Papua has an interesting history. The early explorer, Jan Carstenz sailed past the southern coast of New Guinea in 1623, he caught glimpses of snowy-caped peaks near the equator, his reports were not believed by everyone. The island at that time was named by the Spanish as Nueva Guinea. By 1824, Holland had occupy to the western half of the island, naming it Nertherlands New Guinea as part of their colony of the Dutch East Indies, the famous Spice Islands. During World War II, the Japanese took control much of the northern coast of Netherlands New Guinea. They were driven out by General MacArthur’s New Guinea campaign.
After World War II, when the country of Indonesia was already independent (formed in August 15, 1945) Netherlands New Guinea remained under the Dutch. It had a short period under UN control in 1962, then connect as a province of Indonesia in 1963, and renamed West Irian. In 1973, its name was changed again to Irian Jaya. In 2002, the province achieved a special right status and was allowed to change its name to Papua. Since that day, the government tried to split the province into smaller parts. One part of the island actually split in 2003, when the western peninsula became its own province named West Irian Jaya. In 2007, that smaller province changed its name to West Papua.
After World War II, when the country of Indonesia was already independent (formed in August 15, 1945) Netherlands New Guinea remained under the Dutch. It had a short period under UN control in 1962, then connect as a province of Indonesia in 1963, and renamed West Irian. In 1973, its name was changed again to Irian Jaya. In 2002, the province achieved a special right status and was allowed to change its name to Papua. Since that day, the government tried to split the province into smaller parts. One part of the island actually split in 2003, when the western peninsula became its own province named West Irian Jaya. In 2007, that smaller province changed its name to West Papua.
With such different varities of history, it can be confusing what name is used to describe this region of the world. Many people remember the name Irian Jaya which was in use for many years in the past. Although now split into two provinces, most people use the name “Papua” to refer to all the western Indonesian half of the island. |
The centre of Papua is influenced by a large jungle-covered mountain chain, around 600km long by 100 km across, which has some of the most uneven land on earth. The highest peak in the chain is Puncak Jaya, 4884m high, which will forever be covered in snow and even has a small glacier, despite being only 2 degrees as one of the world’s Seven Summits. About half of the land in the province is hilly. |