Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea (Tok Pisin - Papua Niugini, Hiri Motu - Papua Niu Gini)

Country in Oceania, in the south-western Pacific Ocean, occupies the eastern part of the island of New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, the northern part of the Solomon Islands (Malvinas Bougainville, Buka), D'Entrecasteaux Islands and others. Unique country with such a variety of languages , interesting customs and cultures, beautiful landscapes, rich flora and fauna. Particularly attractive makes this region the local jungle, inhabited by original tribes that hasn't been affected by the civilization.

Local volcanoes, mountains, valleys, rivers, waterfalls and marshes are ideal for hiking. But the main attraction of Papua - New Guinea is the underwater world around its seas. This is one of the main places in the world for diving and the birthplace of poppy-diving. Basic kinds of tourism in the country - tours, beach holidays, ecotourism, recreation (diving, surfing), hiking.

General information

The location, grounds and landscape 

Papua New Guinea is located in Oceania, 160 km to the north of Australia, in a region which is referred to as the 19th century as Melanesia. The state occupies the eastern part of the island of New Guinea and the islands of the Bismarck Archipelago (Admiralty Islands, St. Mattayas, New Britain and New Ireland), the northern part of the Solomon Islands (the island of Bougainville, Buka and atoll Tauu) archipelagos D'Entrecasteaux, and Louisiade Trobian and also more than 600 other smaller islands, atolls and reefs. From the north of Papua - New Guinea is washed by the Pacific Ocean, from the northeast - the New Guinea sea from the east - the Solomon Sea, in the south - the Coral Sea, the Gulf of Papua and the Torres Strait. In the west, has a land border with Indonesia, as well as sea borders: in the east - the Solomon Islands, in the south - with Australia.

The country's territory is 462 840 km². 

Most of the territory of Papua New Guinea is covered by mountains. In the central regions of the island of New Guinea in the direction from north-west to south-east stretches several ridges with an average altitude of about 3000 m. Highest point of the island and across the country - Mount Wilhelm (4509 m). It is located in the north-western part. North and south of the mountain ranges stretch wide plains and lowlands. In the north-east coast of the island mountain ranges are suitable for almost to the shore and can be traced to the nearby islands. There is a zone of high seismic activity, which is dedicated to the Pacific Ring of Fire. Most volcanoes are located in this part of the island of New Guinea (about two dozen). The largest rivers are the Fly and Sepik, the two 1.1 km long. They originate in the mountains and flow through the plains. The island of Papua New Guinea have both volcanic and coral origin. Mountainous and volcanic islands lie to the north of the island of New Guinea. On the islands of New Britain and Bougainville towering active volcanoes. Coral islands, most of them are located at the southeastern tip of the island of New Guinea. 

Population: more than 7 million 300 thousand people.

Capital: Port Moresby (Tok Pisin Pot Mosbi, 315 thousand inhabitants).

Biggest cities: Port Moresby.

Languages: English, Tok Pisin and Hiri Motu.

Religion: among the indigenous population are common animist beliefs, especially in the central regions, about 34% of the population - the adherents of traditional beliefs. Officially, the majority of the population - Christians (22% - Catholics, 44% - Protestants).

Time zone: UTC +10.

Calling code: +675.

Currency: kina (PGK), 1 Kin is 100 Toe. Banknotes in circulation are in denominations of 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 2 kin, and coins in 1 kin, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 Toe. Rates 1.00 USD ≅ 2.42 PGK, 1.00 EUR ≅ 3.28 PGK.

Credit card payment systems: Visa, MasterCard, American Express.