PAPUA

anthropologists. Every so, often a new species of plant or animal
is discovered in the depths of the New Guinea jungle, or a
new social structure thousands of years old is located in some
unexplored mountain settlement, transporting researchers into
the past, literally into the object of their study.
We could say that the New Guinea hinterland is divided by
steep mountain ranges which cannot be reached by road, aside
from a few ad hoc footpaths created during the Second World
War. Only by flying, sailing or hiking can one approach these
parts. Despite the isolation, the broader area of the Highlands,
as they are known, and the central mountain valleys in
particular are the most fertile and densely-populated parts of
the country, aside, of course, from the few urban centres.
The country is crossed by a dense network of rivers, which
flow from the central mountain regions and discharge into
the Pacific coasts. The largest rivers are the Sepik in the north,
which crosses the country flowing in the direction of the
Bismarck Sea, the Fly in the south, which discharges in the Gulf
of Papua, and the Ramu. These rivers are for their greater parts
navigable, offering an important alternative route for accessing
the most central regions of the hinterland.
The climate is tropical, humid and warm, with an average
temperature of 28 degrees Celsius. At the higher altitudes the
climate is almost Equatorial Mountain, whilst rainfalls are heavy
and frequent everywhere.
The country has a population of approximately 6,000,000,
with only 17% of the total residing in the urban centres. Port
Moresby, the capital, is the most densely populated town, with
over 270,000 inhabitants, and the country’s largest port and its
international airport. Other large urban centres are Lae, with
approximately 115,000 inhabitants, and Madang, with 33,000
inhabitants on the northeast coasts. Demographically, it has a
rapidly rising population, relatively short life expectancy and
high birth rate.
There are low levels of production, serving primarily the
subsistence needs of the inhabitants and leaving little margin
for even limited exports. The main crops are coffee, cocoa,
papaya, coconuts, rubber, etc. Even so, despite the country’s
very low GDP and its minimal per capita income (only 1,294
US dollars), Papua New Guinea has an incredibly rich subsoil
with significant deposits of resources, such as gold, natural
gas, cobalt, oil, silver, copper, etc. Of these, gold and silver are
exported to neighbouring countries.
The country is a member of the British Commonwealth and
the head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, her role being purely
symbolic. Executive power is in the hands of the prime minister,
whilst legislative power lies with the National Parliament, which
has 109 elected members.
Dimitra Stasinopoulou
Athens, September 2011
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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