WEWAK

coastal town, northern Papua New Guinea, near the mouth of the Sepik River. Economic activities are limited due to primitive hinterland conditions, but there are some coffee and coconut plantations in the area. Wewak originated as an outlet for the Sepik goldfield (discovered in the early 1930s but now abandoned). It is a port of call for coastal and Australian shipping (cargo is ferried ashore), with an international airport. It is linked by road to Maprik, 40 miles (64 km) west, and thence south to Paguwi on the Sepik River. Pop. (1990) 23,224.