Sepik, Major river system in East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea.
The Sepik is a major river system in the Momase Region that flows over 1,100 kilometers from the Victor Emanuel Range through Papua New Guinea and part of Indonesia before emptying into the Bismarck Sea. The waterway passes through diverse terrain and connects numerous remote settlements along its banks.
German colonizers named the river Kaiserin Augusta in 1885 as they took control of the region, and this name remained until Papua New Guinea's independence. Local peoples had long called the waterway by its original name, which was later restored.
River communities are home to groups like the Arapesh, Iatmul, and Biwat people who continue making carved sculptures, masks, and decorated buildings that reflect their way of life. These crafts show how the river shapes local identity and artistic expression.
Vessels with a 4-meter draft can navigate upstream for about 480 kilometers, limiting access for larger boats beyond this point. Smaller local boats serve as the main transport for people and goods between villages.
The river carries so much sediment that the discoloration of its water remains visible up to 32 kilometers out into the Bismarck Sea. This visible trace shows the enormous volume of material flowing from the mountain sources into the ocean each year.
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