Central Papua

Central Papua is a part of Indonesia.

It has many different kinds of land. The north has blue seas.

You can see whale sharks there. The middle has high mountains.

The highest peak has white snow on it. This mountain is very tall. The south has many wet swamps.

People live in the towns and hills. Some people live near the coast. Others live in the mountains.

It is a very big place. There is much to see.

Central Papua is a province in Indonesia.

It sits in the middle of Western New Guinea. The land has many different parts. To the north, you will find the blue sea.

The Teluk Cenderawasih National Park is there. You can see whale sharks in the water. In the south, the land is mostly wet swamps.

The middle of the province has big mountains. These are the Jayawijaya Mountains. They hold Puncak Jaya. This is the highest peak in Indonesia. It even has snow on top.

A large gold mine called Grasberg is also in these mountains.

Many people live here. Some live in the big town of Timika. Others live in the capital, Nabire. Different groups of people live in the hills and near the coast. They have many different traditions. The province was made in July 2022. It grew from eight older areas. It is a large and busy place.

Central Papua is a province located in the middle of Western New Guinea.

It sits within the country of Indonesia. This province is surrounded by other Indonesian provinces. To the west is West Papua, and to the north and northeast is Papua. To the east lies Highland Papua, while South Papua is to the southeast. The land is also bordered by seas to both the north and the south.

It is a vast area covering about 61,079 square kilometers.

The land changes a lot depending on where you stand. In the north, the lowlands sit next to the Teluk Cenderawasih National Park. This area is great for marine tourism because of its coral reefs and white sandy islands. You might even see whale sharks in their natural home there.

The southern part of the province is mostly made of swampy terrain. This area includes the port of Amamapare and the large town of Timika.

In the center, the high Jayawijaya Mountains dominate the view. These mountains include Puncak Jaya, which is the highest peak in all of Indonesia.

This peak is famous because it is covered in snow.

History in this region involves many different groups of people. Long ago, the western part of Mimika was part of the Tidore Sultanate's influence. Three major ethnic groups, the Koiwai, Kamoro, and Asmat, lived here. They traded items like ironwares, clothes, and ornaments. In the interior, groups like the Mee and Moni lived traditionally. They grew tubers and raised pigs.

Early explorers found these communities during an expedition between 1909 and 1911. Later, a Dutch pilot named Frits Wissel flew over the highlands in the 1930s. He found three large lakes where the Mee people lived.

Many important discoveries happened in these mountains. In 1936, a group called the Carstensz expedition climbed Puncak Jaya.

A geologist named Jean Jacques Dozy found large copper deposits there. These findings were later used by the Freeport Sulfur Company in 1963. Led by Forbes Wilson, they confirmed the area had huge natural wealth.

This led to the opening of the Grasberg gold mine.

This mine is a very large and important part of the region. The province itself was officially formed on 25 July 2022. It was created from eight older regencies that used to be part of Papua province.

Today, Central Papua is a place of many busy towns and large numbers. By mid-2025, the population was estimated to be about 1,492,290 people.

The capital is located in the Wanggar District of Nabire Regency.

While Nabire is the capital, Timika is a much larger town. The province is divided into eight different regencies. These include Nabire, Mimika, Paniai, and Puncak Jaya, among others. People in the region continue to live near the mountains, the swamps, and the sea. It remains a place where the landscape and the people are deeply connected.

Central Papua is an Indonesian province located in the central region of Western New Guinea.

It was formally established on 25 July 2022. The new province was created from eight western regencies that previously belonged to the province of Papua. It covers a massive area of 61,079.59 square kilometers. By mid-2025, the population was estimated at 1,492,290 people. This population includes 793,480 males and 698,810 females. The number of residents grows by about 18,500 people every year.

The province is surrounded by several other Indonesian provinces. To the west lies West Papua. To the north and northeast is the province of Papua. Highland Papua borders the east side. South Papua is located to the southeast. The land is also bordered by seas to both the north and the south. The administrative capital sits in the Wanggar District of Nabire Regency. However, Timika in the Mimika Regency is a larger town. The traditional name for this region is Mee Pago – Saireri.

The geography of Central Papua changes significantly across its landscape. The northern lowlands are adjacent to the Teluk Cenderawasih National Park. This area offers great potential for marine tourism. Visitors can see coral reefs and white sandy islands there. You might even find whale sharks in their natural habitat.

In contrast, the southern part is mostly swampy terrain. This area contains the port of Amamapare and the large town of Timika. The central region is dominated by the Jayawijaya Mountains. These mountains include Puncak Jaya, which is the highest peak in Indonesia.

History in the region involves complex trade and cultural influences. Since the 18th century, the western Mimika region felt the influence of the Tidore Sultanate. This influence reached the south-west coast of Papua through the "Uli Siwa" system. Three major ethnic groups lived here: the Koiwai, Kamoro, and Asmat. They traded items like ironwares, clothes, and body ornaments. This trade brought Moluccan titles like raja, mayor, kapitan, and orang tua to the local people. It also introduced Islamic culture, such as the use of turbaned hats. These influences eventually faded due to Dutch colonialism and missionaries.

In the interior, the Mee and Moni ethnic groups lived traditionally. They cleared fields to cultivate tubers and raised pigs. They also engaged in fishing and feasting.

These groups used mege currency, which was made from shells, for trade with coastal tribes. Western explorers first discovered these communities during an expedition from 1909 to 1911. Later, a Dutch pilot named Frits Wissel flew over the highlands in the 1930s. He discovered three large lakes: Paniai, Tigi, and Tage. The Dutch called this area Wisselmeeren, but the name Paniai is now more common.

Mineral discoveries changed the economic importance of the mountains. In 1936, the Carstensz expedition reached Puncak Jaya.

During this trip, a geologist named Jean Jacques Dozy found large copper deposits. He named the site Ore Mountain, or "Ertsberg." In 1963, the Freeport Sulfur Company found his reports and sent an expedition. Led by Forbes Wilson, they confirmed the region's massive natural wealth.

This led to the opening of the Grasberg mine in Tembagapura. This mine contains gold and is a major part of the region's industry.

The formation of the province involved many political steps. Proposals to split Papua Province began during the era of Governor Busiri Suryowinoto. In 1999, Law Number 45 attempted to divide the province, but it was later withdrawn. In 2003, local leaders declared the formation of Central Papua, which caused local conflict. Eventually, the government decided to form the province officially in 2022. There was a debate about the capital city. Mimika and Puncak regencies wanted Timika, but six other regencies wanted Nabire.

Ultimately, Nabire was chosen as the capital because it is easily accessible by road.

Today, Central Papua is divided into eight distinct regencies. These include Nabire, Mimika, Paniai, and Puncak Jaya. Other regencies include Dogiyai, Deiyai, Intan Jaya, and Puncak. The province's development is tied to its diverse geography. From the deep sea to the snow-capped mountains, the land is very varied.

The region continues to balance its natural resources with its many cultural traditions.