Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea

area:	462,840sq km (178,073 sq mi)
population:	5,130,000
capital (population):	Port Moresby (252,000)
government:	Constitutional monarchy
ethnic groups:	Papuan 84%, Melanesian 1%
languages:	English (official)
religions:	Christianity (Protestant 58%, Roman Catholic 33%, Anglican 5%), traditional beliefs 3%
currency:	Kina = 100 toea

Independent Commonwealth island group in Melanesia, sw Pacific, 160km (100mi) ne of Australia; the capital is Port Moresby.

Land and climate

Papua New Guinea includes the e part of New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, the n Solomon Islands, the Trobriand and D'Entrecasteaux Islands and the Louisiade Archipelago. The land is largely mountainous, rising to Mount Wilhelm, at 4508m (14,790ft), e New Guinea. In 1995, two volcanoes erupted in Esstern New Britain. East New Guinea also has extensive coastal lowlands. Papua New Guinea has a tropical climate. The monsoon season runs from December to April. Forests cover more than 70% of the land. The dominant vegetation is rainforest. Mangrove swamps line the coast. ‘Cloud’ forest and tussock grass are found on the higher peaks.

Political map

Physical map

Websites

http://www.niugini.com