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Nuku'alofa

Capital of TongaOn the north coast of Tongatapu, in Tonga's southernmost island group, Nuku'alofa spreads along the shore only a few metres above sea level.

Why it's the capital

King George Tupou I moved his capital to Nuku'alofa after ruling from Ha'apai, and the Constitution of 1875 made it the official capital. Its harbour, the only deep-water harbour on Tongatapu, was the reason this site was chosen.

Fun facts

  1. The wooden Royal Palace, built in 1867, stands near the sea in the north-west of the city and is the official residence of the King of Tonga.
  2. Measured by longitude, Nuku'alofa is the westernmost capital of any sovereign state in the world.
  3. In 2022 the city was hit by the tsunami caused by the eruption of the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai volcano.

Finding it on the globe

Look south-east of Fiji and south-south-west of Samoa for Tonga's southern islands. Nuku'alofa is on the north shore of Tongatapu.

Sources: Wikipedia: Nukuʻalofa, Wikipedia: Royal Palace, Tonga