Papua New Guinea

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Picturesque New Guinea Plate XXXIII - Kerepunu Women at the Market Place of Kalo

Female gable image, Sawos people, Papua New Guinea, Bishop Museum, 1989.400.358

Reading the proclamation of annexation, Mr Lawe's house, Port Moresby, New Guinea, November 1884 - photographer John Paine or Augustine E. Dyer (5708761723)

New Guinea (1884-1919)

Papua New Guinea (PNG), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania that occupies the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and its offshore islands in Melanesia, a region of the southwestern Pacific Ocean north of Australia. Its capital, located along its southeastern coast, is Port Moresby. The western half of New Guinea forms the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua.

Geography

Papua New Guinea is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world, with over 800 languages spoken within a population of over 8 million people. It is also one of the most rural, as only 18 percent of its people live in urban centres. The country is known for its diverse environments, which range from tropical islands to vast highland valleys, providing a home for a wide array of wildlife. The terrain of Papua New Guinea is mostly mountainous, and much of it is covered with tropical rainforest. The country's highest peak, Mount Wilhelm, stands at 4,509 meters (14,793 ft).

History

The island of New Guinea was inhabited by humans tens of thousands of years ago. The first European contact with the island was made by Portuguese and Spanish explorers in the 16th century. In the 19th century, Germany ruled the northern half of the island as a colony, while the southern half was colonized by the British. Following World War I, the League of Nations mandated the territory to Australia, which administered it until Papua New Guinea gained its independence on 16 September 1975.

Government and Politics

Papua New Guinea is a Commonwealth realm with a parliamentary democracy. The head of state is the Monarch of the United Kingdom, represented by a Governor-General, while the head of government is the Prime Minister. The country's parliament is a unicameral body, consisting of members elected from 22 provinces and the National Capital District.

Economy

The economy of Papua New Guinea is largely underdeveloped. It relies heavily on sectors such as agriculture, forestry, and fishing, which employ the majority of the labor force. There are significant reserves of minerals, including gold, copper, and oil, which contribute to the country's export revenues. However, the benefits of this wealth have not been evenly distributed, leading to widespread poverty.

Culture

Papua New Guinea's culture is highly diverse, with the country being home to numerous festivals, languages, and traditions. The Sepik River region is renowned for its artistic wood carving and elaborate initiation rites. The Highlands region is known for its colorful Sing-sing and Goroka Show, where tribes gather to display their music, dance, and culture. Traditional societies in Papua New Guinea have a complex system of social organization, often centered around clan affiliations and customary land tenure.

Environmental Issues

Papua New Guinea faces several environmental challenges, including deforestation, mining-related degradation, and climate change impacts. The country's rich biodiversity is at risk from the loss of habitats and the effects of global warming, which threatens its coastal communities with rising sea levels.

See Also

• Languages of Papua New Guinea
• Fauna of Papua New Guinea
• Flora of Papua New Guinea