle Publishing. pp. 152–. ISBN 978-962-593-499-0. Retrieved 8 Mey 2013.
  10. a b c d e "Micronesia, Palikir Overview". xpatulator.com. 1 Apryle 2013. Archived frae the original on 10 Mey 2013. Retrieved 8 Mey 2013.
  11. "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Palikir Federated States of Micronesia". Weatherbase. 2013. Archived frae the original on 6 Februar 2015. Retrieved 23 Mey 2013. Retrieved on 7 May 2013
  12. "Micronesia, Federated States of People 2013". CIA Fact Book, theodora.com. Retrieved 7 may 2013. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  13. Google Maps – Palikir (Map). Cartografie bi Google, Inc. Google Inc. Retrieved 9 Mey 2013.