North Fly District, Western Province
Encyclopedia
The North Fly District of the Western Province
of Papua New Guinea
is the northernmost, smallest, and arguably the most remote of the three districts of the province. It contains the Local-Level Government (LLG) areas of Kiunga Rural
, Kiunga Urban
, Ningerum Rural
, Olsobip Rural
and Star Mountains Rural
, and the townships of Kiunga
, Tabubil, Olsobip
and Ningerum
.
area the most populous area in the district with about 21,000 people. The township itself, however, is smaller with about 8,300 residents, and is dwarfed by Tabubil, a much newer settlement in Star Mountains Rural LLG
which was recently estimated (2006) to have 13,500 residents, making it the largest settlement in the Western Province and the 12th largest settlement in the country.
There are a total of 105 police in the district, but only three of these are located outside Tabubil and Kiunga. These townships also host court houses. A jail has recently been re-opened in the district at Ningerum
.
, one of the northernmost settlements in the district, is probably one of the wettest places on earth, a fact that cannot be established scientifically, due to the absence of a weather station. The district is landlocked, and is heavily reliant on its high rainfall for shipping.
The majority of the district is situated on a plain. The beginning of the Star Mountains
is the southernmost point in the district that is more than a few hundred metres above sea level. The plain is a very humid environment, and has a stable tropical temperature of 27 to 32 degrees Celsius. The highlands is slightly cooler, with a temperature range of 19 to 27 degrees.
in the north and Southern Highlands Province
in the east. It shares an international boundary with Papua
province of Indonesia
in the west and borders Middle Fly District
in the south.
The southern area of North Fly District is a massive plain, and the highlands begin around Tabubil
, at the foot of the Star Mountains
. The province south of this point is rather low lying, and doesn't increase in altitude above a few hundred metres. The border with Sandaun, however, rises to 3,727 metres.
The total land mass of the North Fly District is 13,138 km², slightly larger than Enga Province
. The district is home to the sources of the Fly River
and Ok Tedi River
. The Strickland River
also flows through this district.
, the largest economic entity in the Western Province, accounting for over half of the entire province's economy and 25.7% of the country's entire export earnings. Ok Tedi's base of operations is Tabubil. There is also a productive rubber industry situated around Kiunga
. Kiunga holds the main port of the province, and ships a lot of supplies in, and copper from Ok Tedi Mine, rubber and lumber out. The Kiunga-Tabubil Highway
runs through the district and is a main supply line, and a feat of engineering in its own right. The highway was built and is maintained by Ok Tedi Mining Limited
.
Western Province (Papua New Guinea)
Western Province is a coastal province in southwestern Papua New Guinea, bordering the Indonesian province of Papua. The provincial capital is Daru, on the island of Daru. The largest town in the province is Tabubil...
of Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
is the northernmost, smallest, and arguably the most remote of the three districts of the province. It contains the Local-Level Government (LLG) areas of Kiunga Rural
Kiunga Rural LLG
The Kiunga Rural LLG is a local level government area situated in the North Fly District of the Western Province of Papua New Guinea. In the year 2000, the LLG had a population of 13,249 people. The township of Kiunga is within the boundaries of this LLG, but has its own urban LLG....
, Kiunga Urban
Kiunga Urban LLG
The Kiunga Urban LLG is a local level government area situated in the North Fly District of the Western Province of Papua New Guinea. In the year 2000, the LLG had a population of 8265 people. The township of Kiunga, which is governed by this LLG is the government seat of the district....
, Ningerum Rural
Ningerum Rural LLG
The Ningerum Rural LLG is a local level government area situated in the North Fly District of the Western Province of Papua New Guinea. In the year 2000, the LLG had a population of 13,156 people. The main population centre is Ningerum....
, Olsobip Rural
Olsobip Rural LLG
The Olsobip Rural LLG is a local level government situated in the North Fly District of the Western Province of Papua New Guinea. In the year 2000, the LLG was the least populous of the district, with a population of only 3851 people. The capital of the LLG is a station town by the name of Olsobip....
and Star Mountains Rural
Star Mountains Rural LLG
The Star Mountains Rural LLG is a local level government situated in the Star Mountains in the North Fly District of the Western Province of Papua New Guinea. In the year 2000, the LLG had 1691 homes, and a population of 12,114 people. The current population is more likely to now be around 15,000...
, and the townships of Kiunga
Kiunga, Papua New Guinea
Kiunga is a port town on the Fly River in the Western Province of Papua New Guinea, just upstream from the D'Albertis Junction with the Ok Tedi River. It is the southernmost terminus of the Kiunga-Tabubil Highway. Local industry rests on a cornerstone of freight and haulage, particularly from the...
, Tabubil, Olsobip
Olsobip
Olsobip is a station town in the north of the Papua New Guinean Western province, located on the Upper Fly River. It is the seat of the Olsobip Rural LLG. It has a rural airport but, set in a rich forest, it is unaccessable by road...
and Ningerum
Ningerum
Ningerum is a small town on the Kiunga-Tabubil Highway, about equidistant between the two centres of Kiunga and Tabubil. Ningerum is the seat of the Ningerum Rural LLG, which was the second most populous LLG in the North Fly District of the Western Province of Papua New Guinea during the 2000 census...
.
Demographics
The population of the district in the 2000 census was 50,635. The most populous LLG in the area at that time was Kiunga Rural, with almost 13,500 people, making the greater KiungaKiunga, Papua New Guinea
Kiunga is a port town on the Fly River in the Western Province of Papua New Guinea, just upstream from the D'Albertis Junction with the Ok Tedi River. It is the southernmost terminus of the Kiunga-Tabubil Highway. Local industry rests on a cornerstone of freight and haulage, particularly from the...
area the most populous area in the district with about 21,000 people. The township itself, however, is smaller with about 8,300 residents, and is dwarfed by Tabubil, a much newer settlement in Star Mountains Rural LLG
Star Mountains Rural LLG
The Star Mountains Rural LLG is a local level government situated in the Star Mountains in the North Fly District of the Western Province of Papua New Guinea. In the year 2000, the LLG had 1691 homes, and a population of 12,114 people. The current population is more likely to now be around 15,000...
which was recently estimated (2006) to have 13,500 residents, making it the largest settlement in the Western Province and the 12th largest settlement in the country.
Politics
The political centre of the district is Kiunga, and government representatives are elected periodically.There are a total of 105 police in the district, but only three of these are located outside Tabubil and Kiunga. These townships also host court houses. A jail has recently been re-opened in the district at Ningerum
Ningerum
Ningerum is a small town on the Kiunga-Tabubil Highway, about equidistant between the two centres of Kiunga and Tabubil. Ningerum is the seat of the Ningerum Rural LLG, which was the second most populous LLG in the North Fly District of the Western Province of Papua New Guinea during the 2000 census...
.
Climate
The district has an average annual rainfall of 8 metres. A peak rainfall in the highlands is realised of over 10 metres. OlsobipOlsobip
Olsobip is a station town in the north of the Papua New Guinean Western province, located on the Upper Fly River. It is the seat of the Olsobip Rural LLG. It has a rural airport but, set in a rich forest, it is unaccessable by road...
, one of the northernmost settlements in the district, is probably one of the wettest places on earth, a fact that cannot be established scientifically, due to the absence of a weather station. The district is landlocked, and is heavily reliant on its high rainfall for shipping.
The majority of the district is situated on a plain. The beginning of the Star Mountains
Star Mountains
The Star Mountains are a mountain range in western Papua New Guinea, stretching from the border with Indonesia, at about to the Hindenburg Range...
is the southernmost point in the district that is more than a few hundred metres above sea level. The plain is a very humid environment, and has a stable tropical temperature of 27 to 32 degrees Celsius. The highlands is slightly cooler, with a temperature range of 19 to 27 degrees.
Geography
The district covers the northern area of the Western Province. It shares a provincial border with SandaunSandaun
Sandaun Province, officially West Sepik Province, is the north-westernmost province of Papua New Guinea. It covers an area of 36,300 km² and has a population of 185,741 . The capital is Vanimo...
in the north and Southern Highlands Province
Southern Highlands (Papua New Guinea)
Southern Highlands is a province in Papua New Guinea. Its provincial capital is the town of Mendi. According to Papua New Guinea's national 2000 census, the total population of Southern Highlands is 546,265 spread across , which makes it the most highly populated province in the country.-Split to...
in the east. It shares an international boundary with Papua
Papua (Indonesian province)
Papua comprises most of the western half of the island of New Guinea and nearby islands. Its capital is Jayapura. It's the largest and easternmost province of Indonesia. The province originally covered the entire western half of New Guinea...
province of Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
in the west and borders Middle Fly District
Middle Fly District, Western Province
The Middle Fly District of the Western Province of Papua New Guinea is a large, coastal district that forms the central area of the Fly River basin. It contains the Local-Level Government areas of: Balimo Urban, Bamu Rural, Gogodaia Rural, Lake Murray Rural, and Nomad Rural, and the population...
in the south.
The southern area of North Fly District is a massive plain, and the highlands begin around Tabubil
Tabubil
Tabubil is a planned, company operated township located in the Star Mountains area of the North Fly District of Western Province, Papua New Guinea...
, at the foot of the Star Mountains
Star Mountains
The Star Mountains are a mountain range in western Papua New Guinea, stretching from the border with Indonesia, at about to the Hindenburg Range...
. The province south of this point is rather low lying, and doesn't increase in altitude above a few hundred metres. The border with Sandaun, however, rises to 3,727 metres.
The total land mass of the North Fly District is 13,138 km², slightly larger than Enga Province
Enga Province
Enga refers to both an ethnic group located in the highlands of Papua New Guinea and the province in which they are the majority ethnic group.-Physical geography:...
. The district is home to the sources of the Fly River
Fly River
The Fly at , is the second longest river, after the Sepik, in Papua New Guinea. The Fly is the largest river in Oceania, the largest in the world without a single dam in its catchment, and overall ranks as the twenty-fifth largest river in the world by volume of discharge...
and Ok Tedi River
Ok Tedi River
The Ok Tedi is a river in New Guinea. The Ok Tedi Mine is located near the headwaters of the river, which is sourced in the Star Mountains. Nearly the entirety of the river runs through the North Fly District of the Western Province of Papua New Guinea, but the river crosses the international...
. The Strickland River
Strickland River
The Strickland River is a river in the Western Province of Papua New Guinea, and is the largest tributary of the Fly River.- Environmental concerns :...
also flows through this district.
Economy
Most of the economy of the District revolves around the Ok Tedi MineOk Tedi Mine
The Ok Tedi Mine is an open-pit copper and gold mine located near the headwaters of the Ok Tedi River, in the Star Mountains Rural LLG of the North Fly District of the Western Province of Papua New Guinea...
, the largest economic entity in the Western Province, accounting for over half of the entire province's economy and 25.7% of the country's entire export earnings. Ok Tedi's base of operations is Tabubil. There is also a productive rubber industry situated around Kiunga
Kiunga, Papua New Guinea
Kiunga is a port town on the Fly River in the Western Province of Papua New Guinea, just upstream from the D'Albertis Junction with the Ok Tedi River. It is the southernmost terminus of the Kiunga-Tabubil Highway. Local industry rests on a cornerstone of freight and haulage, particularly from the...
. Kiunga holds the main port of the province, and ships a lot of supplies in, and copper from Ok Tedi Mine, rubber and lumber out. The Kiunga-Tabubil Highway
Kiunga-Tabubil Highway
The Kiunga-Tabubil Highway is an all weather gravel road that runs from the river port town of Kiunga through Ningerum and Tabubil to the Ok Tedi Mine site, in the remote North Fly District of the Western Province of Papua New Guinea. The road is around long, but this changes as sections are...
runs through the district and is a main supply line, and a feat of engineering in its own right. The highway was built and is maintained by Ok Tedi Mining Limited
Ok Tedi Mining Limited
Ok Tedi Mining Limited is a Company from Papua New Guinea that administers the Ok Tedi Mine in the northern part of the Western Province. Its main office is located in a building known as the White House in Tabubil....
.
See also
- Ok Tedi RiverOk Tedi RiverThe Ok Tedi is a river in New Guinea. The Ok Tedi Mine is located near the headwaters of the river, which is sourced in the Star Mountains. Nearly the entirety of the river runs through the North Fly District of the Western Province of Papua New Guinea, but the river crosses the international...
A major river in the district - Strickland RiverStrickland RiverThe Strickland River is a river in the Western Province of Papua New Guinea, and is the largest tributary of the Fly River.- Environmental concerns :...
A major river in the district - Fly RiverFly RiverThe Fly at , is the second longest river, after the Sepik, in Papua New Guinea. The Fly is the largest river in Oceania, the largest in the world without a single dam in its catchment, and overall ranks as the twenty-fifth largest river in the world by volume of discharge...
A major river in the district
- Kiunga-Tabubil HighwayKiunga-Tabubil HighwayThe Kiunga-Tabubil Highway is an all weather gravel road that runs from the river port town of Kiunga through Ningerum and Tabubil to the Ok Tedi Mine site, in the remote North Fly District of the Western Province of Papua New Guinea. The road is around long, but this changes as sections are...
- Ok Tedi MineOk Tedi MineThe Ok Tedi Mine is an open-pit copper and gold mine located near the headwaters of the Ok Tedi River, in the Star Mountains Rural LLG of the North Fly District of the Western Province of Papua New Guinea...
The mine site that provides the main economic drive behind the district, and the province itself, operated by Ok Tedi Mining LimitedOk Tedi Mining LimitedOk Tedi Mining Limited is a Company from Papua New Guinea that administers the Ok Tedi Mine in the northern part of the Western Province. Its main office is located in a building known as the White House in Tabubil....
(OTML). - Ok Tedi Environmental DisasterOk Tedi Environmental DisasterThe Ok Tedi environmental disaster, due to the annual discharge of millions of tons of mining waste, has harmed the environment and livelihood of 50,000 people who live on or near the Ok Tedi River in Papua New Guinea...
- KiungaKiunga, Papua New GuineaKiunga is a port town on the Fly River in the Western Province of Papua New Guinea, just upstream from the D'Albertis Junction with the Ok Tedi River. It is the southernmost terminus of the Kiunga-Tabubil Highway. Local industry rests on a cornerstone of freight and haulage, particularly from the...
- Tabubil
- NingerumNingerumNingerum is a small town on the Kiunga-Tabubil Highway, about equidistant between the two centres of Kiunga and Tabubil. Ningerum is the seat of the Ningerum Rural LLG, which was the second most populous LLG in the North Fly District of the Western Province of Papua New Guinea during the 2000 census...
- OlsobipOlsobipOlsobip is a station town in the north of the Papua New Guinean Western province, located on the Upper Fly River. It is the seat of the Olsobip Rural LLG. It has a rural airport but, set in a rich forest, it is unaccessable by road...