Indigenous people of Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea. Human rights violations

Since time immemorial, Russian and foreign navigators began to explore the islands located in Pacific Ocean. These natural complexes so amazing and unusual that they are considered to be separate continents with their own culture and way of life. From school we all remember that in Oceania after Greenland there is Papua New Guinea.

The island is washed by several seas: New Guinea, Solomon, Coral, as well as the Gulf of Papua. A close study of natural resources, local culture and the indigenous population was carried out by N. N. Miklouho-Maclay, a Russian biologist and navigator who made a significant contribution to geography, history and science. Thanks to this man, the world learned about the existence of wild jungles and original tribes.

True, tours to an island in Oceania are not in great demand and remain a rarity. But travelers who have visited the local jungle, untouched by civilization, remember their vacation with rapture and delight. Rich vegetation, exotic animal world, amazing landscapes, diversity of languages, customs and cultures leave a memory indelible impression. Our publication is dedicated to this state.

Geographical description of the island of New Guinea

The tropical island is located in the waters of the Pacific Ocean, connecting two parts of the world: Asia and Australia. It has been an independent state since 1975, also a member of the British Commonwealth and a member of the UN. Its capital is the city of Port Moresby. The origin of the island of New Guinea is continental. Almost the entire territory is covered with massive hills and rocky ridges.

Most of them are of volcanic origin, rising 3000 meters above sea level. According to scientific data, the most high mountain Wilhelm is considered to reach 4509 meters. Between the hills there are wide basins filled with water, densely planted with tropical trees.

Several rivers flow through the island: Ramu, Sepik, Markham, Purari, Fly. Scientists involved in the geological study of the island claim that the continent has high seismic activity. Last eruption recorded in the last century, during which thousands of people were injured, and enormous damage was also caused to agriculture.

Island of New Guinea: population

Life on tropical islands originated thousands of years ago, no one can name the exact date. The last population census took place in 1900, at that time the population was about 10 million people. The indigenous people are the Papuans, who belong to the equatorial race. In addition to the Melanesians - this is also the name of this nation - there are Asians and even Europeans.

The lack of civilization, jobs, as well as unfavorable living conditions and the presence of a high crime situation forces the aborigines to migrate from the “mainland” of New Guinea. The island lives by its own customs and laws. Papuans create clans, tribes, elect elders, without whom important tasks and decisions are not made.

The main occupation of the population is Agriculture. Wild tribes plow the land, plant palm trees with bananas, coconuts, and pineapples. Fishing and hunting are no less popular. Some natives mine precious metals and then sell them on the black market.

Climatic conditions

Huge masses of water and small land sizes influenced the climate as a whole. In the north there is a humid equatorial climate, characterized by heavy rainfall and slight winds. Summer temperatures fluctuate between +30...+32 °C, decreasing slightly at night.

The southern part of the continent is under the authority of the subequatorial climate zone. During the winter months (January-February) strong winds prevail on the island of Papua New Guinea. The island, or rather the southeast (May-August) and the central part, is heavily flooded with tropical rains.

The rest of the coastal area (lowland) experiences drought until late autumn. In areas with high mountains and ridges receive little precipitation, since the elevations act as a protective barrier against cold air masses and rain.

Economic situation

The relief of the ridges prevents the construction of highways and connecting routes. There is currently no land connection with major New Guinea. The island has only air connections with the Pacific regions. To maintain and develop the economy, the state in Oceania regularly receives financial support from Australia.

However, the infrastructure remains at antediluvian levels. The main reason is non-compliance with the law on the part of local residents. Crime and civil strife flare up in rural areas. In order to protect their property from robbery and ruin, residents create communities.

The main activity of the population is agriculture. Thus, market relations are established between tribes and regions. In the mountainous regions they cultivate sweet potatoes and tea, in the lowlands - vegetables, bananas, yams, and taro. They grow various cereals, fruit, coffee and chocolate trees. Animal husbandry is practiced. Papua New Guinea is abundant mineral resources. The mining industry is actively developing.

Flora

The territory of the island of New Guinea is covered with evergreen savannas. Valuable plant species and relict trees grow in the jungle: sago and coconut palms, melon and mango trees, rubber plants, ficus trees, bamboos, pandanuses, and casuarinas. The forests contain pine trees and ferns. And mangroves grow in swampy areas. Along the banks of the rivers you can see thickets of sugar cane.

Fauna

The fauna is rich and diverse. Local rivers are home to alligators, dangerous and poisonous snakes, as well as lizards and chameleons. The fauna is represented by amazing insects, exotic birds and reptiles. Birds of paradise, cassowaries, and large parrots live on the mainland. Large turtles crawl along the coast. Marsupial badgers, kangaroos, and cuscus are found in the forests. Local residents raise animals familiar to our region: pigs, cows, horses, goats and other livestock.

Tourist orientation

Avid travelers know where the island of New Guinea is located, and therefore strive to get here in the summer months to see the colorful and diverse world jungle In warm weather, enchanting festivals with national Aboriginal dances are organized here. Many people are attracted to excursion holiday in the wild jungle with a local guide, others - exploring the sights of nearby resorts.

Things to do?

When purchasing a tour to Papua New Guinea, be sure to go diving. Every hotel and inn offers similar services. The waters of the Pacific Ocean are an incredibly colorful world, teeming with coral reefs, amazing sea creatures, large predators. You can see sunken ships and planes on the ocean floor.

Surfing and windsurfing are no less popular. The best beaches For this extreme activity, there are the coasts of the resorts Wewak, Madang, Vanimo, Alotau. Fishing is allowed in the coastal waters, which is what guests of the island do. You can catch mackerel, giant trevally, dogtooth tuna, barracuda, salmon, perch and many other trophies. Rafting, canoeing, kayaking, and boat trips are in great demand.

Papua New Guinea - natural miracle world, fraught with many mysteries and seductive with its resources. If you are not afraid of tropical mosquito bites and the aggressive behavior of Papuans, then feel free to purchase a tour to the picturesque island.

, Tok Pisin and Hiri Motu

Capital Port Moresby The largest city Port Moresby Form of government A constitutional monarchy Queen
Governor General
Prime Minister Elizabeth II
Polias Matane
Michael Somare Territory
Total
% water surface 54th in the world
462,840 km²
2 Population
Grade ()
Density
6,057,263 people (104th)
13 people/km² GDP
Total()
Per capita
14.363 billion (126th)
2,418 Currency Kina Internet domain .pg Telephone code +675 Timezone UTC +10

Papua New Guinea, full title Independent State of Papua New Guinea(English) Papua New Guinea [ˈpæpuːə njuː ˈɡɪni](also ˈpɑːpuːə, ˈpæpjuːə), Tok Pisin Papua Niugini, Hiri-Motu Papua Niu Gini) - a state in Oceania, in the southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean, occupies eastern part New Guinea Islands, Bismarck Archipelago, northern part Solomon Islands (Bougainville, Buka Islands), D'Entrecasteaux Islands, etc. Area - 462,840 km². The population is about 6 million people (), mainly Papuans and Melanesians. Urban population - 15.2% (). The official languages ​​are English, Tok Pisin and Hiri Motu. Most of the population are Christians, the rest adhere to local traditional beliefs. Administrative division: 20 provinces. The capital is Port Moresby. Member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The head of state is the Queen, represented by the Governor-General. The legislative body is the National Parliament.

Name

Name "Papua" comes from the Malay word "papuwa", which translated into Russian means “curly-haired” (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, Ortiz de Retes visited the island and gave it the name “New Guinea”, since, in his opinion, the local inhabitants were similar to the natives of Guinea in Africa (perhaps he saw similarities between the coasts of the new island and African Guinea).

From the beginning European colonization and before gaining independence the country changed its official name. 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 (since 1914 under the control of Australia), and in 1920-1949, according to the decision of the League of Nations, it was renamed the Territory of New Guinea mandated by Australia. 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.

Physiographic characteristics

Geographical location and relief

The state of Papua New Guinea is located in the western Pacific Ocean, north of Australia and close to the equator. The country occupies the eastern part of the island of New Guinea, located to the northeast of it is the Bismarck Archipelago (which includes large islands New Britain, New Ireland, as well as the Admiralty Islands, Tabar, Lihir, Tanga, Feni, St. Matthias and others), the northern part of the Solomon Islands located to the east (with largest islands with Bougainville and Buka), located southeast of the main island of D'Entrecasteaux, Murua (Woodlark), Trobriand, the Louisiades archipelago, as well as other nearby islands and reefs (more than 600 in total).

Papua New Guinea is washed by the Arafura, Coral, Solomon and New Guinea seas, as well as the Pacific Ocean. The country is separated from Australia by the Torres Strait, about 160 km wide. The state has a land border only with Indonesia (in the west), which is drawn along the 141 meridian and only in a small area deviates to the west along with the Fly River. It borders by sea with Australia (in the south), the Solomon Islands (in the southeast), Nauru (in the east) and the Federated States of Micronesia (in the north).

The Fly Platform is a lowland composed of sediments that accumulated from the Mesozoic era to the Quaternary period. The New Guinea orogenic zone consists of a variety of deformed sedimentary, metamorphic and volcanic rocks (including intrusive rocks). This zone includes fold regions (Papuan, New Guinea, and Oeun-Stanley thrust belts), island arcs (Melanesian arcs), and internal small marine basins.

The Papua folded region with the Central Range ridges and the Papua plateau is formed by horizontal compression rocks and is covered with a thick layer of sedimentary carbonate deposits of Miocene time. The New Guinea thrust belt is located north of the Papuan fold and is represented in relief by the Coast Mountains. It is composed predominantly of gneisses, formed at medium pressures during the metamorphism of sedimentary and volcanic rocks. Less common are gneisses formed at high pressures. The thrust belt was formed in two stages: in the southern part, activity was noted in the Late Cretaceous, and in the northern part in the Eocene-Oligocene (with the formation of intrusive gabbro and basalt minerals in the Torricelli Mountains). The Owen-Stanley thrust belt formed southwest of the Papuan folded region as a result of shear, which is little noticeable in the modern topography. The belt is composed of sedimentary rocks that accumulated from the Cretaceous to the Miocene, with inclusions of high-pressure metamorphic rocks.

Soils

Hydrology

The islands that make up Papua New Guinea have a fairly dense river network. Rivers originate in the mountains and flow into the ocean. During periods of heavy rain, rivers overflow and flood large areas, turning many areas into swamps. There are especially many swamps on the island of New Guinea. The widespread occurrence of wetlands is also associated with the spread of malaria.

Climate

Dense tropical rainforests, formed by hundreds of species of trees, rise up the slopes of the mountains. However, now there are also plantations and vegetable gardens. Coconut palms, bananas, sugar cane, melon trees, tubers - taro, yams, sweet potatoes, cassava and other crops grow. Vegetable gardens alternate with forests. Plots of land are cultivated for only 2-3 years, then overgrown with forest for 10-12 years. In this way, fertility is restored.

Above 1000-2000 m, forests become more uniform in composition, coniferous species, especially Araucaria, begin to predominate in them. These trees are of economic importance: their wood is a valuable building material. However, delivery of sawn timber is difficult due to the paucity of good roads.

The highlands of New Guinea are covered with shrubs and grasslands. In the intermountain basins, where the climate is drier, herbaceous vegetation is common, which arose in place of forests mainly as a result of fires.

The country's fauna is represented by reptiles, insects and especially numerous birds. The mammal fauna, as in neighboring Australia, is characterized only by representatives of marsupials - bandicoot (marsupial badger), wallaby (tree kangaroo), cuscus, etc. There are many snakes, including poisonous ones, and lizards in the forests and on the coast. On the sea shores and in big rivers there are crocodiles and turtles. Typical birds include cassowaries, birds of paradise, crowned pigeons, parrots, and weed chickens (ancestors of domestic chickens). Europeans brought domestic chickens, dogs and pigs to the island. Feral pigs, as well as rats, field mice and some other animals, have spread widely throughout the country.

Story

By the time of European colonization, what is now Papua New Guinea was inhabited by Papuans and Melanesians. They lived under Stone Age conditions, hunting, fishing and gathering.

New Guinea was discovered in 1526 by the Portuguese navigator Jorge de Menezes. The name of the island was given by the Spanish navigator Ortiz de Retiz in 1545, seeing the similarity of the population with the population of African Guinea.

Exploration of the island and the penetration of Europeans there began only in the 19th century. Thus, the Russian researcher N. Miklouho-Maclay lived among the Papuans for a total of almost four years (in the 1870s and early 1880s).

The northeastern part with the adjacent islands - the Bismarck archipelago and others (this territory was later given the name New Guinea) was captured by Germany in the 1880s, after the First World War, and in 1920 transferred to Australia as a mandate territory of the League of Nations (later - UN trust territory).

Papua New Guinea is very rich natural resources, however, their use is difficult due to terrain conditions and high costs of infrastructure development. Nevertheless, the development of deposits of copper ore, gold and oil provides almost two-thirds of foreign exchange earnings.

GDP per capita in 2009 was 2.3 thousand dollars (182nd place in the world).

Industry (37% of GDP) - oil production and refining, gold, silver, copper ore mining, copra processing, palm oil production, wood processing, construction.

Agriculture (33% of GDP, 85% of workers) - coffee, cocoa, copra, coconuts, tea, sugar, rubber, sweet potatoes, fruits, vegetables, vanilla; seafood, poultry, pigs.

Service sector - 30% of GDP.

Exports - $5.7 billion in 2008 - oil, gold, copper ore, timber, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, crabs, shrimp.

The main export buyers are Australia 27.2%, Japan 9.2%, China 5.1%.

Imports - $3.1 billion in 2008 - vehicles, industrial goods, food, fuel.

The main import suppliers are Australia 42.6%, Singapore 15.6%, China 11%, Japan 5.8%, Malaysia 4.3%.

Culture

Social sphere

see also

  • The ancient agricultural settlement of Kuka, showing isolated agricultural development over 7-10 millennia and included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Notes

  1. (Russian) . Geography.su: Geographical atlas for students. - Invasion, part 1. Retrieved February 15, 2010.
  2. Butinov, N. A. Brief historical information // Peoples of Papua New Guinea (From tribal system to independent state) / Ed. A. M. Reshetova. - St. Petersburg: Petersburg Oriental Studies, 2000. - P. 17-20. - 382 s. - ISBN 5-85803-146-3
  3. Birds of Paradise Island. History of Papua New Guinea (Malakhovsky K.V.) (Russian). Geography.su: Geographical atlas for students. - Colonial Partition, Part 2. Retrieved February 15, 2010.
  4. Birds of Paradise Island. History of Papua New Guinea (Malakhovsky K.V.) (Russian). Geography.su: Geographical atlas for students. - Colonial Partition, Part 3. Retrieved February 15, 2010.
  5. Birds of Paradise Island. History of Papua New Guinea (Malakhovsky K.V.) (Russian). Geography.su: Geographical atlas for students. - Under Australian Dominance, Part 2. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
  6. Birds of Paradise Island. History of Papua New Guinea (Malakhovsky K.V.) (Russian). Geography.su: Geographical atlas for students. - Under Australian Dominance, Part 5. Retrieved February 15, 2010.
  7. History of Papua New Guinea (English). History of Nations. Retrieved February 15, 2010.
  8. Ingrid Gascoigne Geography // Papua New Guinea. Cultures of the World Series. - 2. - Marshall Cavendish, 2009. - P. 7,8. - 144 p. - ISBN 9780761434160
  9. ON THE. Butinov Natural conditions// Papuans of New Guinea / S.A. Tokarev. - Moscow: "Science", 1968. - P. 13-19. - 254 s.
  10. Northern New Guinea montane rain forests (AA0116) (English) . World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved April 21, 2010.
  11. Papua New Guinea Geology (English). Florida Museum of Natural History. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
  12. PAPUA NEW GUINEA. DEPARTMENT OF MINING. INFORMATION BOOKLET 2003 (English) . The European Shareholders of Bougainville Copper. Retrieved April 24, 2010.

Basic moments

The population is 8,084,999 (2016), mainly Papuans (84%) and Melanesians. About 43 thousand people from Europe and Australia live in Papua New Guinea. The urban population is 15.2% (1991). Official language- English, pidgin and motu languages ​​are also common. But in total, more than seven hundred Papuan and Melanesian languages ​​and dialects are spoken in the country. 90 percent of the population is Christian, of which 63% are Protestants, the remaining 10% adhere to traditional tribal beliefs. The country is divided into 19 provinces and the capital district of Port Morbsy. The capital of the state, the city of Port Morbsy, is home to 150 thousand people. Largest cities: Lae, Madang. The monetary unit of Papua New Guinea, the kina, is divided into 100 toe.

Tourists begin their holiday in Papua New Guinea in the capital Port Moresby. This city offers a variety of excursion holidays and it would be foolish not to take advantage of such an offer. Hotels in Papua New Guinea are not yet characterized high level service, but they already offer everything you need, which is confirmed by the few reviews of tourists who were not afraid to choose a vacation in this distant country.

The islands of this state are surrounded by thousands of reefs, lagoons, and underwater plateaus, where unique marine life rages. Here you can immerse yourself in the world of sunken ships that disappeared from the face of the earth during the era of the Great geographical discoveries and World War II.

Nature

The main part of the territory of Papua New Guinea is occupied by mountains. High ridges predominate, extending from southeast to northwest (Bismarck, Central and Owen-Stanley, the latter can also be traced on the coastal islands). Many Mountain peaks and some isolated volcanoes rise to more than 3000 m above sea level. The most high point– Mount Wilhelm (4509 m). Among the massive, highly dissected mountains there are wide intermountain basins (approx. 1500 m above sea level).

To the north of the belt of ridges, parallel to it, stretches a wide lowland, to which the valleys of the Sepik, Ramu and Markham rivers are confined. Significant areas there are occupied by swamps, but also interspersed with tracts of fertile agricultural land. Mountain ranges stretch along the northeastern coast of New Guinea (and continue on the Huon Peninsula to Lae and further on the islands of New Britain, New Ireland and Bougainville), leaving only a narrow strip of coastal lowland. This is an area of ​​seismic activity, where destructive volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur, probably due to its location at the northern edge of one of the large blocks of the earth's crust. Most of Papua New Guinea's 40 active volcanoes are located in the northern coastal zone. Some of them were active in the 20th century; Particularly severe damage was caused in 1951 by the eruption of the Lamington volcano near the city of Popondetta.

South of the Central Range are broad plains and coastal lowlands, intersected by several large rivers, which originate in the mountains. In the southwest flows the Fly River, approx. 1120 km. For 250 km upstream from its mouth, it is influenced by tides. Further to the east, the lower reaches of several rivers form a vast common delta with branches, islands and swamps. The Purari River has large hydropower resources.

Some coastal islands are mountainous and of volcanic origin, but low islands - coral reefs (forming, for example, the Trobriand Archipelago) are especially numerous. Atolls and islets with fringing reefs are a characteristic feature of the country's borders. warm seas. Known on New Britain and Bougainville active volcanoes. In 1994, as a result of the eruptions of the Tavurvur and Vulcan volcanoes, the city of Rabaul on New Britain was severely destroyed (a similar disaster occurred in 1937). However, the soils developed on the volcanic deposits of both islands are distinguished by high fertility.

There are two main seasons in Papua New Guinea. When the intertropical convergence zone moves south, covering the country in January-February, warm northern and westerly winds predominate; in some northern regions, winds of different directions cause heavy rains in January–April. From May to August the weather is relatively cool, and strong, steady southeasterly winds blow from the intertropical convergence zone, which is located north of the equator in June-July, bringing precipitation. Rain falls in the south of New Britain, in the Gulf of Papua, on southern slopes Central Range and in the east of the Huon Peninsula. At this time of year in the rest of New Guinea, including the coastal lowlands near Port Moresby, southwest coast and central mountains, the weather is dry and variable from September to December.

This fundamental climate model varies significantly depending on the topography. Many high ridges, acting as barriers to air masses, intercept precipitation, which moistens the windward slopes, while much less precipitation falls on the leeward slopes. In mountainous regions, microclimatic differences appear in each valley.

Average annual precipitation is high, but there are significant regional differences: Port Moresby has 1200 mm, Kikori on the Gulf of Papua coast has 5000 mm, and south coast New Britain 6100 mm. In the long-term course of precipitation there are also sharp amplitudes. Approximately once every 40 years, droughts occur, accompanied by frosts in the mountains. For example, in 1997–1998, much of Papua New Guinea experienced the worst drought in 100 years, while at the same time severe frosts were observed in the provinces of Enga, Southern Highlands, Western Highlands and Central (adjacent to Port Moresby). These phenomena were associated with the climatic consequences of the El Niño phenomenon.

The lowlands are dominated by consistently high temperatures with slight seasonal and daily fluctuations. In Port Moresby, the average maximum is 31°C and the average minimum is 23°C, while in the city of Mount Hagen, located at an altitude of 1670 m, the corresponding values ​​are 25° and 13°C. In the mountains it is colder, the daily temperature amplitudes are more pronounced .

Basically, the soils are infertile and have low agricultural potential, which is predetermined by the properties of the parent rocks (in particular, weathered coral strata). Soil depletion is also facilitated by intense leaching in lowlands in hot, humid climates, unfavorable runoff conditions in wetlands, and accelerated erosion on steep slopes. Only ok. According to soil and geomorphological conditions, 25% of the entire territory of the country is suitable for agriculture. The most fertile soils are those developed on volcanic deposits in the provinces of the Western Highlands and Southern Highlands, in the north of New Britain and Bougainville Island. Soils on well-drained young alluvial deposits in many areas are also highly productive. mountain valleys, as well as soils of piedmont plains.

Much of Papua New Guinea retains natural vegetation, predominantly tropical rainforests. Where they were reduced and then abandoned, grasslands (herbaceous communities) arose in some cases, and open forests in others. There are also mangrove forests, coastal forests, evergreen tropical forests, and, where the dry season is pronounced, semi-deciduous tropical forests (usually with a deciduous upper layer). There are also groves of sago palms in wetland habitats, reed beds, grassy swamps, lowland and mountain meadows, alpine shrubs, coniferous forests, mixed low-mountain forests with the participation of beech, oak and other species.

The country is distinguished by the richest avifauna in the world (860 species), the preservation of which, however, was adversely affected by armed conflicts that occurred after the declaration of independence. The most famous birds are birds of paradise (38 species out of 42 known to science), living only in Papua New Guinea, Australia and neighboring islands. One of these birds is depicted on the country's flag. There are such unusual species as the cassowary (a flightless bird related to the African ostrich and the Australian emu), hornbill, Victoria king pigeon, white-breasted and golden-fronted pied pigeons, etc.

About 300 species of reptiles have been recorded. There are 110 species of snakes alone, most of them poisonous. The largest of them are pythons and boas (together 12 species), reaching a length of more than 7 m, and the most poisonous is the four-meter taipan (a rare species). Viviparous snakes are extremely aggressive. There are two known species of crocodiles, including the largest in the world, which lives in salt water. The average length of its body is 7 m, but there are also 10-meter individuals. Freshwater crocodiles are much smaller in size (mostly about 2 m).

Mammals identified approx. 230 species. Many large representatives of this class of animals are missing, such as monkeys and big cats (found in South-East Asia). Small kangaroos (wallabies), possums, echidnas, marsupials, rats, and bats are common. Noteworthy is the cuscus, an animal that looks like a sloth.

The world of insects is extremely diverse (30 thousand species). Among them is the world's largest butterfly (Ornithoptera alexandrae) with a wingspan of 35 cm.

Attractions

Papua New Guinea has many natural attractions. One of the main ones is the double-peaked shield volcano Giluwe, which is located in the Southern Highlands. The volcano is the second highest peak in the country, reaches 4368 meters and is the highest in the entire territory of Oceania and Australia. Alpine bows are located across its entire surface.

In addition to a large number of historical and natural attractions, there is also a huge archaeological site - the agricultural settlement of Cook, better known in the world as the Cook Swamp. It is located in the Western Highlands, at an altitude of more than one and a half kilometers above sea level. Area of ​​this historical monument equals 116 hectares. Since 1960, archaeological excavations and research have been carried out here.

Another famous natural attraction is the Bayer River Nature Reserve and others nature reserves, parks, gardens, each of which is unique and unique. The Bayer Nature Reserve itself is located 55 km from Mount Hagen, in the Bayer River basin. This is the best place to meet animals and flora these places.

A popular destination is Lake Qutbu, whose waters are home to several species of rare fish. It is located 800 meters above sea level in the Southern Highlands and covers an area of ​​49 km² (only Lake Murray is larger than it). The reservoir is surrounded by wetlands and swampy forests, which are protected by the state.

Varirata National Park, which is the country's first national park, is located 42 km from the capital and covers more than a thousand hectares. This area was once a hunting ground for the tribes who lived here. A religious object is dedicated to these times - the “tree-house” of the Koiaris tribe.

The national botanical park in the capital is one of the main tourist sites in the country. This place is regularly visited by thousands of tourists from all over the world, as well as local residents from different regions. The park is famous for its giant collection of orchids, hanging trails and a “plant map” of the country.

Next mandatory place A must-visit is the “Gardens of Eden” in the Foya Mountains - a unique tropical forest, untouched by civilization, isolated from the outside world, where there is not a single path or path.

The best place to get acquainted with local architecture, history, culture and nature can only be the National Museum. All the diverse and rich heritage of the state is collected in this truly spiritual center. The museum is designed as a complex consisting of many rooms located in different parts of the capital.

Kitchen

The national cuisine is quite different from the European type we are used to. Local kitchen represented by meat and fish dishes with the addition of various vegetables (usually stewed) and fruits (papaya, mango, pineapples, bananas, passion fruit).

The basis of the traditional cuisine of this country are kaukau, taro, sago, yam and pig. Popular local dish is “mumu” - a mixture of sweet potatoes, pork, herbs, rice, spices.

However, thanks very well developed tourism and the flow of foreign (in particular European) guests, Chinese, European, Indonesian restaurants and cafes are increasingly opening here. Philippine and Australian beer are common alcoholic beverages in Papua New Guinea.

Accommodation

Papua New Guinea has many options for a comfortable overnight stay. At the same time, everyone will find an acceptable price category. Those whose finances do not allow luxury can stay with local residents at any time for practically free, spending only symbolically on breakfast.

For those who want more comfortable conditions, the Kimbe Bay Hotel is offered. It is surrounded by tropical gardens, and close to the building there are coral reefs where you can have an ideal time diving. The hotel will delight its guests with air conditioning, free internet and cozy rooms. There are also 2 bars and 2 restaurants.

There is another decent hotel in the port of Kimbe, Kimbe Bay West New Britain, which overlooks the coast. It is located directly on the New Britain Island Highway. Every morning in the hotel restaurant you can enjoy “ buffet" The rest of the time you can try national exotic dishes from any country in the world. The hotel has a currency exchange office and secure parking.

Entertainment and relaxation

In Papua New Guinea you can find great amount various entertainments.

One of the most colorful and original local entertainments is the large-scale folk dance festival “Sing Sing”. In September, it is held in the city of Goroka at the foot of the mountain in memory of the country's Independence Day. Every year more than 90 Papuan tribes from all the islands of the state come here (and there are about 600 of them!). Thousands of aborigines wearing war paint, national clothes and jewelry unite to jointly perform the traditional “sing-sing” dance, sing, beat drums, perform ritual ceremonies and simply communicate. Due to the fact that the festival is a multinational live and fun musical event, a huge number of tourists and ethnographers from all over the world flock here. Here, guests of the country can purchase unique festival souvenirs that will remind them of the holiday for many years.

Fans of club life will definitely enjoy the Lamana Gold Club nightclub. It is located in the heart of the Lamana Hotel in the capital and holds the title of the biggest and best nightclub in all of Papua New Guinea. Here they set off fireworks and dance to open air on two dance floors. Tourists can enjoy five bars, karaoke, game rooms and live music.

Shopping

Papua New Guinea has a huge number of shops where you can buy unique locally made goods. Remember that it is not customary to bargain here in markets and shops.

All stores are generally open five days a week and are open from 9am to 5pm. Saturday is a working day, but not until the evening, but until one o'clock in the afternoon. Some shops are also open on Sunday.

In a large number of large shopping centers and restaurants you can present international bills for payment. credit cards. But finding ATMs may be a problem. They are only available in the capital, but you can only use them if you have an account in local banks. Using credit ratios in the province will be virtually impossible.

In the majority major cities Traveler's checks can be exchanged for cash. But to work with travelers checks Not all branches may, so you should prepare for long queues.

In many remote areas of the country, only local currency will be accepted for payment. In this case, you can practically not hope to receive change, because there is a clear shortage of small bills.

Transport

Coastal shipping has been established between New Guinea and the rest of the islands. The main airport is located in the capital - Port Moresby.

In this country, it is customary to rent a car in order to be able to independently explore all the beauties of the area. True, they will give you a car only if you have a driver’s license, driving experience and a credit card.

But the taxi system is not developed here, because there are practically no central roads in the country.

Connection

Once you arrive at your local airport, we recommend that you immediately purchase a phone SIM card from your local carrier. If you need to call abroad, you can do this at any call center or through an operator from the hotel where you are staying.

Be sure to write down any emergency numbers you may need - the police can be reached on 000, the fire service on 110 and the ambulance on 3256822.

Safety

The main problem in Papua New Guinea is fraud. There are frequent cases of car theft and petty street crime. And the local police often try to make money from the same tourists. The crime rate is especially high in major cities, for example, in the capital Port Moresby. There you can observe such a gangster phenomenon as “rascolism” - a special system of youth gangs that engage in murder, kidnapping, violence, extortion, robbery and theft.

Before traveling, we recommend getting vaccinated against malaria, cholera and typhoid. True, this does not apply to those tourists who will eat exclusively in hotels and restaurants. All travelers over one year of age are also recommended to be vaccinated against hepatitis B, tetanus, diphtheria, Japanese encephalitis, and polio. IN last years There have been many more AIDS patients in the country.

Be careful with cuts and other damage to the skin, because even the most harmless scratch or skin irritation in the realities of this climate can cause you a lot of problems.

Business

Papua New Guinea has a huge amount useful resources However, in the conditions of this area, their extraction is quite difficult. However, two-thirds of the country's foreign exchange income comes from the development of gold, copper ore and oil deposits.

The main local industries are the mining and processing of silver, gold, oil, copra processing, copper ore, wood processing, palm oil production and construction.

Agriculture also brings considerable profit to the state. Cocoa, coffee, coconuts, copra, sugar cane, tea, sweet potatoes, rubber, vegetables, fruits, and vanilla are grown here. Shrimp, crabs and other seafood are also exported. The main buyers of all these natural resources are Japan, Australia and China.

  • Once you arrive in the country, you can exchange currency for local banknotes almost everywhere. This can be done not only in bank branches, but also in hotels, airports, large shopping centers. There are also private exchange offices that deal with exchanges.
  • In Papua New Guinea, it is not customary to leave a tip. The amount indicated on the invoice is, as a rule, final.
  • You should know that any non-bottled water here is unsuitable for consumption.
  • There are several species of sharks swimming around the island, as well as many different poisonous sea creatures.
  • It is prohibited to import antiques, weapons, wild animals and birds, seeds and plants, pornographic items and drugs into the country. But it is prohibited to export antiques and anything that was found on the seabed from the country.

Visa information

Russian citizens must obtain a visa before traveling to Papua New Guinea. Embassies of this country in Russian Federation no, so you will have to apply for a tourist visa at the consulate in Brussels, the consular section in London or the Australian embassy in Moscow. Depending on the option you choose to open a visa, the procedure for paying the consular fee, the procedure for submitting documents and the deadlines for obtaining a visa change.

Currently, the consular fee is $35.

Address of the Australian Embassy in Moscow: Podkokolny Lane, 10A/2.

Phone: (+7 495) 956 6070.

The consulate in St. Petersburg is located on Petrovsky Prospekt, 14, room. 22-N.

Phone: (+7 812) 334 3327.

Economy

The country's economy is underdeveloped and is based on agriculture. 72% of the working population is employed in agriculture, primarily in crop production and pig farming. Fertile areas make up only 5% of the country's territory. The main agricultural crops are the coconut palm (over 110 thousand tons of copra are produced per year), coffee, cocoa, tea, rice, and rubber. Only 8% of agricultural products are processed within the country. Papua New Guinea is rich in mineral resources: one of the world's largest deposits of copper ore (containing gold and silver) has been developed on the island of Bougainville since 1972; it is considered promising to develop oil and coal production in the country. The mining sector of the industry is developing vigorously and provides 75% of budget revenues from exports. The main exports from Papua New Guinea are: copper, gold, oil, coffee, copra, palm oil, tropical timber. Exports go mainly to Australia and Japan. The length of roads in the country is 19.7 thousand km (1986). Tourism is developing; in 1993, 45 thousand tourists visited Papua New Guinea, more than half of them from Australia and New Zealand. Local rivers are used as rafting routes. Papua New Guinea's economy is largely dependent on external aid. The country's main donors are Australia, Japan, New Zealand, international organizations. The Papua New Guinean authorities are making efforts to strengthen and improve relations with Australia and New Zealand. Papua New Guinea has developed close trade and economic relations with Malaysia. Thanks to trade agreements with Australia, New Zealand, the European Union, and a number of countries in the Asia-Pacific region, products from Papua New Guinea have free or preferential access to the markets of these countries.

Story

The first settlers probably arrived in the area of ​​what is now Papua New Guinea by sea from Southeast Asia ca. 30 thousand years ago, when New Guinea, Australia and Tasmania were connected by land bridges and formed a single land mass. These people, speakers of Papuan languages, were hunters and gatherers, and much later, they may have begun to cultivate and grow some plants. The second significant wave of population migration occurred approximately 6 thousand years ago. The newcomers, who spoke Austronesian languages, introduced more advanced economic and cultural traditions. In New Guinea they began clearing wet tropical forests and draining swamps in intermountain basins to cultivate sweet potatoes, taro and other crops brought from Southeast Asia. Narrowly specialized communities of potters, salt makers, canoe builders, and stone cutters appeared. Residents of the coastal areas were skilled sailors and regularly traveled in large canoes to distant islands, offering their products and jewelry there.

The shores of New Guinea became known to Portuguese and Spanish merchants heading to the East Indies in the 16th century. They were followed by Dutch, French and English expeditions. The number of foreign ships entering these waters increased due to the establishment of the British colony in Australia in the late 18th century. and the development of whaling in the Pacific Ocean in the 19th century. In 1847, Catholic missionaries settled on Murua (Woodlark) Island, located in the Solomon Sea, and traders and travelers established contacts with many coastal tribes. However, for a long time Europeans could not penetrate hinterland New Guinea with its rugged terrain, dense forests and vast swamps - breeding grounds for malaria. In addition, the local residents had a bad reputation as cannibals.

In 1872, the London Missionary Society established a mission on the islands in the Torres Strait, and then on the southern coast of New Guinea. A Wesleyan Methodist mission was established in the Duke of York Islands in 1875, and a Catholic mission in eastern New Britain in 1882. Other Europeans who entered the area were motivated by more earthly motives: they began to trade with the natives, acquiring copra and sea cucumbers, and fishing for pearls and shells or rushed to search for the legendary gold South Seas. Although Melanesians from the Solomon Islands and New Hebrides were mainly recruited to work on the plantations of Queensland, Fiji and Samoa, the recruiters did not ignore the inhabitants of the coastal and inland regions of modern Papua New Guinea. Australia showed increased interest in this territory, and in 1883 Queensland annexed the eastern part of New Guinea, ostensibly acting on behalf of Great Britain. However, due to pressure from Australia and taking into account Germany's intentions to create its own Pacific empire, Great Britain in 1884 captured the southeastern part of New Guinea with neighboring islands and created a colony there called British New Guinea. Germany annexed the northeastern part of New Guinea and the islands to the east of it to its empire; this colony was named German New Guinea.

The German administration attempted to establish trade with its colony, but commercial manufacturing projects were hampered by malaria and difficulties in pacifying local tribes and recruiting labor, especially in the coastal lowlands. Nevertheless, German companies began producing copra on plantations in the Bismarck Archipelago. Then plantations appeared on Bougainville Island. The German colonial authorities treated the Melanesians strictly and even harshly, but at the same time sought to impart practical knowledge to them. German Catholic and Protestant missionaries were motivated by the idea that their efforts would contribute to the “enlightenment” of the aborigines.

Missionaries intensified their activities in British New Guinea, which was considered an unpromising territory. In 1888, gold was discovered in the Louisiade Archipelago, and hundreds of Australian prospectors flocked to the interior of New Guinea. In the 1920s, rich gold-bearing placers were discovered along the Bulolo River. In 1906, British New Guinea was transferred to Australia and renamed the Territory of Papua. Governor Hubert Murray was in charge of its affairs from 1908 to 1940.

At the beginning of the First World War in 1914, German New Guinea was occupied by Australian troops. At the end of the war, Australia received a mandate from the League of Nations to govern the former German colony, which became known as the Territory of New Guinea. German plantations and trading companies also became Australian property. The plantation economy in this mandated territory, unlike Papua, developed successfully until the economic crisis of the 1930s.

Over the next 20 years, prospectors, missionaries, and government officials flocked to New Guinea's vast intermountain valleys. The population of coastal areas and islands, who were mainly engaged in subsistence farming, gradually began to introduce cash crops into circulation. However, the development of commodity-money circulation was more facilitated by men who were hired to work on plantations or gold mines for a modest wages and food. Religious missions provided the Melanesians with some education and assistance. medical care. Before World War II, all these changes gradually occurred on the plains, but little affected the mountainous areas.

In 1942, Japanese troops captured the northern part of New Guinea, part of the Bismarck Archipelago and Bougainville Island. They occupied some areas for four years. The rest of what is now Papua New Guinea remained under Australian control. During the war, over a million Australian and American troops visited New Guinea. Part of the indigenous population, especially in the Sepik Valley and Bougainville, suffered greatly due to military operations and bombings. In some places, for example on Manus Island, large military bases were located. Residents mountainous areas The war had little impact.

After the war, the northeastern part of New Guinea came under Australian control as a UN trust territory, and in 1949 it was united with Papua. The new administrative unit was named Papua New Guinea. Australia tried to promote the country's socio-economic development and improve the welfare of the Melanesian population. Measures were taken to strengthen centralized management with the participation of representatives of the local population. Particular attention was paid to overpopulated mountainous areas, contacts with which were established relatively recently. In 1953, the first road from the coast through the Kassam Pass to the mountains was built. The administration sought to improve the systems of medical care and education, and religious missions carried out considerable work in this direction.

In 1964, general elections were held and a Legislative Assembly was formed, where the majority of seats were occupied by aborigines. New ones have emerged government agencies, and the old ones were converted. Laws that infringed on the rights of Melanesians were repealed. Also in 1964, the University of Papua New Guinea opened in Port Moresby.

In the 1970s–1980s, the main lever economic development The country has become a mining industry. In 1972, the exploitation of copper and gold deposits began in Bougainville, where plantation farming was replaced by a more modern industry with advanced technologies. Similar trends emerged in some other areas of Papua New Guinea, where new roads, cities and ports were built.

In 1967, the national political party Pangu Pati was founded. After the 1972 elections, it formed a coalition government led by Michael T. Somare, which decisively sought to grant the country independence. This goal was achieved on September 16, 1975.

The political situation in the young state became complicated due to the separatist movement on Bougainville Island. The roots of this movement go back to 1884, when Germany annexed part of the Solomon Islands to its colony of New Guinea, disrupting the ethnolinguistic ties of the population of this archipelago. Separatist sentiments were in the air for many years and appeared on the eve of the declaration of independence of Papua New Guinea. The creation of the Northern Solomon Islands provincial government in 1976 calmed the situation, but did not solve the problem itself. The situation has worsened due to the construction of a giant copper ore mining complex in Bougainville. The reason for the armed conflict that broke out in 1988 was initially the dissatisfaction of local landowners with the amount of compensation received from the Bougainville Copper mining company. Other claims then emerged, and eventually a demand was made for Bougainville's independence. As a result of clashes between local groups and army units and the police of Papua New Guinea, 15–20 thousand people on both sides were killed. Repeated attempts to achieve calm in the area remained unsuccessful for a long time. Only in 1998 did peace negotiations begin and there was hope for their successful completion.

Papua New Guinea is an independent state in Oceania. It occupies the eastern part of the island of New Guinea, the northern part Solomon Islands, the Bismarck and Louisiad archipelago and more than two hundred other small reefs and islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.

The etymology of the name of the state is interesting. It comes from the Malay " papuwa", which is translated into Russian as " curly" The island received this name in 1526 from the Portuguese Menezes, who was surprised by the hair of the local population. 20 years later, Inigo Ortiz de Retes arrived on the island, who gave the place the name of New Guinea. In his opinion, the locals were similar to the Guinean aborigines who lived in Africa.

The name of the country changed several times from the beginning of European colonization until the state gained independence. It was only in 1975 that the island became officially known as Papua New Guinea.

Capital
Port Moresby

Population

6,187,591 people

461.7 thousand km²

Population density

13 people/km²

English, Tok Pisin, Hiri Motu

Religion

Most of the population are Christians, the rest adhere to local traditional beliefs

Form of government

a constitutional monarchy

Timezone

International dialing code

Internet domain zone

Electricity

The islands of this state are surrounded by thousands of reefs, lagoons, and underwater plateaus, where unique marine life rages. Here you can immerse yourself in the world of sunken ships that disappeared from the face of the earth during the era of the Great Geographical Discoveries and the Second World War.

Climate and weather

The country reigns tropical climate with high humidity. As a rule, this area has stable weather throughout the year. The average daily temperature is about +26 ºС, and the seasons differ from each other only in the amount of precipitation, so the division is not into winter and summer, but into the rainy season and the dry season. True, for each place these seasons come at different times.

Only coastal areas are truly hot. Concerning mountainous areas, then the local climate differs significantly from the plain one. The temperature here is much lower, but there is much more precipitation. At an altitude of more than 2500 m, the average temperature does not exceed +10 ºС. There is a light drizzle in the mountains almost all the time, and from time to time you can get caught in hail.

Nature

The nature of this area is unique. You will not find such a variety of flora and fauna anywhere else.

Most of the surface of all the islands of New Guinea is covered with mountains. The main part of the territory is raised to a height of 1000 meters above sea level. At the same time, there are also mountains here that reach a height of 4.5 km, which classifies them as belts of eternal snow. There are 18 active volcanoes in Papua New Guinea.

The flora and fauna of these places is particularly diverse. More than 20,000 different types plants can be found in this area. Wide band mangrove plants(at times up to 35 kilometers) goes along the coast of New Guinea. This area is very muddy and therefore impassable. You can cross it only by swimming along the rivers, along which there are wild thickets of sugar cane and groves of sago palms.

Hundreds of tree species grow in dense tropical rain forests, and recently vegetable gardens and entire plantations have become increasingly common. It is customary to grow sugar cane, coconut palms, bananas and tubers such as sweet potatoes, yams, taro, cassava and others. Vegetable gardens can only be cultivated for two or three years. After this, the area is again overgrown with forest for the next 10-12 years. This is how local residents maintain soil fertility.

Where forests rise to a height of 1000-2000 meters, the vegetation becomes increasingly monotonous. Mostly coniferous species are found here, in particular - araucaria, which are of great economic importance, since valuable building material is obtained from their wood.

In the highlands they predominate meadows and bushes. And in the mountain basins, where the climate is drier, herbaceous vegetation is more common.

The fauna here is also diverse. There are especially many reptiles, insects and, of course, birds in these places. As in neighboring Australia, mammals are represented more by marsupial breeds of animals - wallaby, bandicoot, cuscus. On the banks of the rivers you can find turtles and crocodiles. The bird world is represented by such unique exhibits as birds of paradise, cassowaries, crowned pigeons, weed chickens and parrots. And with the Europeans, pigs, domestic chickens and dogs came to this world.

Attractions

Papua New Guinea has many natural attractions. One of the main ones is the double-vertex panel volcano Giluwe, which is located in the Southern Highlands. The volcano is the second highest peak in the country, reaches 4368 meters and is the highest in the entire territory of Oceania and Australia. Alpine bows are located across its entire surface.

In addition to a large number of historical and natural attractions, there is also a huge archaeological site - the agricultural settlement of Kuka, better known in the world as Cook's swamps. It is located in the Western Highlands, at an altitude of more than one and a half kilometers above sea level. The area of ​​this historical monument is 116 hectares. Since 1960, archaeological excavations and research have been carried out here.

Another famous natural attraction is the river natural Bayer Nature Reserve and other natural reserves, parks, gardens, each of which is unique and unique. The Bayer Nature Reserve itself is located 55 km from Mount Hagen, in the Bayer River basin. This is the best place to get acquainted with the flora and fauna of these places.

A popular destination is Lake Qutbu, whose waters are home to several species of rare fish. It is located 800 meters above sea level in the Southern Highlands and covers an area of ​​49 km² (only Lake Murray is larger than it). The reservoir is surrounded by wetlands and swampy forests, which are protected by the state.

Warirata National Park, which is the country's first national park, is located 42 km from the capital and occupies more than a thousand hectares. This area was once a hunting ground for the tribes who lived here. A religious object is dedicated to these times - the “tree-house” of the Koiaris tribe.

National Botanical Park in the capital it is considered one of the main tourist sites in the country. This place is regularly visited by thousands of tourists from all over the world, as well as local residents from different regions. The park is famous for its giant collection of orchids, hanging trails and a “plant map” of the country.

The next must-visit place should be " Gardens of Eden» in the Foya Mountains - a unique tropical forest, untouched by civilization, isolated from the outside world, where there is not a single path or path.

The best place to experience local architecture, history, culture and nature can only be National Museum. All the diverse and rich heritage of the state is collected in this truly spiritual center. The museum is designed as a complex consisting of many rooms located in different parts of the capital.

Nutrition

The national diet is quite different from the European type we are used to. Local cuisine is represented by meat and fish dishes with the addition of various vegetables (usually stewed) and fruits (papaya, mango, pineapples, bananas, passion fruit).

The basis of the traditional cuisine of this country are kaukau, taro, sago, yam and pig. A popular local dish is " Mu Mu"- a mixture of sweet potatoes, pork, herbs, rice, spices.

However, thanks to very well-developed tourism and the flow of foreign (in particular European) guests, Chinese, European, Indonesian restaurants and cafes are increasingly opening here. Philippine and Australian beer are common alcoholic beverages in Papua New Guinea.

Accommodation

Papua New Guinea has plenty of options for a comfortable overnight stay. At the same time, everyone will find an acceptable price category. Those whose finances do not allow luxury can stay with local residents at any time for practically free, spending only symbolically on breakfast.

For those who want more comfortable conditions, a hotel is offered Kimbe Bay. It is surrounded by tropical gardens, and close to the building there are coral reefs where you can have an ideal time diving. The hotel will delight its guests with air conditioning, free internet and cozy rooms. There are also 2 bars and 2 restaurants.

There is another decent hotel in the port of Kimbe, Kimbe Bay West New Britain, whose windows overlook the coast. It is located directly on the New Britain Island Highway. Every morning you can enjoy a buffet in the hotel restaurant. The rest of the time you can try national exotic dishes from any country in the world. The hotel has a currency exchange office and secure parking.

Entertainment and relaxation

In Papua New Guinea you can find a huge number of different things to do.

One of the most colorful and original local entertainments is the large-scale folk dance festival “ Sing Sing" In September, it is held in the city of Goroka at the foot of the mountain in memory of the country's Independence Day. Every year more than 90 Papuan tribes from all the islands of the state come here (and there are about 600 of them!). Thousands of aborigines wearing war paint, national clothes and jewelry unite to jointly perform the traditional “sing-sing” dance, sing, beat drums, perform ritual ceremonies and simply communicate. Due to the fact that the festival is a multinational live and fun musical event, a huge number of tourists and ethnographers from all over the world flock here. Here, guests of the country can purchase unique festival souvenirs that will remind them of the holiday for many years.

Fans of club life will definitely enjoy the nightclub Lamana Gold Club. It is located in the heart of the Lamana Hotel in the capital and holds the title of the biggest and best nightclub in all of Papua New Guinea. Here they set off fireworks and dance in the open air on two dance floors. Tourists can enjoy five bars, karaoke, game rooms and live music.

Purchases

Papua New Guinea has a huge number of shops where you can buy unique locally made goods. Remember that it is not customary to bargain here in markets and shops.

All stores are generally open five days a week and are open from 9am to 5pm. Saturday is a working day, but not until the evening, but until one o'clock in the afternoon. Some shops are also open on Sunday.

In a large number of large shopping centers and restaurants you can present international credit cards for payment. But finding ATMs may be a problem. They are only available in the capital, but you can only use them if you have an account in local banks. Using credit ratios in the province will be virtually impossible.

Traveler's checks can be cashed in most major cities. But not all branches can process traveler's checks, so you should prepare for long queues.

In many remote areas of the country, only local currency will be accepted for payment. In this case, you can practically not hope to receive change, because there is a clear shortage of small bills.

Transport

There is good communication between New Guinea and the rest of the islands. coastal shipping. Main airport is located in the capital - Port Moresby.

In this country it is customary to take car rental to be able to independently explore all the beauties of the area. True, they will give you a car only if you have a driver’s license, driving experience and a credit card.

Here's the system Taxi it is not developed here, because there are practically no central roads in the country.

Once you arrive at your local airport, we recommend that you immediately purchase a phone SIM card from your local carrier. If you need to call abroad, you can do this at any call center or through an operator from the hotel where you are staying.

Be sure to write down any emergency numbers you may need - the police can be reached on 000, the fire service on 110 and the ambulance on 3256822.

Safety

The main problem in Papua New Guinea is fraud. There are frequent cases of car theft and petty street crime. And the local police often try to make money from the same tourists. The crime rate is especially high in large cities, for example, in the capital Port Moresby. There you can observe such a gangster phenomenon as “ rascolism"- a special system of youth gangs that engage in murder, kidnapping, violence, extortion, robbery and theft.

Before traveling, we recommend getting vaccinated against malaria, cholera and typhoid. True, this does not apply to those tourists who will eat exclusively in hotels and restaurants. All travelers over one year of age are also recommended to be vaccinated against hepatitis B, tetanus, diphtheria, Japanese encephalitis, and polio. In recent years, there have been many more AIDS patients in the country.

Be careful with cuts and other damage to the skin, because even the most harmless scratch or skin irritation in the realities of this climate can cause you a lot of problems.

Business climate

Papua New Guinea has a huge amount of useful resources, however, in the conditions of this area, their extraction is quite difficult. However, two-thirds of the country's foreign exchange income comes from the development of gold, copper ore and oil deposits.

The main local industries are the mining and processing of silver, gold, oil, copra processing, copper ore, wood processing, palm oil production and construction.

Agriculture also brings considerable profit to the state. Cocoa, coffee, coconuts, copra, sugar cane, tea, sweet potatoes, rubber, vegetables, fruits, and vanilla are grown here. Shrimp, crabs and other seafood are also exported. The main buyers of all these natural resources are Japan, Australia and China.

  • Once you arrive in the country, you can exchange currency for local banknotes almost everywhere. This can be done not only in bank branches, but also in hotels, airports, and large shopping centers. There are also private exchange offices that deal with exchanges.
  • In Papua New Guinea, it is not customary to leave a tip. The amount indicated on the invoice is, as a rule, final.
  • You should know that any non-bottled water here is unsuitable for consumption.
  • There are several species of sharks swimming around the island, as well as many different poisonous sea creatures.
  • It is prohibited to import antiques, weapons, wild animals and birds, seeds and plants, pornographic items and drugs into the country. But it is prohibited to export antiques and anything that was found on the seabed from the country.

Visa information

Russian citizens must obtain a visa before traveling to Papua New Guinea. There is no embassy of this country in the Russian Federation, so you will have to apply for a tourist visa at the consulate in Brussels, the consular section in London or the Australian embassy in Moscow. Depending on the option you choose to open a visa, the procedure for paying the consular fee, the procedure for submitting documents and the deadlines for obtaining a visa change.

Currently, the consular fee is $35.

Address of the Australian Embassy in Moscow: Podkokolny Lane, 10A/2.

Phone: (+7 495) 956 6070.

The consulate in St. Petersburg is located on Petrovsky Prospekt, 14, room. 22-N.

Phone: (+7 812) 334 3327.

 

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