Papua New Guinea

One country - 800 languages

Nation: Papua New Guinea National Day:

Papua New Guinea is the largest island state in the South Pacific. It encompasses about 600 islands, which are inhabited by more than four million people. More than 700 different languages and dialects are spoken on the archipelago, which is located only about 150 km north of Australia.

Researchers assume that first settlers came to New Guinea 3,000 years ago. In the 15th century, Papua New Guinea was discovered by Europeans. But it became really known as late as 1870 because merchants looking for pearls, sandalwood and copra, the flesh of coconuts, landed there and found what they were in search of.

Back then the island state also received its name. Dutch explorers called it "New Guinea" because it reminded them of Guinea in Africa. The country, which has been independent from Great Britain since 1975 presents itself on a small island in the framework of the joint presentation of the Pacific island states.