Nukualofa [key], town (1986 pop. 21,300), capital and chief port of the Kingdom of Tonga, on the northern coast of Tongatapu island. The city has a deep harbor; copra, bananas, vanilla, and handicrafts are exported. The royal palace and government buildings are in Nukualofa. In 2006 the central business district of the town and some government buildings were severely damaged by rioting sparked by the slow pace of political reform; rebuilding was not completed until 2012.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: Pacific Islands Political Geography
