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Papua New Guinea: Islands
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Papua New Guinea is a small island nation comprised of a series of islands that vaguely resemble a banana from outer space. Its people are known for their fun loving nature, unique tribal outfits, and habit of eating famous British colonial explorers that found Australia.
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In late 2006 Papua New Guinea's government and its relations with Australia were roiled by the Moti affair. Julian Moti, an Australian lawyer of Fijian descent had been appointed attorney general in the Solomon Islands, was wanted in Australia on child sex charges, and Australia sought Moti's extradition from Papua New Guinea, where Moti was arrested (Sept., 2006) while in transit. Moti managed to flee with apparent help from PNG officials. An investigation into the incident implicated the prime minister in Moti's flight from PNG, a charge Somare denied; Somare subsequently disbanded the board of inquiry, which issued its report to Somare in Mar., 2007. Elections in June–July, 2007, returned Somare to office, leading a reorganized coalition. The defense minister rejected the board of inquiry report in Oct., 2007, on the grounds that the board had not been legally constituted.
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On the geographical side, Papua New Guinea covers an area of 461,000 square kilometres, being double the size of the UK, and one of the biggest South Pacific nations. Just south of the equator and only 160 km north of Australia is the main island of "New Guinea" which covers 85% of the nation's territory. The rest is made up of 600 tropical islands, including the bigger islands like New Britain, New Ireland and Bougainville. The western part of the main island, Irian Jaya is part of Indonesia.
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Papua New Guinea occupies the eastern half of the island of New Guinea, just north of Australia, and many outlying islands. The Indonesian province of West Papua (Irian Jaya) is to the west. To the north and east are the islands of Manus, New Britain, New Ireland, and Bougainville, all part of Papua New Guinea. About one-tenth larger than California, its mountainous interior has only recently been explored. Two major rivers, the Sepik and the Fly, are navigable for shallow-draft vessels.
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An island nation located just north of Australia in the southwest Pacific Ocean, Papua New Guinea is known for its variety. More than 700 languages are spoken. There are dense jungles, snowcapped mountains, exotic birds of paradise, and Stone Age cultures.
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Geologically, the island of New Guinea is a northern extension of the Indo-Australian tectonic plate, forming part of a single landmass Australia-New Guinea (... called Sahul or Meganesia). It is connected to the Australian segment by a shallow continental shelf across the Torres Strait, which in former ages had lain exposed as a land bridge — particularly during ice ages when sea levels were lower than at present.
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