Alofi
Alofi | |
---|---|
UTC-11 (UTC-11) | |
Area code | +683 |
Alofi is the capital of the island nation of Niue. With a population of 610 in 2022,[4] Alofi has the distinction of being the second-smallest capital city of a sovereign state by population (after Ngerulmud, capital of Palau). It consists of two villages: Alofi North and Alofi South. They collectively serve as the capital, but of the two, Alofi South hosts more government buildings, as many were moved to the southern part after Cyclone Heta.
History
In January 2004, Niue was hit by the fierce tropical storm Cyclone Heta, which killed two people and did extensive damage to the entire island. Many of Alofi's buildings were destroyed, including the hospital. Government buildings were shifted to a less exposed site 3 km (≈ 2 mi) inland from the west coast,[6] named Fonuakula, after the storm.[7] This site is within the village boundaries of Alofi South.
Geography
Overview
It is located at the centre of Alofi Bay on the west coast of the island, close to the only break in the coral reef that surrounds Niue. The bay stretches for 30% of the island's length (about seven kilometres) from Halagigie Point in the south to Makapu Point in the north.
The council's territory borders with Avatele, Hakupu, Lakepa, Liku, Makefu, Mutalau, Tamakautoga and Tuapa.[8]
Climate
Alofi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Climate chart (explanation) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Alofi features a tropical rainforest climate under the Köppen climate classification, with no discernible dry season. The city has a noticeably drier stretch from June through September. However, all of these months average more than 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, the limit for a dry season month. Average temperatures vary slightly throughout the course of the year in Alofi hovering at around 27 °C (81 °F), during the warmest month (February) and at around 23 °C (73 °F) during the coolest months (July and August).
Climate data for Alofi | |||||||||||||
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Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 38 (100) |
38 (100) |
32 (90) |
36 (97) |
30 (86) |
32 (90) |
35 (95) |
37 (99) |
36 (97) |
31 (88) |
37 (99) |
36 (97) |
38 (100) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 28 (82) |
29 (84) |
28 (82) |
27 (81) |
26 (79) |
26 (79) |
25 (77) |
25 (77) |
26 (79) |
26 (79) |
27 (81) |
28 (82) |
27 (81) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 26 (79) |
27 (81) |
26 (79) |
25 (77) |
25 (77) |
23 (73) |
22 (72) |
23 (73) |
23 (73) |
24 (75) |
25 (77) |
26 (79) |
25 (77) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 23 (73) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
23 (73) |
22 (72) |
21 (70) |
20 (68) |
20 (68) |
21 (70) |
21 (70) |
22 (72) |
23 (73) |
22 (72) |
Record low °C (°F) | 20 (68) |
20 (68) |
20 (68) |
14 (57) |
15 (59) |
13 (55) |
11 (52) |
11 (52) |
15 (59) |
15 (59) |
11 (52) |
17 (63) |
11 (52) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 261.6 (10.30) |
253.6 (9.98) |
305.6 (12.03) |
202.6 (7.98) |
138.2 (5.44) |
88.9 (3.50) |
96.4 (3.80) |
105.8 (4.17) |
102.4 (4.03) |
123.8 (4.87) |
145.5 (5.73) |
196.2 (7.72) |
2,018.4 (79.46) |
Source: Weatherbase[9] |
Transport
The town is serviced by Niue International Airport, and there are numerous roads, both paved and dirt, that crisscross the town.[10]
The island's main seaport is
Personalities
- Dalton Tagelagi (b. 1968), politician
- Sam Pata Emani Tagelagi (1935–2011), politician
See also
- Niue High School
- List of villages in Niue
- Huanaki Cultural Centre & Museum
- List of national capitals
References
Notes
- ^ New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- ^ Government of Niue
- ^ a b Weatherbase
- ^ a b "Niue Census of Population and Housing 2022". Niue Statistics Office. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ SPC 2008, p.5.
- ^ "Alofi | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- ^ East-West Center
- ^ 1558549 Alofi on OpenStreetMap
- ^ "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Alofi, Niue". Weatherbase. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
- ^ "Niue International Airport". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Pavihi, Esther. "A much stronger and bigger Sir Robert's Wharf officially commissioned". Television Niue. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
Sources
- East-West Center (20 January 2009). "Niue recovery at $23 million, Alofi to be relocated". East-West Center. East-West Center. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
- NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (22 June 2009). "Niue – Country Information Paper – NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade". NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
- Siosikefu, Margaret Hagen; Haberkorn, Gerald (2008). Niue population profile based on 2006 census of population and housing: a guide for planners and policy-makers (PDF). Nouméa, New Caledonia: ISBN 978-982-00-0235-7. AACR2 304.609 9626. Archived(PDF) from the original on 13 November 2009. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
- "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Alofi, Niue". Weatherbase. 2009. Retrieved 3 August 2009.