Sights of Papua New Guinea. Beaches of Papua New Guinea

Published Fly Hunt Tue, 22/10/2013 - 01:46

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Perhaps one of best places all over the world for holidays: Papua - New Guinea

A small state in Oceania, Papua New Guinea, is located in the eastern part of the island of the same name, New Guinea. In addition to the main – island – part, the country also has its possessions on smaller, neighboring islands. These islands in particular include, for example, New Britain or New Ireland, as well as some other territories. The Pacific Ocean and its seas (Arafura Sea and Coral Sea) wash Papua New Guinea from different directions of the world.

The name of the state comes from the Malay word "Papua", which translated means "people with curly hair" The fact is that the Malays have mostly straight hair, while the locals of Papua have really curly hair. The second part of the country’s name is “New Guinea“- arose thanks to Europeans, or rather Portuguese sailors, who found the skin color of the local aborigines similar to the skin color of the inhabitants of Guinea in Africa.

The country has changed its ways many times official name. So, for example, from 1884 to 1906 it was called British New Guinea, and later - from 1906 to 1949 - it was called simply "Papua"as part of Australia.

In addition, the country was divided into southern and northern: from 1884 to 1920, there was a so-called German New Guinea . Only since 1949, the Australian colony "Papua" and colony " New Guinea» merged into one province, now known as Papua and New Guinea, and starting in 1975, Papua New Guinea became a new independent state.

Photos of Papua New Guinea

Tourism in Papua New Guinea

Holidays in Papua New Guinea are quite new not only for Russians, but also for many people from other countries of the world. However, the country has huge amount attractions, as well as types of recreation. Here you can enjoy the local culture or visit a variety of markets and festivals, and popular sports include diving and surfing, as well as hiking in nature. Even fishing in Papua New Guinea is distinguished by its diverse and often unique flora and fauna.

Every year more than 70,000 tourists from all over the world come to Papua. The cultural traditions of Papua New Guinea are very diverse: the fact that there are more than 800 languages in the country speaks volumes. Among the locals cultural traditions Local carvings and national dances especially stand out. You can also enjoy folk singing, as well as all sorts of decorations and architecture of Papua - and all of the above will vary greatly throughout the country.

Festivals and public holidays are regularly held in Papua New Guinea. In May, tourists can visit the Coffee Festival or " Festival in Goroka", the National Mask Festival, which takes place in July, various shows and festival programs in August and September, and the Canoe Festival in October and November.

The most famous hiking trail in Papua New Guinea is Kokoda ( Kokoda), which goes through the sites of the Second World War, where battles took place between Australia and Japan. Another popular trail is climbing Mount Wilhelm, the highest mountain in Papua New Guinea. There are many more in the country walking routes, including very complex ones.

Diving and surfing in Papua New Guinea

Papua is perhaps one of the best diving destinations in the whole world! This is where some of the best coral reefs on the planet are found. In addition to the huge variety of places with reefs, there are also numerous places with ships and even planes destroyed in the Second World War. Papua New Guinea can rightfully provide diving for every taste. Some of the best places for diving in the west of the country are: Kimbie Bay ( Kimbe Bay), Caving ( Kavieng) and Madang ( Madang), Alotau ( Alotau) and Tufi ( Tufi), as well as Rabaul. The capital Port Moresby also offers excellent diving opportunities. It is especially worth noting that many diving sites are very easy to reach.

You can enjoy surfing in Papua New Guinea all year round! In the south of the country there are places such as: Hula Beach (about 100 kilometers from Port Moresby) and Milne Bay, as well as Bougainville ( Bougainville) and some others. Here you can surf from June to September, but in the north of the country the surfing season begins in mid-October and lasts until the very end of April. In the north it is worth noting such places as: Madang ( Madang) and Caving ( Kavieng), as well as a place with, perhaps, the best wave– Vanimo ( Vanimo).

New Guinea is an island in Pacific Ocean having maritime boundaries with Australia through the Torres Strait. It is also washed by the Arafura and Coral Seas. The western part of the island belongs to Indonesia, the eastern part to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea also owns the Bismarck Islands, part of the Solomon Islands (Bougainville and Buka) and many smaller ones.

The basis of the relief is mountains. The highest points are Puncak-Jaya Peak (4884 m) in the west and Mount Wilhelm (4509 m) in the east. There are 18 in Papua New Guinea active volcanoes.

Total area – 786,000 sq. km (the second, after Greenland, largest island on Earth), population is about 9,500,000 people.

The total area of Papua New Guinea is 462,840 square meters. km, the population is more than 7,000,000 people, most of whom are Papuans and Melanesians. The majority of the population professes the Christian religion, the rest follow local traditional beliefs. Official languages– English, Tok – Pisin (the most common) and Hiri – Motu. Papua New Guinea is the most multilingual country on the planet (about 820 languages and dialects).

The capital of Papua New Guinea is Port Moresby.

Cities of Papua New Guinea

It is best to start getting acquainted with Papua New Guinea from the capital - the city of Port Moresby. Port Moresby has colonial architecture, a comfortable climate, and beautiful nature.

Tourists flock to the city of Goroka for the annual Folk Song and Dance Festival held in August.

The city of Lae is the second largest in the country. The visiting card of Lae is the Botanical Gardens with a huge number of rare plants and animals.

Representatives of all ethnic groups of the country live in the city of Mount Hagen. This is true cultural capital– A large number of festivals and national holidays are held here. A favorite among locals is the August City Festival.

How to get to Papua New Guinea

There are no direct flights between Belarus and Papua New Guinea.

The best option would be to fly on the route Minsk - Port - Moresby with two connections (for example, in Amsterdam and Tokyo) with Belavia, KLM and Air Niugini. The travel time will be about a day (including connections), the cost of a round-trip ticket is from 2000 US dollars per person.

Climate of Papua New Guinea

The territory of Papua New Guinea is influenced by two climatic zones - equatorial and subequatorial.

The average air temperature in summer is +24 - +32 degrees (can reach +40 degrees), in the mountains - +14 - +17 degrees.

Annual precipitation is 1300 – 5000 mm depending on the region. Rains usually fall between December and March.

The best time to travel around the country is from May to October. When planning a trip, you should take into account the constant high air humidity in the country, which is poorly tolerated by European residents.

Most hotels in Papua New Guinea are complexes consisting of bungalows and located away from the bustle of the city, in picturesque places. As a rule, 2* - 3* hotels are located in the capital, as well as hotels belonging to world-famous chains, the infrastructure of which includes sports grounds, casinos and nightclubs. The cost of living is quite high (from 80 US dollars per night in a 3* hotel).

You can rent a cottage or guest house (without amenities and hot water). Breakfast is usually included in the price.

In the mountains, accommodation options are traditional lodges with amenities and national cuisine(from 7 US dollars per night).

Economy - accommodation options are private boarding houses (from 3 - 7 US dollars per day) and motels (7 - 15 US dollars per day).

When checking in, you should make sure that there are mosquito nets on the windows.

Beaches of Papua New Guinea

The city of Port Moresby has excellent conditions for water sports - scuba diving, windsurfing, sailing, water skiing, sea fishing, as well as golf, squash and tennis.

Idlers Beach, located east of Port Moresby, is famous for its white sand and picturesque coral reefs.

Even further east is the best resort of the island - Loloata Island Resort s good developed infrastructure and the Oceanarium park.

Very pleasant places for a beach holiday are located on Cape Moy.

Diving and snorkeling are popular on Duke of York Island, and surfing is popular on the island of New Ireland.

Kulau Lodge Resort will appeal to lovers of folk traditions.

In the vicinity of the village of Vau there is most picturesque beach Salamaua, where you can simply bask in the sun's rays, or you can engage in active recreation - swimming, diving, windsurfing.

Banks, money, exchange offices

The currency of Papua New Guinea is the kina, equal to 100 toe. There are paper banknotes in denominations of 2.5,10,20,50 kina and coins in denominations of 1 kina, 1,2,5,10,20,50 toe.

Banking hours:

From Monday to Thursday – from 8.45 – 9.00 to 15.00

Fridays – from 8.45 – 9.00 to 16.00

Currency exchange can be made in banks (a commission of 0.2 - 1%) is charged, in private exchange offices, at the airport, in hotels and in large shopping centers. ATMs are only available in the capital and can only be used if you have an account with a local bank.

Credit cards of the world's major payment systems (American Express, Visa) are accepted for payment almost everywhere. Cashing of travel checks (preferably in US dollars, pounds sterling, Australian dollars) is carried out only in banks in large cities.

In the provinces, only cash is accepted for payment.

Tipping is not accepted in the country; a service charge is included in the total price.

Tourist safety

The security situation in Papua New Guinea is not entirely clear, so it is simply necessary to follow basic rules of conduct:

It is advisable to leave valuables, large sums of money and documents in the hotel safe
In places large cluster People are advised to keep an eye on their personal belongings and not leave them unattended
Avoid visiting remote areas alone at night
You should not exchange currency with “street” money changers
Before going outside, you should use sunscreen, wear sunglasses and a hat.
Before traveling, you should take preventive measures against malaria, typhoid, hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, Japanese encephalitis and cholera
Only use bottled or boiled water for drinking, brushing teeth, and making ice.
Meat, fish and seafood should be pre-cooked
Vegetables and fruits should be thoroughly washed, vegetables should be heat-treated, fruits should be peeled

Transport

Due to the mountainous terrain of Papua New Guinea, there is only air travel between the main population centers. Regular flights carried out by Air Niugini.

Get from the mainland to island part countries you can by motor boat.

IN major cities You can use a taxi or bus (cheaper).

Entertainment, excursions, attractions

The sights of the city of Port Moresby are colonial-style houses, the modern Parliament building, the Sports Complex, the National Museum with unique exhibits, Art gallery, Catholic Cathedral and pile village of Hanuabada. In the National Botanical Garden you can see many exotic plants and birds.

Among the attractions of the city of Goroka are the McCartney Museum and the Raun Raun Theater, whose repertoire consists exclusively of folk legends. Not far from the city is the village of Bena - Bena - a center of hand weaving - and the ethnic village of Asaro. You can relax in the lap of nature in Mount Gahawisuke Provincial Park.

The main tourist attractions of the city of Lae are, first of all, the Botanical Gardens, as well as the Melanesian Arts Center and the Arts and Crafts Center. Not far from the city you can visit the village of Vau with the Institute of Ecology, a museum, a zoo and the Mak-Adam National Park. And on the Vatut River you can go rafting.

You can get to know the culture of local residents better in the city of Mount Hagen, where a large number of ethnic festivals and holidays are held. The Cultural Center houses a variety of handicrafts, many of which you can purchase for yourself.

Lake Kutubu is located at an altitude of 800 meters above sea level and is included in the List of Natural Monuments of Planetary Significance. Here you can find unique fish that do not live anywhere else on the planet.

The territory of New Guinea is home to the largest butterfly on the planet - the Queen Alexandra butterfly, the second largest - the Goliath butterfly and the largest Hercules moth on Earth.

Cuisine and restaurants

Main Ingredients local dishes– root vegetables, sweet potatoes, yams, grains, meat (pork, game, poultry). Most popular national dishes are the following:

"kumu" - pork roasted in an earthen oven with sweet potatoes, served with rice and herbs
“balli-beef” - fried beef served with rice
"bugandi" - soup with egg
fish prepared in all possible ways
"Hula" - fried crab meat with colocasia
variety of fruits
"dia" - sago and bananas in coconut cream
"saksak" - sago pies
“Pit-Pit” - sugar cane stalk boiled in coconut milk with ginger and tomatoes
“cake” - pies with fruit fillings

Drinks: coffee, “Muli-vara” (lemonade), fruit juices

Alcohol is represented by imported drinks

Shopping and shops

Store opening hours:

On weekdays – from 9.00 to 17.00

On Saturdays – from 9.00 to 13.00

As a rule, various wooden products, crocodile skin products, wicker baskets, decorative axes, bows and arrows, beads made from wild pig tusks, and a symbol of happiness in the home - wooden birds of paradise are brought as souvenirs from Papua New Guinea.

Customs

You can import and export local and foreign currencies in unlimited quantities.

Allowed to import:

Up to 260 cigarettes or 250 g of cigars or tobacco (for persons over 18 years of age)
Up to 1 liter of alcohol (for persons over 18 years old)
Perfumery - in reasonable quantities for personal use
New goods - no more than 200 kina (for persons under 18 years old - no more than 100 kina)

It is prohibited to import:

Drugs
Antiques
Weapons (without special permission)
Pornography
Non-canned foods of animal origin (except those produced in Australia and New Zealand)
Animals, plants and seeds without special permission

Pets are imported with an international veterinary certificate.

It is prohibited to export:

Antiques
Objects and things found at the bottom of the ocean
Exotic animals and plants

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Papua New Guinea - country unique nature, many distinctive ethnic groups with amazing history and traditions, formed as a result of migrations from the Asian mainland to the islands of Australia and Oceania about a century ago. This land is a land of wild, unexplored nature, a variety of creatures of the living world, humid jungles, waterfalls, cold mountainous areas, centuries-old swamps, ancient coral reefs, limestone cliffs, grassy plains, thousands of species of exotic plants and unique animals, insects and birds.

The name “Papua” comes from the Malay word “papuwa”, which translated into Russian means “curly” (according to another version, from “orang papua” - “curly-haired black-headed man”). The Portuguese Menezes gave this name to the island of New Guinea in 1526, noting the shape of the hair of the local residents. In 1545, Inigo Ortiz de Retes visited the island and gave it the name “New Guinea”, since, in his opinion, the local inhabitants were similar to the aborigines of Guinea in Africa (perhaps he saw similarities between the coasts of the new island and African Guinea).

The country was inhabited by people from the Asian mainland more than 50 thousand years ago. Numerous waves of migration that swept through the islands on their way to Australia and the islands of Oceania formed here many unique ethnic groups, whose isolation from each other further emphasized their identity.

From the beginning European colonization and before gaining independence, the country changed its official name several times. The southeastern part was called British New Guinea from 1884-1906, and Papua (under Australian control) from 1906-1949. The northeastern part was first a colony of Germany and in 1884-1920 was called German New Guinea (from 1914 under the control of Australia), and in 1920-1949, according to a decision of the League of Nations, it was renamed the Territory of New Guinea, an Australian mandate. In 1949, the two Australian colonies were merged into one - the Territory of Papua and New Guinea. In 1972, the province was named the Territory of Papua New Guinea. Since 1975, the name Papua New Guinea has become official for the newly independent state.

Today, Papua New Guinea is a virtually unknown region of wild and unexplored land, a land of harsh conditions and unique nature. On this piece of land, only slightly larger in area than Germany and the Benelux countries combined, such a diversity of living beings and natural complexes that they can be compared, perhaps, with the whole of Eurasia. Stifling rainforest regions give way to cold mountainous regions, centuries-old swamps lie next to equally ancient coral reefs, and jagged limestone cliffs border plains covered with emerald green grass. Plus hundreds of unique tribes and peoples with their own traditions and amazing history, thousands of species of exotic plants and many dozens of species of unique animals, from tiny tree kangaroos or birds of paradise to huge butterflies. It is this diversity, left completely untouched by man for so long, that attracts thousands of researchers, anthropologists and travelers.

Port Moresby

Port Moresby is the capital of Papua New Guinea. The population of Port Moresby is 200 thousand people. The city is inhabited mainly by Papuans and Melanesians, who speak, depending on their tribe, more than 700 languages and dialects, including about 200 Austronesian and about 500 Papuan. A fairly significant part of the population is represented by Australians and Europeans. More than half of the Chinese who immigrated to Papua New Guinea are residents of the capital, but their number is not significant in the total population. In 1873, the English navigator John Moresby landed in the southeastern part of the island of New Guinea. While exploring the coast, he discovered a rather cozy bay, which he named Port Moresby, in honor of his father, Admiral Fairfax Moresby. Years later, a city grew in the bay, which retained its name.

In 1884, Port Moresby, along with the entire southeastern part of the island of New Guinea, became part of British New Guinea, which is an English colony. In 1906, the colony was transferred to Australia and became known as the Territory of Papua. In 1949, after the unification of north-eastern New Guinea with Papua, Port Moresby became part of a new administrative unit called Papua New Guinea. In 1964, the country held general elections, which resulted in the formation of a legislative assembly in which the majority of seats were occupied by Aboriginal people. Laws that infringed on the rights of Melanesians ceased to apply. Also in 1964, a university opened in Port Moresby Papua New Guinea. The city gradually turned into the main cultural center of the country.

The historical center of Port Moresby, which residents of the city call Town, is located on a peninsula jutting out into the sea. From the Paga hill located at its tip, whose height reaches 100 meters above sea level, one can see full review to the city. A port stretches along the northern coast of Town. On south coast Ella Beach Park is located. In the central part of the Town, buildings erected at the end of the 19th century have been preserved. The oldest architectural monument in the city is the Ella United Church, built in 1890. The northern part of the city is where most government buildings and offices are located. The Parliament building, built in 1984, is also located here, as well as a large sports complex, created in the late 1980s specifically for the 1991 South Pacific Games held in Port Mersby. The city is home to the country's main higher education institution - the university.

Not far from the parliament building is the National Museum, the exhibition of which presents a wealth of materials on the nature, ethnography, culture and history of Papua New Guinea. It is truly the spiritual center of the country's rich and varied heritage. The museum has been operating for quite a long time and to date its collection includes 30 thousand anthropological exhibits, 18 thousand natural science exhibits, 25 thousand archaeological exhibits, about 7 thousand works of art representing the present time and 20 thousand military relics.

The National Museum is located in the capital of Papua and New Guinea, Port Moresby. The museum is a whole complex consisting of several rooms located in different areas of the city. The main building of the National Museum is located in the Waigani area. This room presents to the attention of visitors a variety of exhibits, which are housed in five galleries, namely: the Independence Gallery, the Masterpieces Gallery, Life and Earth, the Sir A. Mann Gallery, and the Sir M. Somare Gallery. The exhibition of the galleries corresponds to the name of each of them; let’s take a closer look at what can be seen in the galleries of the National Museum.

The Independence Gallery contains traditional Guinean household items: fishing gear, canoes, clay dishes and other kitchen items, clothing for everyday life and ceremonial clothing, string bags, which in Papua New Guinea are called “bilums,” as well as national musical instruments.

The Gallery of Masterpieces presents a variety of objects that have aesthetic or religious significance: jewelry, objects of power passed from one ruler to another, masks, and the like. "Life and Earth" - a gallery reflecting the most ancient history Papua and New Guinea. It depicts the life and everyday life of the first settlements on the territory of the country, which, according to historians and archaeologists, appeared here about 50 thousand years ago.

The Sir Alan Mann Gallery is home to temporary exhibitions that are regularly exhibited at the National Museum. The Sir Michael Somare Gallery presents new acquisitions. This gallery appeared relatively recently, in 1986, and received its name in honor of the country's first prime minister. The first exhibits are gifts received by Somare from representatives of various countries of the world during his reign.

Also of interest is the central courtyard of the museum, which houses a picturesque small park. In the park you can see many live birds and animals, a small theater, and an amphitheater.

The National Botanical Park, one of the main attractions of Papua and New Guinea, is also located in Port Moresby. Here are plants from different regions of Papua and New Guinea. This became possible thanks to natural conditions Port Moresby, where, despite the dry climate, plants from all regions of the country can be grown. One of the corners of the National Botanical Park is designed in the form of a map of the country, and the plants that form this map are arranged in such a way that they reflect the flora of the corresponding region of Papua New Guinea. The park contains a unique and largest collection of orchids growing in natural conditions in the southern hemisphere. There are about three thousand species here. Your journey through the park will be absolutely harmless to plants, since boardwalks and suspended paths are laid right under the canopy of trees for transportation; the total length of these roads is approximately two kilometers.

In addition, the National Botanical Park is a real bird paradise. Birds of paradise that live only in Papua and New Guinea, Australia and the adjacent islands are collected here. Don't miss the chance to listen to the singing of these amazing birds. The park is also home to traditional Papua New Guinea animals: couscous, dwarf kangaroo and many others.

Warirata National Park is the first national park in the country. It is located approximately 42 km from the capital of the country, Port Moresby. Varirata National Park was founded in 1963 and covers an area of more than a thousand hectares. Initially, the area now occupied by the park was a hunting ground for tribal leaders. In memory of those times in national park What remains is a “tree-house” - a cult object of the Koiaris tribe. Today, Varirata National Park is a protected site.

The climate of the region where the park is located is tropical, that is, there are clearly two seasons: wet and dry, which promotes the growth of traditional local plants, of which there are a lot. Warirata National Park is an extremely picturesque place. In addition to the fact that the park itself has a wooded savannah, tropical forests, diverse herbaceous vegetation and gallery forests, the park is surrounded by extraordinary landscapes: the Sogeri plateau and mountain range Astrolab. In addition, in Varirata Park there is a beautiful panoramic view to Port Moresby. It is very difficult to get lost in the park, despite its large area, since all the paths are marked.

If we talk in more detail about the vegetation in Warirata National Park, then the traditional Papua and New Guinea ferns, reeds, bamboos, orchids, and eucalyptus trees prevail here. In complete freedom, the park is home to many species of birds, including white cockatoos and other parrots, bowerbirds, and birds of paradise. In the tropical forests and savannas of the park you can find a variety of fauna: green python, amethyst python, deer, couscous, wallaby kangaroo, bandicoot, many colorful butterflies and others.

Gardens of Eden

Several years ago (in 2006), an expedition of scientists from several countries (Australia, USA, Indonesia) discovered a truly amazing phenomenon for the present time - an isolated tropical forest without any signs of civilization, in which there was not even a single small path. The expedition was led by scientist Bruce Beeler. Such a “miracle” was discovered on the island of New Guinea, in its western part, at an altitude of about two thousand meters in the Foya Mountains. This amazing tropical forest covers an area of 809 thousand hectares. Even for local residents (and the scientific expedition was accompanied by elders of two Papuan tribes), the isolated tropical forest was a discovery. This is truly a heavenly place, for which it received its name - the Gardens of Eden.

The ecosystem of the Gardens, formed and existing without any outside interference, is amazingly beautiful and sometimes unusual. This is where life is best represented. wildlife, for which there are no interferences or restrictions. There is hardly another place where you can see so much extraordinary beauty exotic animals, birds, plants. In addition to the traditional flora and fauna of Papua New Guinea, during the expedition in the Gardens of Eden, about 20 new species of frogs, 4 species of butterflies, many flowers, including the world's largest rhododendron, and previously unknown species of birds, in particular the family of honeyeaters, were discovered. This amazing tropical forest is also home to the golden tree kangaroo; this species was previously considered extinct. It is also striking that most birds and animals are not afraid of people and sometimes even sit on people’s hands.

Cook settlement

On the territory of Papua and New Guinea, in addition to many natural and historical attractions, there is also an interesting archaeological site - the ancient agricultural settlement of Cook, also known as the Cook Swamp. This settlement is located in the Western Highlands region of Papua New Guinea, in the Wahgi Valley at an altitude of more than 1500 m above sea level. This interesting archaeological site covers an area of about 116 hectares. Archaeologists and historians have been conducting excavations and research on the territory of the ancient settlement since the 1960s, and this research was started by archaeologist from Australia Jack Golson. Over almost half a century of excavations, many interesting things were discovered and very interesting facts were established. A little more about this below.

The Kuka agricultural settlement reflects the development of agriculture in isolated conditions over a period of 7-10 thousand years. This settlement became the main evidence of such a long history of agricultural activity in Papua New Guinea. In this area, traces were discovered that reflect the transition from gathering to direct agriculture, to farming. Around 2000 BC, the inhabitants of the settlement created a drainage system that was quite developed for that time; all the canals forming it were united into a single network. If we talk in more detail about farming, it should be noted that in this settlement they mainly grew nut and fruit trees, sugar cane, taro, yams, greens, bananas, leafy vegetables and pasture crops. The Cook Marshes are the richest site in New Caledonia with evidence of active and successful farming.

Nowadays, the territory of the ancient agricultural settlement of Kuka is home to the Papuan Kavelka tribe, which grows coffee, sweet potatoes and bananas. Thus, the tribe carefully preserves the heritage of their ancestors. In 2008, UNESCO listed the Cook settlement as World Heritage.

Mount Wilhelm

One of the main natural attractions of Papua and New Guinea is Mount Wilhelm. Its height is 4509 meters, it is the highest mountain in the country. Mount Wilhelm is located near the equator, but its top is covered with snow. Peak Wilhelm is part of the Bismarck Range, its peculiarity is that it is the intersection point of three provinces of Papua New Guinea: Madang, Chimbu and Western Highlands.

Among the Papuans, in their language, the mountain is better known as Enduva-Kombuglu. Mount Wilhelm received its name in 1888. Then one German correspondent climbed Mount Finisterre and gave the mountain range a name in honor of the German Chancellor - Bismarck. Four most high mountains The ridges were named after the chancellor himself and his three children: Ottoberg, Mariaberg, Wilhelmberg and Herbertberg (“berg” means “mountain” in German). However, the correspondent was mistaken about the highest peak; he considered Ottoberg as such, but in 1938 it was found that its height is 3540 meters, that is, almost a thousand meters less than Wilhelm Peak.

Mount Wilhelm is a witness to many historical events, in particular the Second World War. It is a known fact that on May 22, 1944, an American plane whose task was to photograph Fr. Padaidori in New Guinea, crashed into a mountainside. Most of the fragments fell into the lake, located almost at the foot of Mount Wilhelm, but some parts of that plane can still be seen today, for example, the wing.

Many people never conquered Mount Wilhelm; moreover, the peak claimed more than one human life. A plaque has been erected at the spot where he was last seen in memory of an Australian Army sergeant who fell from a steep slope in 1971. In 1995, an Israeli tourist sprained his leg and fell behind his group, as a result he got lost, then stumbled in the dark and fell into the gorge. In 2005, a member of the tourism board died of a heart attack while climbing Mount Wilhelm.

But, despite all this, Mount Wilhelm is the most accessible climb in Papua and New Guinea. There are two routes to climb to the top. The first, easier and shorter, from the village of Keglesugl in Chimbu district, the route runs through tropical forests, past picturesque alpine meadows and glacial valleys, the ascent along this route will take a little more than three hours. The second route is more complex and longer, about four days, it originates in the village of Ambullua in the Western Highlands.

Source - http://www.intergid.ru/excursion/64/666/
http://ru.wikipedia.org/

The first European to see the shores of Papua New Guinea was the Portuguese navigator Jorge de Meneses, who in 1526-1527 named the island Ilhas dos Papuas (Island of Curly Hair), and the Spaniard Inigo Ortiz de Ret a little later called it New Guinea ( the reason for this is the same thick hair of the islanders - de Ret considered them to be descendants of the Guinean tribes of Africa).

Further exploration of the vast territory around New Guinea was carried out successively by Bougainville, Cook, Stanley and John Moresby, after whose campaigns European ships practically disappeared from these waters for several centuries.

However, in 1824, Holland, relying on the power of its colonies in the region, declared its rights to the western part of the island of New Guinea; in 1884, Germany took possession northern part territory, and just three days later Great Britain declared a protectorate over the southern coast of the island (outright annexation occurred four years later).

In 1906, British New Guinea became known as Papua, and administration of the territory was transferred to newly independent Australia. With the outbreak of World War I, Australian troops captured the capital of the German territories, Rabaul, and took control of the German part of New Guinea.

In 1920, the League of Nations officially transferred these territories to Australia. Twenty years later everything northern islands and much of the northern coast of New Guinea were captured by the Japanese, who were rapidly advancing south, and by 1942 fierce fighting had broken out throughout the area between the Imperial Army and Allied forces.

By 1945, the mainland and the island of Bougainville were recaptured, but the Mikado army turned New Ireland, Rabaul and New Britain into impregnable fortress, having equipped extensive defensive lines (about 600 km of tunnels alone were dug), the fighting on which continued until the surrender of Japan.

After the war, the eastern half of New Guinea was returned to Australia and became a mandatory territory of Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia took control of the Dutch part of the island (in 1963 this territory was annexed by the Indonesian state as Irian Jaya). Papua New Guinea was granted self-government in 1973 and declared full independence in 1975.

Nowadays, Papua New Guinea is a region of wild and unexplored land, virtually unknown to European tourists, a country of harsh conditions and unique nature. On this piece of land, only slightly larger in area than Germany and the Benelux countries combined, such a variety of living beings and natural complexes is concentrated that they can, perhaps, be compared with the whole of Eurasia.

Stifling rainforest regions give way to cold mountainous regions, centuries-old swamps lie next to equally ancient coral reefs, and jagged limestone cliffs border plains covered with emerald green grass.

Plus hundreds of unique tribes and peoples with their own traditions and amazing history, thousands of species of exotic plants and many dozens of species of unique animals, from tiny tree kangaroos or birds of paradise to huge butterflies. It is this diversity, left completely untouched by man for so long, that attracts thousands of researchers, anthropologists and travelers.

Port Moresby

The capital of Papua New Guinea and the country's main gateway, Port Moresby is located on a peninsula in the superb natural Fairfax Harbor lying on the south-eastern shore of the island, in the wider Gulf of Papua.

The hills surrounding the capital are extremely picturesque, and almost the entire mouth of Fairfax Bay is blocked by powerful coral reefs, so there are many sports organizations here. The city has all the conditions for scuba diving, windsurfing, sailing, sea fishing, water skiing, golf, tennis and squash, and some lack of equipment and qualified instructors is more than compensated by the unique conditions of the surrounding nature. However, most interesting places located outside the city limits, in the Central District.

Central District

The Central District covers a narrow strip along the southern coast of the Gulf of Papua to the eastern tip of the island of New Guinea, as well as the southern slopes of the central mountain range. To the north-east of Port Moresby are the spectacular Rouna Falls, and nearby Warirata National Park, the country's first nature reserve.

Covering an area of approximately 1,000 hectares, the park was originally a hunting ground for the chiefs of the coastal Koiari tribes, and now features almost all of the region's flora and fauna, including birds of paradise, wallabies and deer. There are a dozen walking trails throughout the reserve, at the end of which a beautiful panorama of Port Moresby and the green coastline opens. Just north of Port Moresby, the Brown River is a pleasant place for swimming, rafting and picnicking.

The famous Kokoda Trail begins nearby, connecting the northern and southern coasts of the island. This essentially ordinary mountain trail passes through extremely picturesque places Owen Stanley Ridge is also the country's most popular historical excursion - it was along this trail that the most brutal battles broke out between the Japanese and Allied forces during World War II.

The trail goes through rugged and beautiful mountain areas, under the canopies of dense tropical forest, past numerous clear rivers and waterfalls, visiting battle sites - bunkers, caponiers, artillery positions and defensive lines of both warring sides.

Just 46 kilometers from Port Moresby, the picturesque Sogeri Plateau begins - the starting point for the Kokoda Trail.

Here, at an altitude of about 800 meters above sea level, the air is fresh and cool, and the numerous rubber plantations and ethnic villages only add to the charm. Here, in the town of Six Miles, near the airport, is Village Arts, a state-owned store with the best collection of folk arts and crafts in the country.

Nearby are the historic Bomana War Cemetery with a beautiful park and the Moitaka Farm, which researches and breeds crocodiles and other living inhabitants of the region.

To the east of the capital, the popular Idlers Beach begins, and in the waters of the bay lie the Sinasi Reef and Daugo Island, famous for their beautiful corals and white sandy beaches.

Further east, just fifteen minutes' drive from Port Moresby, is one of the best resorts islands - Loloata Island Resort (www.loloata.com). Surrounded by one of the largest coral reefs on the planet, it offers excellent conditions for snorkeling, diving, fishing and other water activities (the Oceanarium Marine Park is nearby).

Northern District, or Oro

Few people, when mentioning New Guinea, expect to hear about fjords. However, the coast of the Northern District around the town of Tufi really most resembles the rocks of Norway or Iceland, with the only difference being that the water here is always warm, and these beautiful rocks were formed not by the influence of a glacier, but by the tectonic forces of the Earth. Cape Nelson, jutting out into the Solomon Sea, was formed by the eruption of three volcanoes, whose rapidly hardening lava ran down to the water, creating numerous rock tongues and gorges, so similar to classic fjords.

The clear waters of the local fjords, going down to a depth of 90 meters, are teeming with a huge number of representatives of tropical ichthyofauna, and the rocks themselves rise above the water to a height of more than 150 meters. The wide mouths of the bays are protected by reefs, and the shores are often covered with mangrove forests, over which hang the vertical slopes of gorges covered with mosses and orchids, from which cascades of waterfalls fall.

It is not surprising that in such a beautiful place there is intensive creation of tourism infrastructure, the fulcrum of which is the city of Tufi, from where diving tours and many all kinds of trips related to bird watching, deep-sea fishing, windsurfing, canoeing or simply doing nothing on the whites are regularly organized sandy shores, framing Cape Nelson from both the north and south.

Every October, the region celebrates the Tapa Festival, followed by Martyrs' Day and Korat Church Day. The northern branch of the Kokoda Trail ends in the village of Kokoda, with many local tourist roads running along the coast to Buna and Gona.

It was also the site of fierce fighting during the Second World War, so the surrounding area is replete with traces of those battles, and at Hiropa Plantation, on Buna Road, there is a Japanese plaque commemorating the 15,000 Imperial Army soldiers who died here. On the slopes active volcano Mount Lamington is home to thousands of birds.

Southern Highlands

The Southern Highlands lie not in the south at all, but in the very center of the country. This region is often called "Wonderland" because until 1935 this chaos of mountain ranges and evergreen forested valleys was practically one big blank spot on all maps of the world.

The Kikori, Erave and Strickland rivers take off from here, the second highest mountain of the island, Jiluwe (2900 meters), is located here, caves of enormous depth have been discovered and amazing people live, whose acquaintance with modern civilization is limited only to occasional meetings with the inhabitants of mountain towns. This is one of the few places on the planet where traditional ways of life are evident in almost every aspect of local life.

Ancient ceremonial rituals are present throughout, men and women still wear traditional dress, and huts are still built from stones and branches of bushes. The fresh air of the mountains is ideal for numerous excursions, and under the canopy of a dense tropical forest you can see (and hear) dozens of bird species, clear rivers with numerous waterfalls.

South of the district capital Mendi, at an altitude of 800 meters above sea level, lies the beautiful Lake Kutubu - the second largest lake in Papua New Guinea and one of the most unusual bodies of water in the region. Included in the list of natural monuments of planetary significance in 1998, it is famous for its unique ichthyofauna - 10 of the 14 species of fish living here are not found anywhere else on Earth.

It is also calm and very beautiful lake provides refuge to almost a hundred species of birds, and its shores abound with reptiles and insects. Local residents built a small boarding house above the water's edge, using only local materials and traditional construction methods. From here, walking tours regularly depart to the most beautiful places in the vicinity of the lake.

The Mendi Valley is also well known for its beautiful landscapes, limestone caves and the Uli Vig hunters, who paint their faces red and yellow and wear elaborate wigs made from human hair.

Eastern Highlands

A land of gold mines and coffee plantations, the Eastern Highlands are more susceptible to European influence than any of the country's other upland regions. The Highlanders still live in neat villages, clusters of round huts surrounded by low walls and meadows of feather grass-like kunai grass. Traditional rituals and dress here are gradually being replaced by jeans and cowgirls, and English speech can be heard much more often than in other regions of the country.

The largest settlement in the region, Goroka (population about 25 thousand people) is its agricultural and commercial center.

The village of Bena Bena, located 10 km from Goroka, is the largest community in mountainous areas, specializing in hand weaving, rugs, bedspreads and mats made by local craftsmen are very popular throughout the country.

Also nearby is the village of Asaro, inhabited by representatives of the ethnic group of the same name, widely known for its ritualism, as well as the unusual tradition of covering their bodies with gray mud (legend says that in this way Asaro warriors frightened their enemies, who mistook them for ghosts - theatrical illustrations of this particular legend are the centerpiece of the Goroka Festival).

From Goroka Post Office a trail leads to Mount Kiss, which offers a magnificent view of the valley, and south of Goroka you can climb Mount Michael and visit a cave with prehistoric petroglyphs. 11 km from the city lies Mount Gahavisuka Provincial Park, which occupies 80 hectares of beautiful mountainous terrain and has been turned into a small botanical park where plants from all over the country are collected.

And around there are endless coffee plantations, through which you can access the Kotuni trout farm, or the large cultural center of Kainantu (however, it is better to go here through the Kassim or Lae pass), where not only traditional local crafts are sold; but they also teach local woodworking or weaving technologies.

Chimbu District

In the heart of the highlands lies Chimbu District, the country's smallest and most densely populated region. The mountain slopes here literally rear up - the entire district is occupied by steep mountain ranges, dissected by deep and often inaccessible valleys. Here is located highest point countries and most popular place for climbers from all over the region - Mount Wilhelm (4509 meters).

The main way to relax here is active. Trekking trails of all difficulty levels scatter throughout the district, going past traditional villages of the Chimbu (Simbu) tribal group, through dense tropical forest, past pristine rivers with their trout farms, along the shores of the beautiful Pindaunde lakes, where there is a small lodge. The landscapes here are breathtaking - on a clear day you can see almost the entire island from the mountain slopes, from the northern coast to the southern, and the climate is cool (there is even snow cover on the peaks).

The capital of the Kundiawa district is located in a picturesque environment near the old airfield, which lies directly on the mountain slope (even the runway here is at an angle to the horizon). The town does not boast any attractions, but is a good starting point for mountain and river hikes in the region.

Just a few kilometers from Kundiawa, almost next to the main road, lie the Keu Caves, where speleological tours are often organized (there are many other caves in the vicinity, but most of them are burial places for soldiers killed in battles and are therefore closed to the public), and The local rivers Vagi and Purari, according to many experts, are among the best in the world for organizing rafting and kayaking.

Western Highlands

Western Highlands District lies between Chimbu, Enga and Southern Highlands Districts. The mountainous land of the region is covered with dense equatorial forests of the lowlands and green alpine meadows of the mountain slopes, merging into the ever-shrouded mountain peaks.

The region's capital, Mount Hagen, is a colorful and bustling commercial center where quick profits from coffee and tea plantations quickly replaced traditional lifestyles, turning the city into something resembling the "Frontier towns" of Wild West films.

55km north of Mount Hagen, the Bayer River Reserve is one of the best places in the country to see the famous birds of paradise, possums, tree kangaroos, parrots and cassowaries in their natural environment habitat. Hiking trails to the valleys of the Vaga and Ter rivers or trekking routes to the southwestern slopes of Mount Wilhelm begin from here.

Western district

On south coast islands of New Guinea, between the border with Irian Jaya and west coast Gulf of Papua, lies the Western District - the main agricultural region of the country. The region's wide open fields and marshy river valleys are teeming with life - home to Rusa deer, wallabies, wild pigs, crocodiles and lizards. And all this is just a few steps away from domestic flocks and waterfowl - the region's residents manage to find a delicate balance between meeting their own food needs and protecting the original inhabitants of this land.

The main city of the district - Daru is located on a small island of the same name near the southeast coast of the country, in the Torres Strait.

Once a small center for pearl and sea cucumber fishing, it has now become a fast-growing trading and fishing port, somewhat reminiscent of the ever-bustling Arab seaside towns. Its main export product is crocodile leather and products made from it, so the local market is constantly flooded with lovers of fashion accessories and tourists from Australia (Cape York is only 180 km away from here - a trifle by the scale of the region).

Main tourist site Western District - Bensbach Wildlife Lodge, located on the river of the same name, whose mouth forms the border between Papua New Guinea and Irian Jaya. The vast plain of the Bensbach River is almost entirely flooded during the season, providing unique habitat for a myriad of birds and fish (the lodge is considered one of the best fishing spots in the country), and during the dry season, herds of ungulates roam this analogue of the Nile Valley.

In the upper reaches of the Fly River, which flows through the district, there is one of the largest gold and copper mines on the planet - Ok Tedi. Opened in 1980, it produces about 80 thousand tons of ore daily; it is not difficult to guess that the Fly River is also gold-bearing - amateur gold mining on its banks has long turned into a kind of tourist attraction (the content of the precious metal in local sediments is small, but the process itself is entertaining ).

Lake Murray (Murray), located in the very center of the district, is the largest floodplain lake in Papua New Guinea and during the rainy season its area increases five times, filling more than 400 square meters. km of meadows and valleys. Now a crocodile research station has been opened on the lake, offering tourists other environmental services.

Sepik District

The Sepik River, the valley of which forms the northwestern district of the country of the same name, is one of the largest river systems in the region (the length of the river itself is about 1126 km). This vast region north of the Bismarck Ridge is almost entirely occupied by a huge river basin, swampy lowlands and tropical forests grading into mountain slopes, whose peaks are often crowned with snow caps (at the equator!).

This secluded corner of the planet, with its buttery brown rivers, dozens of tribes, many of them barely above the Stone Age, and their myths, magic and rituals, is the perfect place for fans extreme tourism. Along the banks of the rivers there are a series of colorful local villages with their stilt houses, long canoes with noses like crocodile heads, lakes overgrown with exotic flowers, and local misty sunrises and stunning sunsets are said to have no analogues on the planet.

Good beaches for relaxation and diving are located in the area of Cape Moem, in the Mapik region you can get acquainted with the amazing culture of the Abalem tribes, around Madang - the capital of the region of the same name - with the art of local potters, in the village of Timbunke - with local construction methods. Near the capital of East Sepik - the city of Wewak - you can visit Cape Vom (Uom) - the site of the surrender of the last Japanese garrison on the island (here on September 13, 1945, Lieutenant General Adachi signed the act of surrender and presented his sword to General Robertson) with its war memorial and old an airfield around which silent evidence of that war is scattered in abundance (Wewak itself also has a Japanese war cemetery and a Peace Park).

The Chambri Lakes, a vast expanse of shallow water located in East Sepik, are widely known for their vibrant bird community, crocodiles and many villages home to renowned artists and craftsmen. The village of Aibom is famous for its potters, who use ancient techniques not only to make ordinary kitchenware, but also to produce fireplaces and tiles.

The village of Kanganaman is famous for its recently restored “house of spirits” (the local house tambaran is considered a monument of national importance), and Korhogo is famous for its “mei” masks (local tribes have been using totemic symbols from the world of insects since ancient times), and Waskuska also has a beautiful “house of spirits” , in Yigei they make traditional tom-toms "garamut" (when rafting down the river, their sound can be heard everywhere), and in the village of Svagap (Suagap) they make simple and elegant pottery in folk style.

The excellent coastline west of Vanimo (West Sepik, 30 km from the Indonesian border) forms a small peninsula, literally abutting limestone cliffs on which a Japanese landing barge rusts (the waters here are excellent for diving).

From September to January the 260-kilometer coastline near Wutung attracts hundreds of surfers, and strong northwest winds between December and March create excellent conditions for windsurfing. At a short distance from the town of Aitape (founded by the Germans in 1905) there are several small islands. There were also bloody battles in this area, so in the waters around the islands and the old Taji airfield you can find several dozen crashed planes and warships (there is a war memorial near Taji).

Morobe District

In the very northeast of the island of New Guinea, on the Huon Peninsula around the bay of the same name, Morobe District is located. Here the densely forested Saruwaged Mountains, the northern spur of the Owen Stanley Range, open directly onto the coast, forming a chain of small volcanic islands in the sea, while the southwestern part of the district lies within the fertile Markham Valley, sandwiched between high ridges.

Such a varied relief also resulted in the richest natural world region - hinterland and the Morobe coast abound with unique representatives of flora and fauna and are cut through by numerous excursion trails, especially frequent in the Wau Bulolo area.

Lae

The second largest city in Papua New Guinea, Lae was a tiny mission station until the 1920s, developing rapidly after the discovery of gold mines in the Wau region. Over the next twenty years, it grew into the main port and industrial center of the northeast of the country.

Near Lae lies the town of Wau, formerly major center gold mining, and now houses the Wau Institute of Ecology on its territory with a small museum and zoo. Near the city are McAdam National Park and Mount Kaindi, the pretty coastal town of Finschhafen (founded by German colonists in 1885, today the center of the island's Lutheran community), the Vatut (Watut) River with its beautiful raft sites, as well as the Thami Islands, whose population is widely known for its carved wooden balls, considered true works of art.

South of Lae lie: the attractive Sialum coastline with coral terraces, the excellent Salamaua beach with good conditions for swimming, diving, windsurfing and hiking through the battlefields of World War II, the picturesque Labu Lakes in the Markham Valley (an interesting population of lake crocodiles here), the Siassi Islands with beautiful coral reefs, as well as the long ocean shores of Maus Buang and Labu Tali - nesting sites leatherback turtle, some representatives of which weigh up to 500 kg and reach a length of up to two meters.

Milne Bay District

The very east of Papua New Guinea, together with the groups of Trobriand Islands, Murua (Woodlark), Lachlan, D'Entrecasteaux, Louisiada, Conflict and Samarai, is part of the Milne Bay district. Formerly one huge naval base during the Second World War , the district is literally full of various traces of those events. It also includes 160 small islands and 500 reefs scattered over an area of more than 250 thousand square kilometers, which turns it into a real Mecca for divers and fans of water sports.

The capital of the district is the town of Alotau, spectacularly located on the edge of Milne Bay, - excellent place to start getting acquainted with this unusual region. From here, numerous ships depart to the island of Fergusson with its hot volcanic springs, mud fumaroles, geysers and volcanoes, to the picturesque island of Mishima with its reefs and gold mines, to the island of Murua (Woodlark) with its wood carving masters, to the Trobriand Islands with their unique social system (local leaders have enormous power and influence, but inheritance is through the female line)

and the colorful harvest festival of Milamala, to the island of Kiriwina with its freshwater caves (an amazing phenomenon for the small islands of the region) and ritual caves near the village of Matawa, to the island of Goodenau, in the center of which rises a large stone with mysterious inscriptions, as well as to numerous small reefs, waters around which contain the ruins of hundreds of sunken ships and warplanes from the Second World War.

New Britain

The island of New Britain (area 37.8 thousand sq. km), lying 30 km northeast of the coast of New Guinea, forms two administrative regions - Western and Eastern. This is the most big island Bismarck Archipelago - from east to west it stretches for almost 475 km, and from north to south - from 35 to 85 km. Its northern shores are washed by the waters of the Bismarck Sea, and its southern shores by the Solomon Sea.

Despite its age (about 10 million years), the island is mountainous and active - a low mountain range runs along its entire length, replete with volcanic peaks, fumaroles and green valleys. There are especially many volcanoes in the northern part of the island - here they stretch in an almost continuous series high peaks active volcanoes Langila (Cape Gloucester, 1330 meters), Bamus (2248 meters), Ulavun (the highest high volcano Bismarck Archipelago, 2334 meters), many of them having extensive calderas. Southern slopes The mountains are composed of limestone, and therefore abound in caves, grottoes and picturesque outlier rocks.

Rabaul

The city of Rabaul is the official capital of the island and one of its most tragic monuments. Once the richest and beautiful city country, which became the scene of fierce fighting during the Second World War, the city of flowering gardens and a rich port was almost completely destroyed in September 1994 by the eruption of the Tavurvur volcano, and its inhabitants were evacuated to other parts of the island.

All that remained of its former appearance were half-buried in black. volcanic ash neighborhoods around Simpson Bay Harbour, some of the port buildings (the port is still operational!) and numerous underground structures of the huge (total length of almost 576 km) tunnel system dug by the Japanese during the war.

Moving from the airport, which is now located in Tokua (approximately 50 km from Rabaul), you can visit the picturesque peninsula of Gazelle Peninsula, bordering the beautiful bay from the sea with the cone of Tavurvura rising above it, drive through coconut groves and lush forests of the foothills and enter the lunar zone landscape at the foot of the volcano.

Having driven through the black streets of the city, most similar to the scenery of some apocalyptic film, you can exit through the relatively undamaged Mango Avenue to a real oasis of miraculously surviving (and carefully restored) tourist hotels. If you have some courage, you can dive into the harbor of Rabaul, which stores in its depths tens and hundreds of warplanes and ships of the Second World War. Then drive east to the town of Kokopo with its Military History Museum and the ruins of Gunantambu Mansion, built in the 1880s by the legendary "Queen Emma".

Duke of York Island is a 45-minute boat ride from Kokopo, renowned for its excellent diving and snorkeling conditions, while the surrounding lagoons offer canoeing, windsurfing, waterskiing and yachting. Or you can head north to Kabakada, where the extreme popular resort Kulau Lodge, built right on the beach in traditional local style.

The western part of the island of New Britain is virtually untouched by tourism. The only exception is the Valindi plantation area, where one of the best dive resorts in the Pacific region is located. The resort is located on a private palm plantation stretching along the shores of Kimbe Bay and is surrounded by a wall of volcanic peaks.

Volcanic caves, thick thickets of corals and clear blue waters The bays are home to a huge amount of marine life. There is also a popular dive site known as "The Cathedral" - a vast horseshoe of coral reef with a large cave at one end. The inner side is formed by an extended strip white sand, and the outer one - with the richest coral “gardens”.

Muruk Cave in the Nakanai region is believed to be the deepest underground system in the southern hemisphere (French cavers recently traversed part of the tunnels to a depth of 1,200 meters below the entrance level, but did not reach the end of the tunnels). The small town of Talasea is located on the shores of the Williams Peninsula, the adjacent bay is widely known for its “necklace” of small islands, the ruins of American bombers from World War II and active volcanism.

Talasea is the center for the production of traditional local "money" from cowrie shells, and the obsidian (volcanic glass) mined in these parts has been found in excavations in many areas of Oceania, with many of these samples dating back to the third millennium BC. And on the island of Pangula, the Vabua Valley (Valley of Hot Water) with several dozen geysers and fumaroles deserves attention.

The best surfing spots - www.surfingpapuanewguinea.org.pg - are located along the coast of Vanimo (West Sepik, 30 km from the Indonesian border), on the sandy beaches in the Kavieng area (New Ireland Island).

The island of Papua New Guinea was first noted in the 16th century by a Portuguese navigator who discovered it. Throughout its history, in the “paws” of civilization, the island has been repeatedly colonized, conquered, given over to other countries for management, and used mercilessly natural resources. Today, Papua New Guinea is a state with sovereignty and its own self-government.

Papua New Guinea is, perhaps, one of the cleanest places on the planet, where the hand of man has not yet managed to transform and modify amazing nature of this island. This land is replete with the most exotic flora and fauna - we can say that these lands hold the record for the number of amazing species of animals and plants that attract both tourists and biologists. Papua New Guinea has everything that is included in the universal concept of “heaven on earth”: sandy golden beaches, mysterious jungles, clear blue sea, entire colonies of coral polyps, dazzling sun and serious steep cliffs, which contrast nicely with the bright colors of nature.

Papua New Guinea annually attracts a decent number of tourists with its beauty and attractions. You will learn about the main and most famous attractions of this island below.

Even though mountain peaks Most tourists associate them with Sweden and Austria; Papua New Guinea can also surprise with its mountain ranges, cliffs and gorges. Of course, ski lovers will be disappointed - after all, there is very little snow on the top of Mount Wilhelm in New Guinea, which, however, does not diminish the interest of tourists in it.

This mountain is a real landmark of Papua New Guinea, with which many significant events in world history are associated and which is more than 4 thousand meters in height. There are two routes to climb it, differing in difficulty level. Mount Wilhelm is distinguished by its picturesqueness - its paths lead tourists past exotic jungles that frame its slopes with islands of lush vegetation.

The Giluwe volcano is a real giant of the Australian continent that appeared long before the start of the Ice Age. The volcano is slightly inferior in height to Mount Wilhelm and has a vertical length of slightly less than 4.4 thousand meters.

This attraction is interesting for its nature. The volcano is surrounded on all sides by extremely picturesque views; its very surface is covered with a blanket of alpine meadow grasses, among which you can find both world-famous and hitherto virtually unexplored plant species.

Port Moresby is the capital of Papua New Guinea and perhaps its most amazing city. The entrance to Port Moresby begins at a sea harbor called Fairfax. This capital is strikingly different from large and wealthy European cities - not because the number of high-rise buildings in the city is kept to a minimum, but because of its stunning natural design.

Port Moresby, like all cities of Papua New Guinea, is part of civilization with the harmonious inclusion of islands of nature - gardens, alleys, parks - into the bustle of the city. The capital of Papua New Guinea is surrounded on all sides by forests and hills - they seem to carefully “hold” the city in their paws, bringing the necessary harmony and exoticism.

Undoubtedly, one of the most amazing places in Papua New Guinea is the settlement of Kuka - an ancient town on at the moment half-hidden by the jungle. The settlement is an archaeological site with an area of 116 hectares. It is known that the age of this settlement exceeds 5 thousand years, which makes this marshy and uneven area especially attractive to archaeologists and scientists.

Despite the fact that the tribes living in this territory several thousand years ago were far from science Ancient Greece, they created their own system for watering the “gardens,” which looked like a branched grid. The ancient agricultural settlement of Kuka has recently been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Fjords of New Guinea (Northern District)

The word “fjord” alone is associated with the harsh nature of Norway, and we are often surprised when we come across this word, for example, in Papua New Guinea. Oddly enough, the Guinean island actually has fjords that have the same magnetism and beauty as those in the land of the Vikings.

The most amazing bays with steep cliffs, azure clear water and low skies - every year they attract a huge number of tourists who want not only to admire the natural attraction, but also to touch the warm (unlike the fjords of the northern countries) water, and, if possible, even swim.

Owen Stanley is one of the most famous and widely known landmarks. This ridge, in a long chain, with a horizontal length of about 3 hundred km and a vertical length of about 3 thousand meters, runs along the island of New Guinea, originating in its southern part. Owen Stanley was discovered at the end of the 19th century and has since become one of the business cards Guinean island.

Throughout Papua New Guinea, it is quite problematic to find a place free from the habitat of plants and animals, and this mountain range– is no exception. Many species of plants grow on its rocks, holding their roots to the rocky soil, while Owen Stanley itself is surrounded by tropical forests that lie at its foot.

The Sepik is a river of the Guinean island, which is the longest and most picturesque river in New Guinea. Guineans are extremely proud of this natural landmark because it largely supports and provides life on the island.

The Sepik runs through almost the entire island, meandering and making interesting turns, with a length of more than 1.1 thousand km. The river is interesting for tourists because its waters, although not crystal clear, are nevertheless very fertile, and the banks are picturesque. The Sepik, like almost the entire nature of New Guinea, escaped the intervention of civilization. That is why traveling along it seems even more exciting, because in some places on its banks - be it swampy areas or difficult jungles - no human has even set foot.

The Southern Highlands are a whole system of mountain ranges, jungles, tropical forests, cliffs, waterfalls and rivers. It is absolutely impossible to capture all its beauty during one excursion. It will take more than one day to enjoy the amazing views, which are more reminiscent of glossy heavenly covers than reality. The southern highlands are home to many peoples living according to a traditional way of life that was formed several hundred years (and maybe even millennia) ago.

During excursions you can get acquainted with some of them and even more closely feel the harmony with natural forces and life itself that permeates the entire island. Almost unknown to civilization, the peoples of New Guinea are extremely amazing, who can teach modern man much more than he thinks. Tours in the Southern Highlands offer crystalline waterfalls and breathtaking cliff views, lush rainforests and deep lakes.

Rabaul is a city that experienced many tragic events in world history, witnessed the Second World War, saw the battles of local residents with conquerors and died, almost completely disappearing under the ashes of a volcano that awoke near the city.

Formerly the most successful, most famous city Papua New Guinea, at the moment Rabaul is only a dim echo of its former beauty, however, despite this, crowds of tourists every year begin their excursion routes with a visit to this city.

Walking along the streets, which used to bloom with lush gardens and were lined with beautiful buildings, you can sometimes see the ruins of houses from 1994. Diving enthusiasts with a bit of courage can try diving in the city harbor, which is notable for the fact that its waters carefully envelop numerous aircraft wrecks from the middle of the last century.

The world-famous Lake Kutubu is one of the most amazing pearls of Papua New Guinea. Kutubu is the second largest lake on the Guinean island, but, despite this, perhaps the most “alive”.

Its depths are home to the rarest fish species on the planet, whose habitat is limited only by the border of Lake Kutubu. The shores of the natural reservoir are decorated with colorful vegetation, in which many species of birds, amphibians, reptiles and insects have found shelter.

Local residents are very proud of the lake and do everything to preserve its purity, flora and fauna. There are several waiting for tourists who want to see this attraction. excursion routes that pass through the most attractive and amazing places Kutubu.

Perhaps nowhere in Papua New Guinea are there such suitable and well-developed conditions for active recreation. Numerous turbulent rivers passing between the rocks, waterfalls, and coral lagoons fully justify a visit to the Duke of York.

On this island, interested tourists can try a variety of water sports: canoeing, diving, windsurfing, surfing and much more. This island seems to have been created specifically for entertainment and will not let tourists who love active recreation get bored.

The Central District is one of the favorite destinations for tourists because it can be called the “heart” of Papua New Guinea's wildlife. This is where the main and most large nature reserve islands called "Warirata". The Central District is also famous for its landscapes, the lush green forests of which are intersected by chains of mountain gorges, waterfalls and rivers.

The Varirata Nature Reserve is visited annually by a large number of tourists, who are invariably delighted when meeting many species of animals and exotic birds. There are many places in the Central District where anyone can find a holiday of their own interest: a tour of the Kokoda Trail, a walk along the many beaches, resorts and much more.

The Eastern Highlands are a paradise for lovers of American cinema of the 30s-50s, a cinematic picture come to life. This is a storage place for many minerals, the most important of which is gold, which was so raved about by the entire West several decades ago. The eastern highlands consist almost entirely of tobacco, coffee and orchard plantations. Tourists here will get to know local residents and their way of life, a journey through the most beautiful botanical gardens and reservoirs.

The Western District differs from the Eastern Highlands only more traditional way of life life. This region distinguished by its fields, valleys, ports and harbours. The Western District is somewhat similar in local flora to the Australian continent - here you can find kangaroos, huge reptiles, and antelopes. In many seaside towns in the region, there is a lively trade in local handicrafts, pearls, jewelry for the fair sex, and clothing items made from crocodile skin.

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