Middle Fly District Explained

Middle Fly District
Pushpin Map:Papua New Guinea
Coordinates:-7.02°N 142.21°W
Pushpin Label Position:right
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within Papua New Guinea
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Papua New Guinea
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:Western Province
Parts Type:LLGs
Parts Style:list
P1:Balimo U
P2:Bamu R
P3:Gogodala R
P4:Lake Murray R
P5:Nomad R
Seat Type:Capital
Seat:Balimo
Area Total Km2:44479
Population Total:79349
Population As Of:2011 census
Population Density Km2:auto
Demographics1 Title1:Main languages
Timezone1:AEST
Utc Offset1:+10

The Middle Fly District of the Western Province of Papua New Guinea is a large, coastal district that forms the central area of the Fly River basin. It contains the Local-Level Government areas of: Balimo Urban, Bamu Rural, Gogodaia Rural, Lake Murray Rural, and Nomad Rural,[1] and the population centres of Balimo, Bamu, Gogodala and Nomad. It also contains the largest lake in the country, Lake Murray.

Demographics

The population of the district in the 2011 census was 79,349.[1] The most Populous LLG in the area at that time was Gogodala, with almost 25,000 people,[1] making Gogodala the most populous LLG in the province.[1]

Politics

The political seat of the district is Balimo. Balimo is situated slightly north of the Fly River, and is an inland settlement of about 4000 people.

Climate

The district is situated on a plain. The plain is a very humid environment, and has a stable tropical temperature of 27 to 32 degrees Celsius. Humid conditions and wetlands are responsible for a major malaria concern.

Geography

The district covers the central area of the Western Province. It shares a Provincial border with Southern Highlands Province and Gulf Province in the east. It shares an international boundary with the Papua province of Indonesia in the west and borders South Fly District in the south, and the North Fly District in the north.

Economy

The Middle Fly District is one of the most underdeveloped economies in the world. The major mining economy of the North Fly has not benefited the residents of the Middle Fly District until recently with the establishment of the PNG Sustainable Development Program which now owns the BHP share of the Ok Tedi Mine. Residents of this district have previously been involved in litigation against BHP for its environmental impact on their subsistence lifestyle.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Population by Statistical LLG Areas (Western Province). Papua New Guinea Business and Tourism. 2002.