Map of Papua New Guinea | Papua New Guinea Flag Facts | Places to visit in Papua New Guinea
Looking for an escape that provides a different skyline for sure but also a different experience in terms of nature and beaches? Papua New Guinea might be your next go-to vacation spot on your list! With a little bit of both indigenous and modern culture to offer along with nature and skyscrapers going hand-in-hand, you are guaranteed to enjoy your time in Papua New Guinea. The country keeps developing itself more and more to ensure the best possible trip for tourists so you are in for a fun ride.
Map of Papua New Guinea
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Where is Papua New Guinea located?
Situated in the southwestern Pacific, Papua New Guinea is often confused for Australia because of how close all of these islands are. Papua New Guinea is the closest neighboring country to Australia. These two countries are based in the same continent and Papua New Guinea is the biggest receiver of aid from Australia. In the past, Papua New Guinea was actually ruled by Australia and they acquired independence in 1975.
Short History of Papua New Guinea
A lot of countries in Oceania are considered to be a US territory. It all happened after the Second World War when a lot of the countries in Oceania were badly damaged because they were treated as a battleground. Other countries helped these countries with not just their defense but also played a vital role in rebuilding their economy. Papua New Guinea used to be under a Trust Territory which was administered by Australia. The government of Papua New Guinea declared independence in 1976 and the US was one of the first countries to recognize Papua New Guinea as an independent state.
How many islands are there in Papua New Guinea?
Papua New Guinea has around 600 islands. It is a sovereign state situated in Oceania occupying the eastern portion of New Guinea and some of its offshore Melanesian islands. It is considered as the world’s third-largest island country.
Papua New Guinea Flag Facts
Flags are not just a mere symbolization of a country but a lot more than that. They have a rich history. Similarly, the flag of Papua New Guinea is rather complex when looked at closely with keen interest. The current flag was first used in 1971 on 1st July. The design was selected through a design competition and the chosen flag was designed by Susan Karike.
Papua New Guinea Flag colors and Flag Meaning
The flag of Papua New Guinea is a lot different than many other flags. There are a total of 4 colors used in the flag. It is divided diagonally with the upper triangle colored red with a soaring Raggiana Bird of Paradise whereas the bottom triangle is black with 4 white large 5-pointed stars and a single smaller star. Red and Black are considered to be the traditional colors of Papua New Guinea. It was the color of the German Empire flag which colonized New Guinea back in 1918. The Raggiana bird of paradise is an emblem of the regional tribal culture of PNG, it represents freedom.
Population of Papua New Guinea
Estimated population of Papua New Guinea is around 8 million with a great number of indigenous people. The commonly followed religion is Christianity. The indigenous people of Papua New Guinea are called Papuan and they are Melanesians. The locals are very generous and welcoming to the tourists and they make sure that the visitors feel at home and make them feel like a native.
Language of Papua New Guinea
With a population so large, there cannot be a single language common among 8 million people which is why Papua New Guinea has a lot of official languages. Some of those include English, Hiri Motu, Papua Guinea Sign Language and Tok Pisin. In total, 839 languages are currently spoken in Papua New Guinea so you are in for a linguistic ride!
Interesting facts about Papua New Guinea
With a country so big with a rich culture and deep history, there are a lot of interesting facts that will make you want to not just visit Papua New Guinea but truly get to experience the place like a native. Here are some of the interesting facts that you probably didn’t know about Papua New Guinea
- PNG was a part of the prehistoric supercontinent Sahul which was separated by sea levels 10,000 years ago.
- Papuans are believed to be the first ones to practice agriculture with pieces of evidence supporting it dating 9000 years back.
- Papua New Guinea has at least 750 tribes offering a new culture everywhere you go.
- Tribes who reside in the mountainous regions are unaware of the outside world and live their lives completely self-dependent by localized farming.
- The location on which Papua New Guinea is situated is called the ring of fire due to the increased volcanic activity especially in Mount Tavurvur, Kadovar Island and Mount Ulawun.
Places to visit in Papua New Guinea
It is not just culture that Papua New Guinea offers but a lot more than that. This place offers activities like you have never witnessed before. With so many tribes and rich history, it is all full of knowledge and amusement.
- The Kokoda Track – Being one of the most popular tourist attractions, the track is fun yet tough. If you love adventurous hiking this is the place for you. This place also served as a battleground between the Australian and Japanese forces.
- Island Hopping – With a breathtaking view, historical importance and uncommon marine species near Madang, this place is on every traveler’s bucket list. There are also underground remains of WWII that people visit when scuba diving.
- JK McCarthy Museum – Learn about the country, its art, culture and history about the various tribes and their lifestyle in this museum.
BOOK HOTEL IN ANY PART OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA AT GREAT PRICES
