We know some of the hundreds of countries in the world as closely as our own country, but even if we know the names of some of them, we do not even know exactly where or on which continent they are. For many people, Papua New Guinea is one of them. Papua New Guinea, the third largest island country in the world, is located in the continent of Oceania made up of islands in the Pacific Ocean and has been home to people for tens of thousands of years.
Of course, like many island countries, Papua New Guinea survived as a colonial state for many years. The culture and especially the natural beauties of this country, whose political system is not fully settled even today, fascinates itself. There are even some creatures in its ecosystem that can only live there. Let’s take a closer look at the interesting little-known details about Papua New Guinea that will leave you speechless.
Interesting facts about Papua New Guinea:
- More than a hundred languages are spoken in Papua New Guinea.
- 5 percent of the global biodiversity is on this island.
- The rainforests of Papua New Guinea are some of the largest in the world.
- There is one species of poisonous bird found only on this island.
- Life began in Papua New Guinea 50,000 years ago.
- The island is also extremely rich in terms of underground resources.
- Papua New Guinea is part of a prehistoric subcontinent.
- It would not be wrong to say that the island of Papua New Guinea is a complete ring of fire.
- If you want to see some of the last tree kangaroos, your address is Papua New Guinea.
- You should think twice before you go to Papua New Guinea.
More than a hundred languages are spoken in Papua New Guinea:
Papua New Guinea is the country with the most languages spoken. According to the latest shared state statistics, 851 languages are spoken in the country. The most spoken language in the country is Tok Pisin, a local language created by combining German and English. In Papua New Guinea, it has been seen that different languages are spoken even within the same tribe. In addition to all these languages, there is a sign language used only for the people of the island country.
A full 5 percent of global biodiversity is on this island:
With only 1 percent of our planet’s total land area, Papua New Guinea is unbelievably home to 5 percent of global biodiversity. There are more than 20 thousand plants, more than 800 coral species and more than 650 fish species on the island. The biodiversity under the ocean is so rich that Papua New Guinea is one of the most popular scuba diving destinations in the world.
Papua New Guinea rainforests are among the largest in the world:
You may be surprised again, as it covers a tiny land area in the world, but Papua New Guinea is home to the third largest rainforest in the world. The rainforest of Papua New Guinea, which ranks third after the Amazon rainforest and Congo rainforest, covers an area of 288 thousand square meters. This vast area enriches terrestrial biodiversity.
There is one species of poisonous bird found only on this island:
One more piece of information that you will be surprised to see if there are venomous birds or if one of them is in Papua New Guinea. A bird species called the Hooded Pitohui is one of the few poison bird species in the world. Moreover, this bird species is unique to the island of Papua New Guinea. It has a vital importance in the island ecosystem as it kills parasites thanks to its venom.
Life began 50,000 years ago in Papua New Guinea:
While even the 10,000-year-old civilizations in Mesopotamia and Anatolia are making our heads spin, we are sure that life in this island country started 50 thousand years ago, it is astonishing for everyone. Moreover, these people who first settled on the island did not migrate from Africa, but from Asia. This creates ethnic diversity.
When Papua New Guinea tribes were examined, it was revealed that they had ethnic ties with people in regions such as China, Europe, Australia, Philippines, Micronesia. This bond brings not only genetic but also cultural richness to the island. It is not known for certain, but it is estimated that there are more than a thousand different cultural groups in the island nation of Papua New Guinea. In other words, it is possible to see different cultural characteristics even within the same tribe.
The island is also extremely rich in terms of underground resources:
Tourism stands out among Papua New Guinea’s sources of income, but the island’s main source of income is copper and gold. It is unbelievable, but it is possible to find gold even when you go to a riverside in the Ok Tedi region of the country. Unfortunately, because of these riches, the island continued its life as a colonial state for many years.
The island of Papua New Guinea first became a colonial country in 1884. The island of Papua New Guinea, once occupied by the Germans, Australians, British and even the Japanese, gained its independence in 1975 and became a member of the British Commonwealth. Today, the country is governed by the United Kingdom with a constitutional monarchy.
Papua New Guinea is part of a prehistoric subcontinent:
Another example of how Papua New Guinea has such genetic and cultural richness is the prehistoric subcontinent of which it was previously a part. This prehistoric subcontinent, called Sahul, broke up into Papua New Guinea and Australia due to rising sea levels about 10,000 years ago, when there were humans on it. After this separation, Australia has become an isolated civilization as a continent on its own, independent of external influence.
It would not be wrong to say that the island of Papua New Guinea is a complete ring of fire:
Like many island regions, Papua New Guinea is still an area with active volcanoes. Moreover, the eruptions of these volcanoes can be quite destructive. Mount Ulawun in Papua New Guinea experienced its last eruptions in 2019, Mount Kadovar in 2018, and Mount Tavurvur in 2014. So the island of Papua New Guinea is still an active volcano area.
If you want to see some of the last tree kangaroos, here is Papua New Guinea:
The last specimens of the tree kangaroo, 99 percent of which are thought to be extinct, according to scientists, are found in Papua New Guinea. This species, first seen in the region in 1990, lives in the Torricelli Mountains. The tree kangaroo, an interesting species of marsupial that has evolved to live in trees, is unfortunately predicted to become extinct in the near future.
Before you go to Papua New Guinea, you should think twice:
Unfortunately, political stability could not be achieved in the country of Papua New Guinea, as in many former colonial countries. Therefore, the crime rate in the country has one of the highest levels in the world. The government of Papua New Guinea warns tourists not to travel around Port Moresby, Lae and Goroka. It is recommended that you agree with a local guide before making such a trip.
We talked about the first interesting information you heard about Papua New Guinea, one of the largest island countries in the world, and we talked about the details you need to know about this extraordinary culture. You can share your thoughts about Papua New Guinea in the comments.
30040
