Central Papua is a rugged, mineral-rich province home to the world's highest island peak.

Countries & Cities · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Established in 2022, Central Papua is a newly formed Indonesian province on the western half of New Guinea. It spans from the Sudirman Mountains to the coast, housing both immense biodiversity and one of the world's most significant concentrations of copper, hidden within its high-altitude, glaciated terrain.

Central Papua was created as part of a 2022 administrative division of the original Papua province. Its geography is defined by extreme verticality, encompassing the Sudirman Mountains. This range includes Jaya Peak, which reaches 16,024 feet (4,884 meters) and stands as the highest island peak globally, as well as the highest point in Indonesia. The summits of this chain remain glaciated, while the landscape below features fertile highland basins situated above 4,900 feet (1,490 meters).

The province's economic significance is tied to its mineral wealth. A major concentration of copper is located at Tembagapura, situated approximately 25 miles (40 km) southwest of Mount Jaya. Beyond its industrial potential, the region is ecologically diverse. The southern sections of the broader island—which Central Papua shares—are characterized by the Fly-Digul shelf, a swampy plain fed by numerous rivers. These areas, along with the bordering highlands, represent some of the wettest and least-inhabited environments on Earth.

Culturally, the interior of the island is occupied by speakers of Papuan languages, who are considered the original settlers. Traditional societal structures in these regions often revolve around leadership by local big men and a system of reciprocal gift-giving. While the highlands have been shaped by intensive agriculture—including the cultivation of sweet potatoes and pig husbandry—the coastal regions and river basins feature different subsistence patterns, such as sago harvesting and fishing. This complex ethnic landscape remains a vital part of the region's history, which dates back to human occupation as early as 50,000 years ago.

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