Eastern Highlands, Papua New Guinea
| Eastern Highlands | ||
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 Eastern Highlands Province in Papua New Guinea |
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| Coordinates: 6°30′S 145°40′E / 6.500°S 145.667°E | ||
| Country | Papua New Guinea | |
| Formation | 1966 | |
| Capital | Goroka | |
| Districts | ||
| Government | ||
| • Governor | Julie Soso 2012– | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 11,157 km2 (4,308 sq mi) | |
| Population (2011 census) | ||
| • Total | 579,825 | |
| • Density | 52/km2 (130/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10) | |
Eastern Highlands is a highlands province of Papua New Guinea. The provincial capital is Goroka. The province covers an area of 11,157 km², and has a population of 579,825 (2011 census). The province shares a common administrative boundary with Madang, Morobe and Gulf and Simbu Provinces. The province is the home of the Asaro mud mask that is displayed at shows and festivals within the province and in the country. It is reachable by air and road transport.
Eastern Highlands Province is made up of rugged mountain terrain and broad valleys. It has low coastal areas in the Markham and Ramu valleys. The Province's two highest peaks, Mt Tabletop and Mt Michael are located on Kratke and Bismarck Range respectively. They rise at a height of more than 3,000 metres above sea level. Specifically, Mt Michael is situated 3750 metres above sea level while Mt Tabletop is at 3,686 metres.
Asaro and Lamari rivers both flow into the Puraari which is one of PNG's five major river systems. The Yonki Hydro-Power Station is fed by the Ramu river.
The Province is entered through the Kassam Pass and exited to other Highlands provinces at Daulo Pass. Kassam Pass offers a picturesque view of the Markham and Ramu valleys while Daulo Pass reveals a breathtaking view of Goroka's lush, green valleys.
Each province in Papua New Guinea has one or more districts, and each district has one or more Local Level Government (LLG) areas. For census purposes, the LLG areas are subdivided into wards and those into census units.
Monthly rainfall follows a seasonal pattern with a wet season from December to early April having mean monthly rainfalls of about 203 mm to 305 mm. A dry season follows, with monthly falls in the general range of 51 mm to 102 mm. The months of April–May and October–November tend to be transitional.
Temperature ranges are more equal. At Goroka the maximum temperature for whole year is 26 °C.
At Goroka, mean humidity varies from 87% at 09:00 hours to 57% at 15:00 hours. Associated with this typical cycling of cloud movement found in the Highlands in the early morning valley slopes and bottom are submerged in fog with high hills and ranges protruding into clear sunlight. As the day progresses the fog lifts from the valleys and clouds begin to form on the ranges frequently with associated local convectional storms. Towards the evening the cloud extends from the ranges to the valleys and with cooling sinks to valley bottoms. This cycle of afternoon cloud and storm on the ranges and morning fog in the valley bottoms, where airstrips are located, makes the maintenance of flight schedules difficult.
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