INDEPENDANT STATE OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Of the total area, 85% forms the eastern part of the island of New Guinea, the balance being made up of approximately 600 smaller islands. On the New Guinea mainland, the fly river forms a vast swampy delta in the southwest, rising to the central east-west mountains that reach 4509m (41,793ft) at Mt Wilhelm. Principal rivers include the Fly, Sepik and Ramu that drain south, north and east respectively. The larger islands are mostly of volcanic origin, with rugged relief, surrounded bu coral formations.
Nearly 70% of PNG is covered by dense tropical rainforest, soils are heavily leached, being fertile mainly in lowland areas and in the peripheral islands.