Little is known about the country hosting the 26th APEC

Over the past few days, the name Papua New Guinea has never been mentioned so much in the global media when the economy was the host of the 26th APEC High Week (taking place from the 12th). -18/11/2018). Previously, Papua New Guinea was an unfamiliar name for many people, and some even raised questions: Where is Papua New Guinea?

Island nation with more than 600 islands large and small

Papua New Guinea (abbreviated as PNG) covers an area of ​​more than 400 thousand square kilometers located in the Pacific Ocean, consisting of two main islands formerly known as Papua and New Guinea with a total of over 600 islands, large and small. The mainland has the only land border with Indonesia's West Papua province, 820km long.

It is said that an adventurer happened to discover the aborigines on the island, but he was surprised to think that it was black Aboriginal Aboriginal people with curly hair (Guineans do not have curly hair like that. ) and again very far from Guinea, he named the newly discovered Aboriginal people Papua New Guinea (Guinea hair with curly hair). And that name becomes a country name.

Papua New Guinea - The country of the mountains.(Photo: Chris Korbulic).

PNG is not in Southeast Asia but in Oceania. The topography is mostly mountainous with the highest point being the Wihelm mountain at an altitude of 4.509m. The country is covered by tropical rain forests and swampy areas around the main rivers like Sepik and Fly.

Especially, this place also has the richest ecosystem in the world. Of the 820 butterfly species identified, up to 55% were identified only in PNG, including the world's largest butterfly Ornithoptera alexandrae.

Papua New Guinea annually earns considerable profits from the export of butterfly specimens.(Photo: TL).

Many butterfly specimens are sold internationally for a very high price, so it is well known that PNG benefits annually from the exploitation and export of butterfly specimens and many other insects to the world.

Located near the southern equator of the hemisphere, the country possesses a hot and humid tropical climate, the temperature is always between 25 ^o C and 30 ^o C in the coastal area, it is possible to travel around the year. The population of PNG so far has about 8.5 million people. Port Moresby is the capital and the largest city in the country.

One of the most culturally diverse countries in the world with over 800 languages

PNG is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world with 848 languages ​​used by indigenous inhabitants. (Some documents have more than 850 languages). Each of the nation's more than 800 languages ​​ranges from a few dozen to more than 600,000 users.

After independence (PNG gained independence on September 16, 1975 from Australia, now part of the British Royal Family) PNG selects three official languages. English is the first language. Tok Pisin, a blending language (creole) is a second language and Hiri Motu, a simplified form of Motu, an Austronesian language, is a third language. English is used officially in education, government agencies and commercial transactions.

The country has a diverse culture.(Photo: indopacificimages.com).

From more than 60,000 years ago, the first inhabitants to live in the land are called New Guinea today, mostly from Southeast Asia. In the early 16th century, the first Europeans to PNG were Portuguese and Spanish, followed by the British.

From the end of the 19th century to the end of the Second World War, PNG was in turn controlled by Germany, Britain, Australia and Japan. After World War II, the Provisional Administrative Act of 1945-1946 officially merged Papua and New Guinea into a unified territory under the name of PNG and placed under international mandate. In September 1975, PNG was given full independence.

Although the multicultural land with nature is quite interesting, but long time this small country is on the list of the least explored countries on the planet.

The most rural country

A resident in costume and face painting according to the Aboriginal Papua New Guinea tradition.(Photo: AP).

PNG is considered one of the most rural countries when only about 18% of the population lives in urban areas.

PNG Aboriginal tribes often have extremely brilliant costumes. They use feather bird paradise - the symbol of charm and beauty to adorn traditional costumes, ceremonial tops and hats. In addition, PNG aboriginal people also paint their faces and wear wigs.

In many parts of this particular country it is not possible to use currency to exchange and use artifacts.