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| | Its capital, and one of its few major cities, is [[Port Moresby]]. | | Its capital, and one of its few major cities, is [[Port Moresby]]. |
| − | Population-wise, PNG is one of the most diverse countries on [[Earth]], originally with over 850 indigenous [[language]]s, and at least as many traditional societies, out of a population of just under 6 million.
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| | On a map, the main part of the country resembles the profile of a large foot, with the toes pointed to the southeast. Mountains reaching as high as 14,793 (Mt. Wilhelm) form a backbone the entire length of the country. | | On a map, the main part of the country resembles the profile of a large foot, with the toes pointed to the southeast. Mountains reaching as high as 14,793 (Mt. Wilhelm) form a backbone the entire length of the country. |
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| | Until the 1930s, the outside world did not know that these interior mountain were inhabited. | | Until the 1930s, the outside world did not know that these interior mountain were inhabited. |
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| | + | == Language and culture == |
| | + | Population-wise, PNG is one of the most diverse countries on [[Earth]], originally with over 850 indigenous [[language]]s, and at least as many traditional societies, out of a population of just under 6 million. |
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| | + | Another major centre is Lae, which was the last stopping point of [[Amelia Earhart]] in her attempt to fly around the world in 1937. |
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| | + | In 2001, officials stated that there were 817 native languages still in use. The most prominant spoken language in the Highlands is Melanesian Pidgin. It is a mixture containing about 1000 [[English]] words, many [[German language|German]] words, and of course various tribal words. Eighty percent of what is published in PNG is English, and that is the official language of business, government, and most education. |
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| | Most of the people are warm-hearted and friendly, but there is a very serious crime problem. [[Christianity|Christian]] [[missionary|missionaries]] have succeeded in bringing some peace among the highlands tribes, but tribal wars are still a major problem. | | Most of the people are warm-hearted and friendly, but there is a very serious crime problem. [[Christianity|Christian]] [[missionary|missionaries]] have succeeded in bringing some peace among the highlands tribes, but tribal wars are still a major problem. |
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| | The Markham Valley was the first place in the world that great numbers of soldiers were dropped into an active war zone by [[parachute]]. The Allied armies, under the command of General [[Douglas MacArthur]], then liberated the city of Lae from the [[Japan]]ese. The Japanese were intending to use New Guinea as a base for their takeover of industrialised Australia. Many native New Guineans served with great honour and helped the Allied soldiers. | | The Markham Valley was the first place in the world that great numbers of soldiers were dropped into an active war zone by [[parachute]]. The Allied armies, under the command of General [[Douglas MacArthur]], then liberated the city of Lae from the [[Japan]]ese. The Japanese were intending to use New Guinea as a base for their takeover of industrialised Australia. Many native New Guineans served with great honour and helped the Allied soldiers. |
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| − | Another major centre is Lae, which was the last stopping point of [[Amelia Earhart]] in her attempt to fly around the world in 1937.
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| − | In 2001, officials stated that there were 817 native languages still in use. The most prominant spoken language in the Highlands is Melanesian Pidgin. It is a mixture containing about 1000 [[English]] words, many [[German language|German]] words, and of course various tribal words. Eighty percent of what is published in PNG is English, and that is the official language of business, government, and most education.
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| | == Government == | | == Government == |