Ignorance drives people to make hasty judgments. So, in order to shed some light on West Papua and its beauty, we must read quite a bit or, if necessary, travel there and see for ourselves how precious the land of Papua is. Like the misconceptions we frequently associate with Africans, Papua is perceived by some as an impoverished area inhabited only by primitive people and dominated by virgin forests.
Is this valid? Such an opinion is not wholly incorrect, but it has to be addressed and remedied. Consequently, for those of you who are Indonesians or foreigners, keep reading to discover the seven reasons you should fall in love with this wonder.
1. It is Super Rich
We can learn a lot from Papua, particularly from West Papua. For example, in terms of culture, traditions, natural assets, and tourist destinations that Papuans and Indonesians should know about.
Minerals are an example. In this region, there is a mining site known as Freeport, which has the potential to generate up to 2.5 billion tons of gold and copper.
Aside from gold, you can also locate uranium and thorium, which are peculiar minerals with high economic worth. Both are the primary sources of energy for nuclear power, which has recently been a concern for many nations as an alternative to fossil fuels.
Further, there are diverse kinds of vegetation dotted around this land. This biodiversity is undoubtedly supported by the fact that the majority of this area is still covered by pristine and majestic forests.
2. The Diversity is Insane
Again, as laypeople, we should not pass judgment too quickly. Perhaps some of us believe that this location is merely a suburb of Indonesia that is unimportant to speak about. Hang on a minute; you need to hear this one fact: Papua has more than 200 local languages, which help to boost Indonesia’s vibrant community.
Yes, you read it right. The region, which is nestled on the world’s second-largest landmass, features a number of indigenous languages. This came about as a response to the effects of the government’s prior transmigration initiative.
3. The People are Super Sweet
As the old adage goes, “don’t judge a book by its cover.” This aphorism applies to the Papuan people in general. True, they can appear menacing and hostile in their outward statue.
But in fact, Papuans are extremely nice and sweet. This is supported by the fact that many are religious people from diverse local traditions—such reasons to fall in love with this land.
4. The Deepest Cave
Did you know that Papeda’s origin is home to the world’s deepest cave, which has been identified as being 2000 meters deep? This cave may be found in the Lina Mountains, Irameba Village, Anggi District, Manokwari Regency.
5. The Largest Island
Another feature that distinguishes West Papua is its location on the second largest island, behind Greenland, which spans 786,000 km2. So, you can imagine how vast and diverse this place is.
6. The Highest Place
West Papua not only has the deepest zone, but it also has the topmost part, which is currently one of the tallest sections on earth. The peak of Jaya Wijaya, commonly known as Mount Carstensz Pyramid, rises to 4884 mdpl. So, this is the only snow-covered location in Indonesia.
7. The Unique Food Staple
Unlike most Indonesians, who cannot live without rice, Papuans’ basic meals are sago and sweet potato. They have their own originality, which defines and separates them.That concludes the seven reasons you should fall in love with West Papua. There is so much beauty and one-of-a-kind to be found. Plus, based on what we can tell, it is one of Indonesia’s golden children, an ace that must be cherished and preserved. Even with its gorgeous vista, some say it’s a hundred times better than Bali. What do you think?
