PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updated 05/24/10
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Independent State of Papua New Guinea is located in the west of the Oceania Continent, with a population of
6,064,515, making it the 105th largest national population. Its capital and largest city is Port Moresby with a total
population of 254,158. The country encompasses 462,840 square kilometers making it the 54th largest country in total
area. It shares boundaries with the Pacific Ocean, Bismarck Sea, Solomon Sea, Huan Gulf, Coral Sea, Gulf of Papua,
Torres Strait and Indonesia.
Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom is recognized as the Chief of State and achieves that status through heredity
and holds that position for life or abdication. She is represented by Governor General Sir Paulius Matane. Prime
Minister Sir Michael Somare is recognized as the Head of Government and, along with Deputy Prime Minister Puka
Temu, achieves that status through Legislative elections when the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition is usually appointed Prime minister by the Governor General and holds that position for four years.
Its form of government is a constitutional parliamentary democracy and they celebrate the creation of their
constitution on 16th of September 1975.
The languages commonly or officially spoken are Melanesian Pidgin, as the lingua franca, English, which is spoken by
1%-2%, and Motu which is spoken in Papua region. It counts among its major religions Roman Catholic, Lutheran,
Presbyterian, Methodist, London Missionary Society, Anglican, Evangelical Alliance, Seventh Day Adventist, other
protestant and indigenous beliefs. As sources of mass communication it has 8 AM, 19 FM, 28 Short Wave and 3
Television stations.
Major geographical features are Mount Wilhelm, its highest point at 4,509 meters and Pacific Ocean, its lowest point
at 0 meters. Its principal waterways are Gulf of Papua and the Huan Gulf, which measure 10,940 kilometers.
Major industries providing for the bulk of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) are copra crushing, palm oil
processing, plywood production, wood chip production, mining of gold, silver, and copper, crude oil production,
petroleum refining, construction and tourism. Its official currency is the Papua New Guinea Kina.
Here’s something you may not know about Papua New Guinea. The Hooded Pitohai bird, which is found in Papua
New Guinea, has poison in its feathers and skin.
A cruise ship on the Bismarck Sea
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Meat smoking at a village
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Lae on the Huan Gulf in the Western Highlands
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Mount Tavuvur on New Britain Island on the Bismarck Sea
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Mount Wilhelm- Papua New Guinea's highest point
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Port Moresby- Papua New Guinea's capital and largest city
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Shipwreck of the Dar Yang off the coast of Kavieng on New Ireland island
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Papua New Guinea Children
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Papua New Guinea is so pretty and the photos were a snap maybe except one and the kids
are always SO CUTE! Okay it is time for my AIDS report and here it is 0.6% have AIDS,
1,600 people are living with AIDS and 600 people have died from AIDS. I really hope it goes
down very fast and soon or ASAP. I know I am a few days late in posting but yesterday on
the 14th of December 2006 I grew sick and had to lie down. I hope you are in good health
and now go and VISIT Papua New Guinea.
5 Suitcases = Let's Go Now!
4 Suitcases = Put This One On the List
3 Suitcases = May Be Worth Checking Out
2 Suitcases = So Many Other Places To See
1 Suitcase = Well, I'll Go If I Have To
Mumu- a traditional Papua New Guinean feast pf pork, sweet potatoes, rice and greens
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Daru Island- Papua New Guinea's southernmost island on the Torres Strait
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Village of Kieta on Bougainville Island on the Solomon Sea
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New Ireland Island singers in traditional clothing
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Vanimo on the Bismarck Sea- Papua New Guinea's northernmost mainland point on the Indonesian border
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Read about human rights in my
Dad's World Post Report!
Adult Prevalence Rate:
People Living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS Deaths:
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1.5% (2007 est.)
54,000
less than 1,000
Alotu- the easternmost point of mainland Papua New Guinea on Milne Bay
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D'Entrecasteaux National Park on the D'Entrecasteaux Islands of Papua New Guinea
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Daru on the Torres Strait looking towards Saibai Island- a possession of Australia
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Kimbe on New Britain Island on the Bismarck Sea
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Lake Murray- Papua New Guinea's westernmost point on the border with Indonesia
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Mende in Papua New Guinea's Southern Highlands
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Mussau Island- Papua New Guinea's northernmost point in the Bismarck Islands
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Fisherman on Tagula (Sudest) Island- Papua New Guinea's southernmost on the Solomon Sea
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Buin Village on Bougainville Island- Papua New Guinea's easternmost point near the border with the Solomon Islands
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