INTRODUCTION

Irian Jaya, or the Indonesian part of Papua, is a land of contrasts, with some of the most impenetrable jungles in the world and snowcapped mountain peaks towering over glacial lakes. Irian Jaya is Indonesia's largest and easternmost province and covers the western half of the world’s second largest island. It is a land of exceptional natural grandeur, with beautiful scenic beaches, immense stretches of marshlands, cool grassy meadows and powerful rivers carving gorges through dense primeval forests. The most heavily populated and cultivated parts of the island are the Paniai lakes district and the Baliem Valley to the east.

The people of the island can be divided into more than 250 sub-groups, including the Marind-anem, Yah’ray, Asmat, Mandobo, Dani and Afyat. Those in the central highlands still maintain their customs and traditions, virtually untouched by outside influences. The different tribes have lived, for the most part, in isolation from even one another, resulting in an incredibly diverse mixture of cultures.

The coastal regions of Irian Jaya, however, were visited as early as the 7th century by traders from Sriwijaya. European traders looking for spices began arriving in the early 16th century, and have left historical footprints in the area with names such as Bougainville, Cape d’Urville and the Torres Straits. It was the Dutch who made the most lasting impact on the island, when in 1828 They formally made Irian a Dutch Territory, which it remained until 1962.

The Provincial capital of Jayapura is situated on hills which overlook the sea, and is accessible by boat and plane. It was here that General MacArthur assembled his fleet for the invasion of the Philippines during the Second World War.

FLORA AND FAUNA

Irian Jaya is rich in unique plants and animals. The largest indigenous animal is not a mammal but a bird, the flight-less, ostrich-like cassowary. Mani of the island’s native animals are marsupials and one, the hedgehog-like echidna, lays eggs. Irian is also home to some of nature’s most glorious creatures – the birds of paradise and the great birdwing butterflies.

The concentration of plant life is the richest in all of Indonesia and an estimated 16.000 species of plants a growing in the area, including hundreds of species that are of medicinal importance. So far, almost 2.800 species of orchids have been recorded on the island, growing mostly in the lowland forests

TRANSPORTATION

Jayapura on the north coast and the large islands north of Cenderawasih Bay are the easiest parts of Irian Jaya to visit, with a well-developed communications and transportation networks and plenty of hotels and restaurants to choose from.

Jayapura is well connected by air to the rest of Indonesia. Within the province local airlines connects the main towns while smaller planes land on more remote air strips. Sea transportation to Jakarta and other less distant points is also available.

ACCOMODATION

Jayapura is well provided with a number of air-conditioned hotels, as well as losmens catering to the budget traveler.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Jayapura
Jayapura is the capital and the biggest city of this easternmost province. It is a neat and pleasant city, built on the slope of a hill overlooking the bay. General Douglas Mc Arthur's World War II quarters still stand here. The Museum of Jayapura is located on the Cenderawasih University Campus. Tanjung Ria Beach, known as base G by the Allies during World War II, is a popular holiday resort with facilities for water sports.

Lake Sentani
A short trip from Jayapura, Lake Sentani is still virtually untouched by tourism. The people who call the shores of this magnificent lake home still live in a traditional manner, and are renowned for their wood-working and pottery.

Biak
Biak, a town on an island of the same name in Cenderawasih Bay, is Irian Jaya’s main gateway. It has a better infrastructure than most other places in the province. There are some good beaches on Biak Island, the most popular of which are Bosnik on the east coast, which is good for swimming and skin-diving, and Korem on the north coast, where one can watch young men dive for pearls. Supiori Island, just north of Biak, has a wilderness reserve and traditional villages where visitors are welcome.

Kasuarina Cape
Named after the big casuarina trees which grow in the area, Kasuarina Cape is just two kilometers from Sorong, on the Bird's Head Peninsula of northern Irian Jaya. Good for swimming and recreation.

The Asmat
The Asmat people, who live along the remote southeast coast, aloe famed for their artistic “primitive” woodcarving. Modern civilization did not reach this area until recently. Agats has an interesting museum filled with woodcarvings and other objects. Asmat crafts received a boost in the late 1960s under a United Nations supported project encouraging local craftsmen to keep their art alive. Much of the area is still untamed wilderness.