Port Moresby << MOHRZ bee >> (pop. 513,918) is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea, a country in the South Pacific Ocean. The city lies on a harbor on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea.
The Indigenous (native) Motu-Koitabu people lived in the area when British explorer John Moresby claimed it for the United Kingdom in 1873. Later, Port Moresby became a center of British, and later Australian, administration. During World War II (1939-1945), the city served as an Allied military base and was bombarded by Japanese forces.
The city has grown rapidly since Papua New Guinea gained independence in 1975. Many people come to Port Moresby seeking employment, education, and health services. Many of these people live in crowded settlements around the city.
