Papua New Guinea
Western Province (Fly River Region)
Western Province, on the southern coast, bordering Irian Jaya, is a perfect destination for fishermen, photographers and lovers of flora and fauna. The countryside here is unlike anywhere else in Papua New Guinea. Wide open grasslands are home to rusa deer, wallabies and wild pigs. crocodile, and lizards linger near the river banks and team of wild fowl and ducks fly across rivers. Two of the greatest rivers in the country, the Fly and the Strickland, run for almost their entire length through Western Province.

The Fly River, the longest river in Papua New Guinea, rises in the Victor Emanuel mountains in the central highlands and flows through the southeastern part of the country to the Gulf of Papua.

The river flows through forested gorges in its upper course, whereas the valley broadens in its lower course, crossing plains and swamps. The Fly River also forms part of the border between Papua New Guinea and the Indonesian province of Irian Jaya. At its estuary, it is 53 kilometres (33 miles) wide. 

The river regularly floods and there are consequently no settlements of any size along its banks, but crowded with birds and animal life. The river was named after HMS Fly, the ship used by Captain Blackwood to explore the estuary in 1842.

The Bensbach Wildlife Lodge, small comfortable and built of local materials, has established a reputation for spectacular barramundi fishing. Other species include ox eye herring and saratoga. Fresh locally caught fish and game are part of the regular menu.

Lake Murray, in the centre of the province, is the biggest lake in Papua New Guinea. There is a crocodile research station at the lake. During the wet season the lake spreads to five times its 400 square kilometre area.

Western Province is home to the giant OK Tedi gold and copper mine, one of the largest mines in the world. Established in 1980 in rugged mountainous terrain, the mining operation processes 80,000 tonnes of ore each day.

Daru, the main town of the province is situated on a small island of the same name just off the coast. Once a busy pearl and beche-de-mer trading port, it is now the centre of growing fishing industry. Crocodile skins from the province are packed and exported from Daru. Air Niugini offers direct flights from Port Moresby to Daru while third level airlines services most parts of Western Province.

SUMMARY
Population: 103 548 citizens and 6872 expatriates.
Land Area: 99 300 square km.
Members in Parliament: 4.

wpe3B.jpg (32191 bytes)

 
Districts; citizens; major languages:
  • Balimo; 25 867; Gogodala, Bamu Kiwai, Ari-Waruna, Waia.
  • Daru; 23 302; Southern Kiwai, Wabuda, Bine, Gidra, Idi.
  • Kiunga; 22 032; Awol, Ninggirurn.
  • Nomad; 15 083; Biami, Nomad, Boazi, Pa, Zimakani.
  • Morehead; 7861; Suki, Idi, Nambu, Tonda, Lewanda.
  • Strickland River
  • Tabubil; 9403 ; Faiwol, Bimin.

For more product information on the Fly River region, go to: