IRIAN JAYA is the western half of New Guinea. It became part of Indonesia in 1963 when it was acquired from the Dutch and is Indonesia’s largest Province. It is 421.981 square km, mainly jungle. PAPUA is the other name for Irian Jaya and it is administratively dedicated by Indonesian Government in year 2002 for the indigenous people in the island. This Eastern Province is part of one of the world‘s last frontiers and almost totally covered in tropical rainforest.

This area is essential keeping the reach of natural sources which refers to its character. The world has known its name through out the expeditors and scientists who have made a foot steps on this island for some periods while the most famous tribes for Irian Jaya such as Asmat with outstanding for its wooden crafts, Dani people in Baliem Valley with its incredible stone age cultural heritage, Koroway people with their jungle isolated life, and Yali highlanders in its traditional cultures.

The population of this province is about 3 (three) millions and 10 percents live in central highland around Baliem valley as the home for ancient tribes of the Dani, Lani, and Yali.

The temperature in the highland can be very hot at the day time which sometimes reach to 27 Celsius degrees but may drop quickly at night to 14-15 Celsius degrees. While down in the lowland, the humidity might reach to 85% and yet the temperature doesn’t seem cooler at night. The rain fall is high which averagely about 1,000 cm per annum - therefore this region possesses some of Indonesia’s largest rivers.

FLORA AND FAUNA

Papua island’s wildlife is possibly the most interesting in the world and yet the least known, lets visited or researched now. Because there are over 2.500 species of orchid including hundreds of species that are of medical importance. Irian Jaya or Papua is approximately half of New Guinea island and therefore many of its animal and plants have evolved totally in isolation and it hasn’t been invaded by other species from Asia or other parts of the world. They aren’t any monkeys or at least none have been seen but an animal has evolved that can climb trees and can live of their fruits and leaves. Incredibly this creature is a kangaroo.

Although it retains big feet and a long snout it has a winding, Pink, prehensile tail and with this is able to lumber about through the treetops. About 650 different kinds of birds live in Papua and some 450 are totally native to this island. The Victoria crowned pigeon , the world’s largest pigeon is a brilliant lavender with a delicate crown of feathers and bright red eyes. Parrots, Cockatoo, and Lories brighten up the forest with their red, yellow, and purple colors. Papua is also home to some very strange birds as well. The mega pods or brush turkeys, which bury their eggs in sand or piles of vegetation are found here.