Geography of Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea has a total area of 462,840 km² (178,700 sq mi), of which 452,860 km² (174,850 sq mi) is land and 9,980 km² (3,850 sq mi) is water. This makes it the 3rd largest island country in the world.^[1] Its coastline is 5 152 km long.

The northernmost point is Mussau Island (1°23' S), southernmost point is Sudest Island (11°65' S), easternmost point is Olava, Bougainville (155°57' E) and the westernmost point is either Bovakaka along the Fly River border with Indonesia or Mabudawan (140°54' E).

Papua New Guinea has several volcanoes, as it is situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire. Volcanic eruptions are not rare, and the area is prone to earthquakes and tsunamis because of this. The volcanic disturbance can often cause severe earthquakes, which in turn can also cause tsunamis. Papua New Guinea is also prone to landslides, often caused by deforestation in major forests. The mountainous regions of Papua New Guinea are the areas most susceptible to landslides causing damage.

Offshore islands include the small, forested Admiralty Islands, the largest of which is Manus, to the north of the main island of New Guinea. These have a distinct plant and animal life from the main island but the natural forest has been cleared in places for logging and agriculture.^[2]

A recent global remote sensing analysis suggested that there were 1,308 km² of tidal flats in Papua New Guinea, making it the 25th ranked country in terms of tidal flat area.^[3]

Rivers

Tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation. In lower altitudes, the temperature is around 80 °F (27 °C) year round. But higher altitudes are a constant 70 °F (21 °C),^[4] and the highest altitudes, especially of Mount Wilhelm and Mount Giluwe, can see snow.^[5]

Climate change is expected to alter the temperature and precipitation of the country, with implications for wildlife, ecosystems and agriculture.^[6][7]

Climate data

Maritime claims:These are measured from claimed archipelagic baselines.

• Continental shelf:

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

• Exclusive economic zone:

2,402,288 km² (927,529 sq mi). 200 mi (320 km) nautical miles

• Territorial sea:

12 nautical miles (22 km)

Natural resources:gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil, fisheries

Land use:

• arable land: 0.49%
• permanent crops: 1.4%
• other (forests, swamplands, etc.): 98.11% (2005 estimate)

The rainforest is subject to deforestation as a result of growing commercial demand for tropical timber; forest clearance, especially in coastal areas, for plantations; pollution from mining projects. If the trend continues, more than half the forest that existed when Papua New Guinea became independent from Australia in 1975 will be gone by 2021.^[20]

Environment - international agreements

signed, but not ratified

• Antarctic-Environmental Protocol

signed and ratified

• Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Extreme points

• Northernmost point – Suf Island
• Northernmost point (mainland) – Sandaun Province
• Southernmost point – Vanatinai
• Southernmost point (mainland) – Near Suau, Samarai-Murua District
• Westernmost point – Border with Indonesia, Western Province
• Easternmost point – Nukumanu Islands, North Solomons
• Easternmost point (mainland) – Milne Bay
• Highest point – Mount Wilhelm: 4,509 m
• Lowest point – Pacific Ocean: 0 m

• List of rivers of Papua New Guinea
• List of volcanoes in Papua New Guinea
• List of highest mountains of New Guinea
• List of protected areas of Papua New Guinea
• Ecoregions of New Guinea
• Australia-New Guinea (continent)

• "CIA World Factbook". Retrieved 2006-05-25.

6°00′S 147°00′E / 6.000°S 147.000°E / -6.000; 147.000