Papua New Guinea. New Guinea (island): origin, description, territory, population

New Guinea is the least populated territory in Indonesia.

The population is 1.56 million inhabitants, which gives an average density of 4 people. per 1 sq. km.

The majority of the population of New Guinea is made up of the Papuan tribes, belonging to the Austroloid race, but speaking different (mutually incomprehensible) New Guinean languages, forming separate language families.

More than ¾ of the population lives in rural areas in small scattered groups. All settlements are usually located in the coastal zone or in several fertile valleys, there are also several border cities within the province.

Large areas within the province are uninhabited. Between cities, people move by plane or by sea.

The main population centers are Jayapura (149,618), Mankovari, Soron, Merauke and Biak.

Jayapura is the provincial capital of Irian Jaya and its largest city.

About 80% of the population are Papuans and Melanesians, the former live in mountainous areas, the latter along the coast.

Most Papuans live in small clan groups isolated from each other. Of the highlands of the province of Irian Jaya, the most extensive and accessible, located in its central part, is the Grand Baliem Valley - a 72-kilometer stone corridor along which the Baliem River flows. Here, in small villages scattered throughout this wide valley, more than 100 thousand people from the Dani tribe live.

In Irian Jaya there are also places of compact residence of other peoples of Indonesia (Javanese, Malays, Ambonese), as well as descendants of Chinese and Dutch settlers.

The southern wetlands of the island are inhabited by warlike Asmats (formerly headhunters) and almost completely isolated from the world Korowai, who build their houses in trees. Korovaev, due to the inaccessibility of their habitat, has practically not been touched by modern civilization, they still retain a unique social way of life and traditions.

Approximately 300 languages are spoken in West Irian, most of which are dissimilar. Bahasa Indonesia, along with local dialects, is used as a language of interethnic communication.

Beauty and HealthTourism

The island of New Guinea is located in the Indian Ocean north of the Australian continent. It is usually referred to as Oceania. However, New Guinea is almost equally divided by the vertical border. The western part belongs to Indonesia, and the right part belongs to the state of Papua New Guinea. Therefore, its western part is often referred to as Asia. The nearest neighbors in the north are the Moluccas, in the east - the island of New Britain, and in the south - Australia. By itself, the island of New Guinea is simply huge. It is the second largest island in the world, only Greenland is bigger than it. There are many small islands around New Guinea. Some of them are inhabited by natives, others are deserted.

Nature and climate of the island of New Guinea

On the island, the flat terrain is replaced by mountain ranges. In the western part stretches an array called Maoke. Its highest peak, Punchak Jaya, almost reaches a height of 4.9 km above sea level. The Bismarck Mountains in the east are only slightly inferior in scope and height. Mount Wilhelm has a height of about 4.5 km above sea level.

Proximity to the equator and remoteness from civilization made this island a real corner of the wild. Researchers count here about 11 thousand species of plants, hundreds of species of animals and insects. On the island New Guinea there is a place called the Garden of Eden. It was discovered only in 2005. The Garden of Eden is a site in the western part of New Guinea, it covers an area of 300,000 hectares. Its location has allowed the Garden of Eden to remain isolated until recently. The researchers found here many species of frogs, butterflies and plants, about which science knew nothing at all. To their surprise, they found here the so-called "bird of paradise", which was considered extinct, and the rarest mammal - tree kangaroo.

In the south and north of New Guinea, the climate is different. The northern part lies in the equatorial belt, the southern part lies in the subequatorial zone. The hottest weather is usually on the coast and small islands. In the north of the island, the climate is uniform throughout the year. During the day the air temperature is about +30ºС, at night it drops to about +24ºС. In southern New Guinea, the seasons vary more. In summer the weather is about the same as in the north. During the winter period, which lasts from May to September, the temperature during the day is about +28ºС, and at night - about 22ºС. If you do not tolerate heat well, it is better to choose central or mountainous areas for relaxation. There the air temperature is always lower by 7-10 degrees. At high altitudes at night the air temperature can drop to +6ºС. Therefore, you will have to take care of warm clothes.

Humidity on the island is different everywhere. Moreover, it is never possible to guess where the rains will be more and where it will be less. The rainy season usually lasts from December to March. However, during the summer, showers are not uncommon here. Especially often they go on small islands off the coast of New Guinea.

Landmarks and population of New Guinea

Going on vacation to New Guinea, do not expect to see a lot of cultural monuments. There are no majestic architectural structures to be found here; famous poets and painters were not born here. But the island itself is amazing. It fascinates with its wild tropical nature. And a separate point is the local population. Scattered throughout New Guinea are traditional villages inhabited by natives who have preserved their ancient culture.

An interesting attraction of Papua New Guinea is the Giluwe Volcano. It has two peaks at once, and alpine meadows stretch on its slopes. It is the highest volcano in all of Oceania and Australia. Its height is about 4.4 km above sea level. Giluwe Peak was first climbed by two Australians, Mick and Dan Leahy. Nowadays, tourists are invited to repeat the expedition of the Leahy brothers and climb to the very mouth of the volcano. The view from the top is simply fantastic.

Another interesting place is the settlement of Cook. It was named after the famous discoverer, sailor James Cook, who made many journeys and made a significant contribution to the study of the life of the population of Australia and Oceania. The settlement of Cook is also called the Cook Marshes, which are located in the Waghi Valley, at an altitude of 1.5 km above sea level. Thanks to archaeological excavations, it became known that many thousands of years ago, local tribes were well versed in the art of agriculture. The findings of the researchers made it possible to compile a complete picture of the life of the natives - how they moved from gathering to farming and cattle breeding. As early as 4,000 years ago, they had a developed drainage system that allowed them to supply moisture to the soil.

The city of Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea, is also worth seeing. It is located on a peninsula protruding into the sea. At its tip is the historic center of the city, which the locals call the Town. There is also a high hill of Paga, from the top of which a wonderful view of the whole city opens. In Port Mosby you can see buildings built at the end of the 19th century. Of particular interest in terms of architecture is the united Church of Ella and the Houses of Parliament. The appearance of the city is very diverse. Here you can see old huts on stilts next to high-rise office buildings made of concrete and glass. You can learn about the history and culture of the country at the National Museum, which is located in the city center. Ports Mosby is home to the National Botanic Park. Plants from all over the country are collected here. It is worth paying attention to the exposition, made in the form of a map of Papua New Guinea. The plants on it are planted in such a way that they reflect the peculiarities of the flora of each corner of the country. Here you can see a huge collection of orchids. You will travel between lianas and tropical thickets on wooden decks, enjoying the beauty and aromas of these exotic flowers. In addition, many tropical birds and some animals live in the botanical park. Couscous and tree kangaroos always delight and delight tourists. These are completely safe and very cute little animals.

Only its colorful population can compare with the beauties of the nature of New Guinea. To get acquainted with the life and culture of the brightest and most unusual tribes, you need to go to the eastern part of the island - Papua New Guinea. It is here that the Papuans live - the natives who live outside of civilization for thousands of years. Of course, gradually the tribes adapt to the modern world. If women and men wear traditional straw skirts or prefer nudity, then children can already be seen wearing cloth shorts or jeans. It is impossible to say something definite about the tribes. The fact is that about 7 million people live here. At the same time, the researchers found about 850 different languages and dialects and the same number of ethnic groups, each of which has its own unique culture, beliefs and traditions. The most numerous Dani tribe occupies the territory in the central region of the island. Their settlements are open to tourists. Here you can learn about the traditions of the tribe, including cannibalism and wars with neighboring villages. You will be shown local crafts, Papuan outfits and even ancient mummies. An extremely unusual sight.

If you want to get acquainted with all the tribes at once, you should visit one of the festivals of Papua New Guinea, where the natives represent their culture, dressing up in the craziest and brightest outfits and performing traditional songs and ritual dances. The biggest holiday is the Independence Day of Papua New Guinea. On the eve of this day, the Goroka festival is held. It is here that you can see hundreds of representatives of various tribes. Their bodies are painted in the wildest colors, their necks are hung with massive shell necklaces, and their heads are crowned with headdresses richly decorated with tropical bird feathers, dry plants, bones and other natural materials. It is worth visiting the Goroka festival once, and the impressions will last for the rest of your life.

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The island of New Guinea is located north of Australia. In a long geological era, the island was a single territory with this mainland, so the flora and fauna of New Guinea is in many ways similar to the fauna and flora of Australia.

New Guinea is rich in endemics, unique species of plants and animals that are found only on the territory of this island.

Plants

About 11 thousand species of plants grow in New Guinea. There are 2.5 thousand species of unique orchids alone, among which scientists recently discovered a plant that blooms only one night.

Coconut and sago palms, sandalwood, breadfruit and mangrove trees, wild sugar cane grow here. Among the trees, represented by 1200 species, coniferous plants predominate, most of which are representatives of different types of araucaria.

Throughout New Guinea, Cunningham's araucaria is found, reaching a height of 60 meters and a trunk thickness of 3 meters. This plant is found at altitudes up to 2800 meters and is long-lived, reaching an age of up to 500 years.

Animals

The fauna of New Guinea is so diverse and little studied that in the western part of this island, scientists have recently discovered hitherto unknown species of animals. This part of the island was called the Garden of Eden due to the fact that the animals found by the researchers were absolutely not afraid of people and let scientists close to them.

More than 400 species of amphibians and more than 500 species of birds, 1,000 species of fish and 450 species of butterflies, as well as 180 species of mammals, among which there are a lot of marsupials, live on the territory of this tropical island.

The unique animal of New Guinea is Goodfellow's kangaroo, which lives in the highlands in the tropical forests of this island. These animals spend most of their time in trees, and on the ground they move rather uncertainly. In kangaroos, unlike the Australian species, the hind limbs are very short. Therefore, these marsupials are poor jumpers. These tree kangaroos are endangered due to hunting for their meat and increasing rainforest destruction.

Video: Tree kangaroos

Video: New Guinea Birds of Paradise

Film: Journey to the Stone Age. Papua New Guinea.

Beautiful photos of the nature of New Guinea.

NATURE OF THE ISLAND OF NEW GUINEA

Considered a paradise for nature lovers, Western New Guinea is home to an amazing variety of flora and fauna. The plant world has representatives of mountains, meadows, swamps and bogs, tropical, tidal, deciduous and coniferous forests, in which you can find an endless variety of species of grasses, clubs, ferns, mosses, lianas, flowers and trees. A variety of plants form a living carpet here, intertwining with the overhanging rainforest canopy.
The fauna of the province is also very diverse. Freshwater and terrestrial vertebrates are almost indistinguishable from animals found in Australia, including marsupials. In the forests and open grassy areas, you can find many varieties of snakes, turtles, anteaters, porcupines, possums, bats and rats (including the world's largest tree-climbing water rats). As well as giant lizards, tree-dwelling kangaroos and marsupial cats.
Western New Guinea is known for its butterfly diversity and for its many (about 700 recorded species) unique bird species. It is home to 80 species of birds of paradise and a huge flightless cassowary.
Sea turtles and sea cows can be found in coastal waters.
To the east of the city of Jayapura, on the shores of Yos Sudar-so bay, is the Yotefa Nature Reserve with many beautiful beaches and the remains of several ships once sunk during the hostilities. From Sorong, it is easy to get to the Raja Empat Island Reserve.
The waters off the Bird's Head Peninsula have the highest concentration of hard corals known to science, with more than 250 different species found per hectare. That's more than four times the number of coral species found in the entire Caribbean, but in an area roughly the size of two football fields. Two new species of epaulette sharks have recently been discovered here. These elegant predators grow up to 1.2 meters and, moving along the bottom, rely on their pectoral fins. Also described are 8 new species of shrimp, 24 species of fish and 20 corals, many of which are endemic. These stunning reefs are literally a "species factory".
In the inner valley of the Foggia Range, a few hundred kilometers from Bird's Head, many new species of animals and plants, previously unknown to science, have been discovered: giant flowers and a rare tree kangaroo, orange honeyeater, the first new bird species found on a giant island in more than 60 years. The Foggia Ridge and the waters of Bird's Head are considered some of the most unique areas on the planet in terms of biodiversity.

It is located in the Indian Ocean north of the Australian continent. It is usually referred to as Oceania. However, New Guinea is almost equally divided by the vertical border. The western part belongs to Indonesia, and the right part belongs to the state of Papua New Guinea. Therefore, its western part is often referred to as Asia. The nearest neighbors in the north are the Moluccas, in the east - the island of New Britain, and in the south - Australia. By itself, the island of New Guinea is simply huge. It is the second largest island in the world, only Greenland is bigger than it. There are many small islands around New Guinea. Some of them are inhabited by natives, others are deserted.

Nature and climate of the island of New Guinea

Proximity to the equator and remoteness from civilization made this island a real corner of the wild. Researchers count here about 11 thousand species of plants, hundreds of species of animals and insects. There is a place on the island called the Garden of Eden. It was discovered only in 2005. The Garden of Eden is a site in the western part of New Guinea, it covers an area of 300,000 hectares. Its location has allowed the Garden of Eden to remain isolated until recently. The researchers found here many species of frogs, butterflies and plants, about which science knew nothing at all. To their surprise, they found here the so-called "bird of paradise", which was considered extinct, and the rarest mammal - tree kangaroo.

Landmarks and population of New Guinea

This country is hot and humid all year round, at least in the low parts. This is true both for the eastern part of the island of New Guinea and for the Bismarck archipelago and the northern Solomon Islands. In mountainous areas, the temperature drops seriously - above 2000 meters above sea level it is very cold at night. And swimming in the ocean, you can watch how snow lies on the top of the Owen Stanley mountains.

In order to avoid heavy rains upon arrival in Papua New Guinea, you should choose a period from June to September. It is almost a dry season on the coast of the Coral Sea (Port Moresby), which, in fact, is the least rainy area in the whole country. In other areas: on a large plain (Madang) and especially in the mountains, the rains are very heavy throughout the year, at this time they subside a little. The mountains of Papua New Guinea are notable for extreme cloudiness and constant fogs. The Bismarck Archipelago and the island of New Britain are also very rainy, with the exception of the Rabaul area. It should be noted that Papua New Guinea is not completely protected from cyclones. However, they are rarely here. Sea water is ideal for people who are afraid of the cold: its temperature never drops below +26°C.

clothing

In any season should be very light and spacious. Sandals come in handy for coral reefs. In mountainous areas, warm clothes are indispensable.

dangers

In low-lying areas, there is a year-round risk of contracting malaria. Insects are also active all year round. They are especially annoying at night, but it happens that during the day, if this day turned out to be cloudy.