New Guinea Travel Guide | Gulf of Papua Travel Information

New Guinea, the world’s second largest island, is located in the South Western Pacific Ocean. The island is separated from Australia to the south by the Narrow Torres Strait. New Guinea owes its existence to its location near the meeting points of the Indian-Australian and Pacific tectonic plates. The collision of these plates led to the formation of the island and the mountain chain that run through its center.

The island can be divided into three distinct geographic regions. In the center of New Guinea extends a 2,500 km long chain of mountain Ranges Maoke Mountains and Central Range. The central highlands are covered by thick tropical rainforests. The highest peaks in the region are more than 4,000 meters high. The highest mountain on the island, Puncak Jaya (5,030 meters) lies in Papua (Irian Jaya), the western half of Indonesia.

The central portions of the highlands are home to several active volcanoes and earthquakes are common in the area. The isolated and difficult to access mountain valleys in the highlands are inhabited by tribes of subsistence farmers. The swampy plains south of the highlands form another distinct region of New Guinea. This region is criss – crossed by numerous rivers that flow from the mountains into the Arafuru Sea and Gulf of Papua. Because of heavy rainfall and erosion in the mountains the rivers contain large amounts much of silt, which gets deposited on the Southern plains.

The Fly River, on the Southwest coast, nourishes one of the world’s largest wetland areas. These wetlands were one of the most inaccessible regions in Papua New Guinea.

But missing mining operations have expanded in recent years, threatening the dedicate ecosystem in the area. To the North of the central highlands lies a region of hills and plains. The Sepik and Tariku Rivers are two of the most important rivers in the North. The waters off the Northern coast contain large coral reefs. Around 60% of the New Guinea is covered by dense rainforests. The region along New Guinea’s longest river is home to many different tribes including the Yamis and the Yawangs. Traditional masks are an important element of local culture. Lake Kutubu National Park is a fascinating body of water with 14 unique species of fish and rare birds and butterflies. Mount Bosavi, the mountain is the source of several major rivers.

The Kikori River region consists of pristine rainforests stretching from the dense mountain forests of the central range to the coastal areas along the Gulf of Papua. Finisterre range peaks over 4,000 meters, home to some of the most isolated communities in New Guinea. Ramu River source is in the eastern highlands which flows parallel to the coast and forms a single flood plain with the Sepik River during the rainy season. Mt. Hagen show is a gathering of clans and an impressive display of indigenous culture. The clans compete in a “sing sing” contest. A Mountain Range, Own Stanley Range lies north of Port Moresby, a waterfall which is a home to isolated mountain tribes.

Each step in this beautiful land of enactment allows the fresh discovery of a picture.

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