Mount Hagen

Mount Hagen is the third largest city in Papua New Guinea, with a population of 46,250. It is the capital of the Western Highlands Province and is located in the large fertile Wahgi Valley in central mainland Papua New Guinea, at an elevation of 1,677 m (5,502 ft).

The Highlands Highway is the main arterial route to connect Mount Hagen with the coastal cities of Lae and Madang.

The city is named after the old eroded volcano Mount Hagen, located about 24 kilometres (15 mi) to the north-west. The volcano was named after the German colonial officer de:Curt von Hagen (1859-1897).

History

In 1933 Mick Leahy, brother Dan Leahy, and government officer Jim Taylor conducted an aerial reconnaissance of the highlands and discovered the huge and heavily populated Wahgi Valley. A short time later they walked in with a well supplied patrol and became the first westerners to come in to contact with the tribes that are now in the location of Mount Hagen. The first patrol built an airstrip at Kelua, a short distance from modern Mount Hagen. From 1934, a new airstrip, the 'Mogei drome', was located on a site where the future town was formed. Later, this airstrip was to become the main street passing by China town and the airstrip (current) was moved 15 minutes out of town.

Mount Hagen (volcano)

Mount Hagen (German: Hagensberg), named after the German colonial officer Curt von Hagen (1859-1897), is the second highest volcano in Papua New Guinea and on the Australian continent, ranking behind only its neighbour Mount Giluwe which is roughly 35 kilometres (22 mi) to the south-west. It is located on the border between the Western Highlands and Enga Provinces, about 24 kilometres (15 mi) north-west of the city of Mount Hagen which is named after it.

Mount Hagen is an old stratovolcano which has been heavily eroded during several Pleistocene glaciations. The maximum extent of the glaciers on Hagen was less than half that on the much higher Mount Giluwe, covering an area of up to 50 km² (20 mi²) and extending down below 3,400 m (11,000 ft).

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