What is the location and geological setting of Rabaul?
Rabaul sits on the edge of a flooded caldera that measures 14 by 9 kilometers. This massive volcanic crater surrounds the township with steep ridges rising several hundred meters high.
Questions about Rabaul
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When did the German colonial government rename the settlement to Rabaul?
The German colonial government moved its administrative offices to Simpsonhafen in 1910 during the tenure of Governor Albert Hahl. Officials renamed the settlement Rabaul which means mangrove in the local Kuanua language because the town was built on reclaimed swamp land.
How many Japanese troops were stationed within the Rabaul caldera perimeter by 1943?
By 1943 approximately 110,000 Japanese troops were stationed within the caldera perimeter. Soldiers dug many kilometers of tunnels to shelter against Allied air attacks like the November 1943 bombing campaign.
What happened to the original town of Rabaul on the 6th of June 1937?
Two volcanoes named Tavurvur and Vulcan exploded violently on the 6th of June 1937 destroying the original town completely. The eruption killed 507 people while causing widespread damage across the settlement.
Why did the provincial capital move from Rabaul to Kokopo after 1994?
Heavy ashfall covered most of the town on the 19th of September 1994 when Tavurvur and Vulcan erupted again. Eighty percent of all buildings collapsed due to the weight of ash falling onto their roofs so the provincial capital moved to Kokopo which was formerly known as Herbertshöhe under German rule.