Puncak Jaya, Mountain summit in Papua Province, Indonesia.
Puncak Jaya is a limestone summit in the Indonesian province of Papua, rising to 4884 meters. The mountain forms the highest point between the Himalayas and the Andes, surrounded by tropical vegetation.
Dutch explorer Jan Carstenszoon first reported glaciers on the summit in 1623. His observations went unconfirmed for over two centuries until later expeditions reached the area.
The summit carries the name Nemangkawi Ninggok, which in the Amungme language means Peak of the White Arrow. This name refers to the glaciers still visible today, giving the mountain its white appearance above the surrounding jungle.
Climbers need an official permit from the authorities and experienced mountain guides for the technical sections. Equipment must meet the demands of high-altitude rock climbing, as several steep sections require ropes and protection.
The limestone massif formed during the late Miocene when the Australian and Pacific tectonic plates collided. This process lifted the seabed upward, shaping over millions of years the current geological structure with its characteristic rock formations.
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