Sepik River

 The Sepik River’s majestic folds form the core of one of the largest and most intact freshwater basins in the Asia Pacific region. The soul of Papua New Guinea, the Sepik is often compared with the Amazon and the Nile, and it sustains an amazing variety of flora and fauna — much of it endemic — along with a wellspring of human cultural expression.Along with the stunning scenery, the area also has a rich history and was the site of Japanese surrender in September 1945.  The Sepik region was first colonised by Germans in 1885 and the area soon attracted mercenaries, explorers, traders, labour recruiters, and missionaries. Yet it is the timeless history of the Sepik people themselves which provide the mystery and exotic folklore of this fascinating area.

Sepik fishermen in their dugout canoes wave to visitors on the great white catamaran, the Melanesian Explorer, as it plies its way down the mighty Sepik river, taking passengers on an unforgettable journey. In particular, many of the region’s people are economically, culturally and spiritually tied to the crocodiles of the river.The Sepik River is the longest river on the island of New Guinea. The river originates in the Victor Emanuel Range in the central highlands of Papua New Guinea. For most of the Sepik’s length the river winds in serpentine fashion, like the Amazon River, to the Bismarck Sea. Unlike many other large rivers, the Sepik has no delta whatsoever, but flows straight into the sea. The river’s total length is 1,126 kilometers (700 miles). There are no settlements of great size along the Sepik River. The isolation of the river’s small tribal groups has given rise to one of the most original and extensive artistic traditions. 

It is one of the last remaining undisturbed environments in the world. While logging, mining and large-scale agriculture operations have been threatening forests, rivers and wetlands in many parts of the country, the Sepik region has remained essentially unspoiled, the river serving as a vital source of food, water, transportation and community identity. However, a copper and gold mine, projected to begin construction in 2012, threatens the pristine status of the Sepik. According to Andrew Moutu, Ph.D., a Sepik man and a lecturer at the University of Adelaide, Australia, “If the mine comes into operation, the people and villages of the Sepik River located below the Frieda River will be severely affected and we will lose everything that defines Sepik River societies.”The Sepik River is home to approximately 500,000 people who depend almost entirely on products from the rivers and forests for their livelihoods.Although development is limited, several factors tarnish this idyllic setting. Unsustainable industrial logging, invasive species and proposed mining developments are constantly threatening the integrity of the area.