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{{Short description|Capital city of the Federated States of Micronesia}}{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}

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| subdivision_type = CountryFSM}} F.S. MicronesiaAdministrative divisions of the Federated States of Micronesia>StatePohnpei#Administrative divisions>MunicipalityPohnpei}} Pohnpei State| subdivision_name2 = Sokehs| established_title =| established_date =| established_title2 = | established_date2 =| established_title3 = | established_date3 =| government_footnotes=| government_type =| leader_title =| leader_name =| leader_title1 = | unit_pref = Metric| area_footnotes =| area_magnitude = | area_total_km2 =| area_total_sq_mi =| area_land_km2 =| area_land_sq_mi =| area_water_km2 =| area_water_sq_mi =| area_water_percent =| area_urban_km2 =| area_urban_sq_mi =| area_metro_km2 =| area_metro_sq_mi =| area_blank1_title =| area_blank1_km2 =| area_blank1_sq_mi =| elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m =| elevation_ft =| population_total = 6647| population_as_of = 2010| population_footnotes =| population_density_km2 =| population_density_sq_mi =| population_urban =| population_density_urban_km2 =| population_density_urban_sq_mi =| population_metro =| population_density_metro_km2 =| population_density_metro_sq_mi =| population_blank1_title =| population_blank1 =| population_density_blank1_km2 =| population_density_blank1_sq_mi =| population_note =| postal_code_type =| postal_code =| area_code =| unemployment_rate = | website =| footnotes =| city_logo =| citylogo_size =| leader_title2 =| leader_name2 =UTC+11)HTTP://WWW.TIMEANDDATE.COM/WORLDCLOCK/CITY.HTML?N=1072>TITLE=CURRENT LOCAL TIME IN PALIKIRACCESS-DATE=7 APRIL 2013, | utc_offset =| timezone_DST =| utc_offset_DST =Köppen climate classification>ClimateTropical rainforest climate>Af| blank1_name =| blank1_info =}}Palikir ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|æ|l|ᵻ|k|ɪər}}) is the capital city of the Federated States of Micronesia located in the western Pacific Ocean.WEB,weblink Micronesia, Federated States of, 8 May 2013, Federal Aviation Administration,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20131224114902weblink">weblink 24 December 2013, dead, WEB,weblink Pohnpei: underwater reef, 8 May 2013, Kids.britannica.com, WEB,weblink National Government, FSM Government, 7 April 2013, A town of slightly under 5,000 residents, it is part of the larger Sokehs municipality, which had a population of 6,647 {{As of|2010|lc=y}}, out of the nation's total population of 106,487. It is situated on the northwest side of Pohnpei island (population 34,789), a high volcanic island surrounded by a fringing coral reef. Nearby to the northeast is the island's largest settlement, the coastal town of Kolonia.ENCYCLOPEDIA,weblink Palikir, 7 May 2013, Encyclopædia Britannica, It was declared the capital of Micronesia in 1989.

History

Pohnpei was ruled by tribal chiefs in ancient times. Palikir was formerly a tiny village of little consequence. The island of Pohnpei was encountered by the Portuguese and Spanish in the 15th century, but colonial settlement did not occur until 1886 by the Spanish. Later Germany attained the Caroline Islands via purchase from Spain at the end of the Spanish–American War in 1898. During World War I control passed to the Japanese. During World War II, the Japanese built an airport near Kolonia.ENCYCLOPEDIA,weblink Pohnpei, 7 May 2013, Encyclopædia Britannica, Subsequent to World War II, the island was administered by the United States Government until FSM attained independence in 1979.WEB,weblink Micronesia, Federated States of, 8 May 2013, Ducksters.com, The government of the Federated States of Micronesia decided to convert the Palikir area into a town to house the central administration of the islands as a purpose built capital city. It was declared the capital of Micronesia in 1989. US aid of US$15 million was made available to develop the site into a modern town. All government offices, some residential houses, and the residence of the President of the Federated States of Micronesia were built. It is now the hub of the federal administration of the country, despite still being a village with a population of 4,645.WEB,weblink Palikir, capital of Micronesia,

Geography

Palikir is located in the northwestern center of Pohnpei Island (formerly known as Ponape). Geologically the island terrain consists of high mountains to low coral atolls. It is the largest, highest, wettest and most scenic island of the Federated States of Micronesia.BOOK, David Leonard, Diving the Pacific: Volume 1: Micronesia and the Western Pacific Islands,weblink 8 May 2013, 1 July 2001, Tuttle Publishing, 978-962-593-499-0, 152–, Palikir is {{convert|8|km|0|abbr=off|sp=us}} southwest of Kolonia, which is Pohnpei's largest town and state capital of Pohnpei State. Underwater reefs are found all round the coastal region of the island. {{convert|9|km|0|abbr=off|sp=us}} to the southeast, Mount Nanlaud is the highest point of the Federated States of Micronesia and of Pohnpei at {{convert|2566|ft}}WEB,weblink Mount Nanlaud, GeoNames, 12 May 2013, as indicated on the definitive USGS 1:25,000 scale topographic survey.WEB,weblink Ponape South, US Geological Survey, 1983, 22 January 2017, Palikir is surrounded by heavily wooded forest.WEB,weblink Palikir, 8 May 2013, Infoplease.com,

Climate

Palikir features a tropical rainforest climate under the Köppen climate classification. Common to many areas with this climate, Palikir sees very little variance in its temperatures during the course of the year, averaging roughly {{convert|27|C}} daily throughout the year. The town experiences heavy rainfall year-round; on average {{convert|5202|mm|sp=us}} of rain falls annually, making it the wettest capital in the world.{{Weather box|width = auto| location = Palikir| metric first = Yes| single line = Yes| Jan high C = 29.9| Feb high C = 30.0| Mar high C = 30.2| Apr high C = 30.2| May high C = 30.3| Jun high C = 30.4| Jul high C = 30.6| Aug high C = 30.8| Sep high C = 30.9| Oct high C = 30.9| Nov high C = 30.7| Dec high C = 30.3| Jan mean C = 26.8| Feb mean C = 26.9| Mar mean C = 27.1| Apr mean C = 26.9| May mean C = 26.9| Jun mean C = 26.8| Jul mean C = 26.6| Aug mean C = 26.7| Sep mean C = 26.8| Oct mean C = 26.8| Nov mean C = 26.8| Dec mean C = 27.0| year mean C =| Jan low C = 23.8| Feb low C = 23.9| Mar low C = 24.0| Apr low C = 23.7| May low C = 23.6| Jun low C = 23.3| Jul low C = 22.7| Aug low C = 22.6| Sep low C = 22.7| Oct low C = 22.7| Nov low C = 22.9| Dec low C = 23.7|precipitation colour = green|Jan precipitation mm=377|Feb precipitation mm=279|Mar precipitation mm=353|Apr precipitation mm=462|May precipitation mm=502|Jun precipitation mm=464|Jul precipitation mm=504|Aug precipitation mm=515|Sep precipitation mm=464|Oct precipitation mm=469|Nov precipitation mm=421|Dec precipitation mm=392|source 1 = Climate-Data.orgWEB,weblink Climate: Palikir, Climate-Data.org, 30 July 2020, }}

Demographics

The nationality of the people is Micronesian with the most common ethnicities being Chuukese, Kosraeans, Pohnpeian, and Yapese. English is the common and official language while each of the major islands have their own local language such as Chuukese, Kosraean, Pohnpeian, and Yapese. 96% of the population is Christian with Roman Catholicism being the majority religion at over 50% of the population. The city has been categorized as having a "high degree of hardship with a typical hardship premium of 30%" from an international perspective.WEB,weblink Micronesia, Palikir Overview, 1 April 2013, 8 May 2013, xpatulator.com, WEB,weblink Micronesia, Federated States of, 7 May 2013, CIA Fact Book, theodora.com,

Administration

Since 1989, Palikir has been the federal capital of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), which attained independence from, and remains since in free association with, the United States in May 1979. FSM has a constitutional government headed by a president.

Economy

The economy of the capital city is reflected in the economic resources of the FSM Islands (600 islands, atolls and islets (including Pohnpei Island)ENCYCLOPEDIA,weblink Micronesia, 7 May 2013, Encyclopædia Britannica, ) as a whole. The economy of the island consists basically of subsistence farming and fishing (fish processing and aquaculture). Tropical agricultural and plantation products like copra, breadfruit, taro, betel nuts, sweet potatoes, cassava, tropical fruits and vegetables, trochus shells, cacao and rice are produced. Livestock, such as pigs and poultry, are raised. Products such as fish, bananas, black pepper, and garments are mainly exported to Japan. Food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment and beverages are imported.The country is independent, but in fact depends on financial support stemming from its Compact of Free Association with the US. {{As of|2012}} the inflation rate was 2% and the cost of living (for imported goods) in Palikir is reportedly very high in comparison with other places in the world.

Education

Pohnpei State Department of Education operates public schools:

• Palikir Elementary School"Pohnpei Schools." Pohnpei State Department of Education. Retrieved on 23 February 2018.

Bailey Olter High School (former Pohnpei Island Central School or PICS) in Kolonia serves students from Sokehs."Secondary Division." Pohnpei State Department of Education. Retrieved on 23 February 2018.

Notable people

• Bailey Olter, politician
• Emelihter Kihleng, poet

Transportation

Pohnpei International Airport is close to Palikir.

References

{{Reflist}}{{Federated States of Micronesia topics}}{{List of Oceanian capitals by region}}{{Authority control}}