Lake Murray
Western
Lake Murray, located in Western Province of Papua New Guinea, is the country's largest lake, covering approximately 647 square kilometers and expanding significantly during the wet season. Its shoreline, extending over 2000 kilometers, is highly convoluted, providing diverse habitats for wildlife and local communities. The lake supports indigenous tribes speaking Boazi and Zimakani languages, who have inhabited the region for centuries, living on sand ridges and islands above the swamps. Introduced peacock bass thrive in its waters, alongside native species like freshwater sawfish, which are part of local crocodile farming operations. The lake has historical importance, first recorded by European explorer Luigi d'Albertis in 1876, and later named after Lieutenant-Governor Sir Hubert Murray. Efforts to develop the area included crocodile harvesting and rubber trials in the 1960s, alongside cooperative marketing of local produce. Environmental challenges such as illegal logging have affected the surrounding ancient forests, prompting conservation initiatives including a Greenpeace Global Forest Rescue Station that collaborated with local tribes to promote sustainable eco-forestry practices.
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Tip: Visitors should consider the dry season for easier access and safer travel conditions around Lake Murray. Engaging with local communities respectfully enhances the cultural experience. Pre-arranging guided tours or local contacts is advisable due to the remote location. Awareness of conservation efforts and avoiding areas impacted by past illegal logging supports sustainable tourism. No specific ticketing is required, but supporting community cooperatives and eco-forestry projects is encouraged.
Interesting facts
- •Lake Murray expands up to five times its dry season size during the wet season.
- •The lake has a shoreline over 2000 kilometers long, despite its area of around 647 square kilometers.
- •Introduced peacock bass have established a large population in the lake.
- •Freshwater sawfish are caught in the lake to feed crocodiles in local farming operations.
- •Greenpeace operated a Global Forest Rescue Station here to support sustainable forestry with local tribes.
History
The Lake Murray region has been inhabited by Boazi- and Zimakani-speaking peoples for centuries, living in villages on sand ridges and islands.
European contact began in 1876 with Luigi d'Albertis's expedition.
The lake was named in 1913 after Lieutenant-Governor Sir Hubert Murray.
The mid-20th century saw the establishment of missions and government patrols, followed by development programs in the 1960s focusing on crocodile harvesting and agriculture.
In recent decades, conservation efforts arose in response to illegal logging that degraded surrounding forests, leading to community-based eco-forestry projects.