New Guinea

New Guinea is still associated with something so primitive and far from the modern world. Sometimes it seems easier to talk about the structure of a nuclear reactor than to find a small island on the map. Although small is a clear understatement: New Guinea is the second largest in the world. Only Greenland was able to overtake it.

Location of New Guinea

The mysterious island is located in the Pacific Ocean, not far from Australia. It is believed that this part of the earth was formed with the help of the local volcano Kadovar, which from time to time presents not the most pleasant surprises. The last time he woke up was in 2018, pretty much spoiling the mood of the natives.

The island was once part of Australia, connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus, but rising ocean levels sank the natural bridge, leaving local inhabitants somewhat isolated.

History

New Guinea was discovered in the 16th century by Portuguese navigators, but they were in no hurry to study it, quickly becoming convinced that the strip of land had nothing valuable to offer. The Russian traveler Miklouho-Maclay made a great contribution to the description of local wonders.

In the 19th century, Dutch conquerors landed on the western part of the island, the British settled in the southeastern part, and the Germans appropriated the northeastern territory for themselves. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the entire island came under the control of Australia, and only at the end of this century New Guinea received its long-awaited sovereignty. Although the local residents were not too concerned about the political arrangement of their own country, spending time in the hassle of obtaining their daily bread.

What to see

New Guinea cannot boast of mysterious sights, luxurious palaces or fashionable hotels. But lovers of wild nature and unusual rocks are attracted to the island like a good magnet. Dense forests frame the land on all sides. It is simply impossible to get into them without the help of a boat. But the charm of rich greenery and unusual noises captivates from the first minute. The feeling of traveling in a time machine is only enhanced by the amazingly painted locals.

Once upon a time, such drawings replaced a passport and birth certificate, telling everyone around who they came from, where they studied, got married and served in the military. Today, only residents of villages visited by tourists wear such decorations. Everyone else prefers to wear jeans and T-shirts. By the way, it is categorically not recommended to walk around the island alone: the island cannot boast of complete safety, and in the depths of the territory there are still tribes that trade in cannibalism. In any case, historians and ethnographers go deep into the island only with a large detachment of police.

One of the most attractive places in New Guinea is the ancient town of Kuka, charmingly overgrown with vines. The age of this architectural masterpiece has exceeded 5000 years, which makes it especially attractive to scientists. But there is also something to surprise ordinary tourists here.

Of natural wonders, tourists are attracted by mountains, fjords and lakes that are delightfully untouched by the human mind. Fans of active sea recreation can use the services of diving centers, go canoeing, take a boat trip or try to conquer the waves on the surf. With modern entertainment in the form of discos, nightclubs and restaurants, everything is complicated here: New Guinea still remains an island of some primitive originality, for which eco-travelers love it.