Place details
Place namePapua New Guinea
Other namesIndependent State of Papua New Guinea, Papouasie-Nouvelle Guinée, Papua-Neuguinea, Papua Nueva Guinea, Papua-Nieuwguinea, Papua-Nova Guiné, PNG, PG, ISO598, PP00, Territory of Papua and New Guinea, Papua New Guinean
Latitude-6
Longitude147
SourceThesaurus of Geographic Names
Overview
Occupies eastern half of New Guinea island; largely tropical with thick forests & exotic flora & fauna; inhabited by many tribes representing hundreds of linguistic groups; sighted by Portuguese in 16th cen.; claimed by Britain & Australia in 19th cen.; official language is English, though pidgin English & many indigenous languages are also spoken.