Papua

If talking about Papua, which is often pictured in our minds is the uniqueness of Asmat wood carving or authenticity of Dani culture in the Middle Mountains of Papua who have been so recognized. In addition, there are also cultural uniqueness and originality inherent in society. Papua with an area of 421,981 km2, or more than 20% of Indonesia's land area or 3.5 times the island of Java, has a length of 2000 ± mile beach and the vast sea waters around 228.000 km2. Papua lengthwise from west to east between the City Sorong-Jayapura along ± 1200 km, and ran from north to south between Jayapura - Merauke along ± 736 Km.

 Papua is an area filled with hills and mountains are rich with tropical rain forest (tropical rain forest) that are difficult to navigate and the majority is still a virgin forest. One of the top of the mountain known as Puncak Jaya (Carstensz Pyramid) which is the highest peak in Indonesia that covered by eternal snow, with a conservation area surrounded by an area of 21,500 km2 Lorentz and is the oldest nature conservation area in Indonesia. The region have various kinds of biological richness in different ecosystems, ranging from mangrove swamps to the top of the snow.

World War II that occurred in all regions of Papua or the Pacific War (Pacific War) left the phenomenon itself in Papua. On the occasion of war veterans Japanese nationals, the American traveling memorial to the Biak, Manokwari, Sorong, Jayapura and Sarmi. But unfortunately, the ruins of the many relics of the war that has become old and lost iron for trade. One of the remaining relics of them is a former airfield on Biak formerly known as the Mokmer and monuments in Sentani, built by General Douglas MacArthur.

History and Culture

Population of Papua, now numbering 2.2 million people, where the proportion of indigenous population numbered approximately 1.3 million people. They are people who still can be said is still very traditional, except in some coastal areas are relatively more advanced cultures as a result of interaction with the outside world. Until a few decades ago, most people who live mainly in rural areas are still Like a stone age. There are many natives in the mountains wearing only a cover for male genitals (Koteka) and women wearing only grass skirts. Inter tribal war was not much happening again, but not lost completely, while the traditional agriculture is still done.

In Papua there are 251 languages, or 40% of the language known in Indonesia that number ± 600. Language in Papua if combined with 770 languages in Papua New Guinea is one-fifth of the language known in the world. A total of 140 languages in Papua only used by less than 1000 people. One third of the Papua natives using one of the languages Dani (400,000) or the language Ekagi (130,000) and only these two languages and the language of the Asmat (80,000) are widely known.

Humans had arrived in New Guinea long before they reached the United States or the European mainland. The evidence does not directly address the that in about 30,000 to 40,000 years ago, ancestors of the indigenous Papuan people coming in small groups the same time as the formation of ice, so that the sea level dropped. The island is welcoming its predecessors is totally different from what we know today. Estimated at that stretch of ice covered large areas and there is snow at an altitude of only 350 m above sea level. The temperature was 7 degrees Celsius lower than the temperature at the present time. In some stages of the ice age, a shallow sea Arafuru is land that serves as a bridge, so that the natives of Papua could mix with indigenous Australians. Evidence of this can be seen from the common style and stone handicrafts motifs can be found along the southwest coast of Papua (Kaimana Beach) and in Arnhem Land in northern Australia. From the genetic evidence can be seen that both the native separation occurs in about 10,000 years ago.

Austronesian people is the last major group to come to Papua, which has known high technology, the types of weapons and better equipment, and farming methods and have kept pets. At the Austronesian people came, the natives of Papua are already living in farm groups are settled, in a society that is compact enough to maintain identity, language and their culture. Around tahun 4000 BC, people suspected Papua and has planted taro tubers and keep pigs. There is one type of tubers Ipomea called, comes from the new world, but with how to get to inland Papua, is a mystery.

Trade between New Guinea and Indonesia central and west, may have been going on since before the arrival of Christianity. Traders from western archipelago brought clothes and metal goods to be exchanged with Paradise feathers, and serf masoi bark, which in Java is used for medicinal herbs. Curly-haired person listed on the wall carvings of Borobudur temple which was built in the 18th century, perhaps the people of Papua. Fiber Negarakertagama poetry books from the Majapahit kingdom in the 14th century was also told about Papua.

In the early 16th century, the Portuguese first set foot on the soil of Papua is Jorge de Meneses is a governor who is stationed in Maluku. He was the first European to give a picture of New Guinea, which he called the "Ilhas dos Papuas". In addition, one known for his research in New Guinea was Alfred Russel Wallace (1858) who did research for five months at Dorei Bay area. Because of biological research generate a theory about the history of speciation that are similar to Charles Darwin's theory.

In the early 20th century the Dutch government began doing serious research on New Guinea, among the most important research is sending troops on a large scale inland New Guinnea in 1907 and 1915. The last major discovery occurred in 1938, when an expedition led by an American explorer named Richard Archbold, landing by plane in the lake and found Habbema Baliem valley. Big Baliem Valley is a fertile valley, lies in the alluvial plains of size 50 times 15 kilometers, inhabited by the Dani tribe of 50,000 that has not been in touch with the outside world before the arrival of Archbold. In today Baliem valley is the main tourist destination in Papua.

Missionary is one of the pioneer explorer in Papua, on February 5, 1855 two German priests employed by the Dutch Protestant Church, came to Papua and first set foot on the island Mansinam Manokwari, the pastor Ottow and Geisler. The spread of Christianity they began to take place in Papua. And to commemorate the entry of the Gospel into the ground by the Government of Papua Region on February 5 has been stipulated as entry of the Gospel in the Land of Papua and expressed As with the official holiday to Papua.

In 1942, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, continue south to New Guinea (Papua) without any significant resistance from the Dutch army that Hollandia (Jayapura) can be controlled by Japanese troops. In the spring of 1944, the United States entered the war with mobilizing troops and material in an effort to fight back under the leadership of General Douglas MacArthur. By 1200 the power of the aircraft, 217 ships and 50,000 troops, MacArthur finally able to land at Hollandia, and held the city with 159 victims of allied troops. After falling the hands allies Hollandia, Biak and then became the next target for control of the north coast of New Guinea. Battle of Biak was one of the most ferocious battles during the war where American soldiers used dynamite and diesel fuel to drive the Japanese army in the cave. Only 220 people survived the Japanese army. Until now there are many families visited Biak veterans to honor family members who became victims of war. Allies later expand Biak airport for landing big bombers capable of turning the tide of war Pacific.

Tours in the Enchanting Island of Raja Ampat

The colors that appear because of the influence of coral reefs in the shallow sea bottom or inside. They were enjoying lunch at the Papua Diving Resort, West Irian Jaya f waters.

Hot sun and brisk air makes exasperated guests to dive and dive again. Sunlight often penetrate the crevices of sea waves up to the reef. Beauty scenery and marine life does make a lasting impression for tourists. For lovers of coastal tourism and underwater fanatic, Raja Ampat are very well known even considered the best in the world for the quality of coral reefs.

Many international underwater photographers capture the charm of the sea Raja Ampat. Some even come over and over again and make a special book about the beauty of coral reefs and marine life of this region. Mid-2006, a special team of the world's leading scientific adventure magazine, National Geographic, create coverage in Raja Ampat which will become the main report in 2007.

The beach is located in the constellation of the Raja Ampat Islands, Irian Jaya is a tourist place a great choice for lovers of diving. Where islands are located in the western part of Irian surrounded by coral reefs and filled with fish.

Raja Ampat Islands cluster is located on the Equator and is part of the territory of Papua, with total more than 600 islands. The four largest islands are Waigeo, Batanta, Salawati, and Misool, which is located on the western side of the Bird's Head Peninsula in Irian. Recently, Raja Ampat has been discovered by scientists as the home system of the wealth of the world's richest coral reefs.

This region is almost outs explored and unknown size. Raja Ampat archipelago has a diversity of marine life are amazing heart. The first dive in this area started in 1990.

Paradise Reef World
Coral reefs in this area include hard corals and soft corals. Most areas of coral reefs still 'virgin', with miles and miles of perfect hard corals. Most of the colorful coral. Display after display of coral reefs Dendronephya (soft) lined with a variety of colors, ranging from bright red, yellow, pink and exotic purple.

Megaton
On top there are so many coral reef fish. Some fish species are considered rare in many parts of the world abundant in the area of Raja Ampat. For example, many Sargassum Frogfish are found in the weeds that float in depanresort dive.

Wobbegong Sharks are found when diving, they lie on a stretch of coral reefs. Like the fish which is set by the chef carefully on a plate at dinner. Epaulette sharks are small sharks that have only one foot long, very often found on night dives in the seagrass beds. Even on a wall shelf dive.

At each location of the dive a lot of giant clams found that size is big enough to swallow a child. Shells were embedded in the reef and covered with soft corals, as well as skin and a thick sponge, so that these shells could barely close the shell itself. Wai Island has an area of giant clams in the off-shore. It really is a diversity of flora and fauna

Offshore reef sites, especially near the coast of the island of Kri is inhabited by fish megatons. Many different species of fish in the stream, sometimes united, so that the diver is surrounded by a mess of fish colony. The most common fish seen is Baracuda, jack, bannerfish, surgeofish, fusilier, parrotfish and snappers. Everything is gathered in many species. The fish are so dense, that sometimes blocked the view of friends to dive or surface.

Not only the world under water is just amazing. The top of the relief is very diverse island with steep coastal mountains and deserted white sandy beaches. An area outside the tourist track and rarely visited by foreigners. The beauty of this island will make you wonder. The forest has a lot of orchids and birds of paradise. Waigeo and Batanta have the Red Bird of Paradise Bird and Wilson both of which are endemic bird area. In addition, forests are also inhabited by the sharing of bird species such as king prawns / tight, eagle and hornbill.