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Summary and Frequenly Asked Questions:
- Papua New Guinea (PNG) occupies the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and the offshore islands.
- It gained its sovereignty from Australia in 1975 and is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.
- Possibly because of the dense, mountainous jungle interior, PNG is one of the least urbanized and least explored countries in the world.
- It is believed that there are communities that have not made contact with other humans and undiscovered plant and animal species.
- The islands are surrounded by coral reefs, and there is often snowfall on the high ground.
- The country is on the Pacific Ring of Fire and is subject to earthquakes and tsunamis.
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