North Fly District

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North Fly District, Western Province, Papua New Guinea

The North Fly District is the northernmost, smallest and most remote district in Western Province. It borders Sandaun Province to the north, Southern Highlands to the east, Indonesia (Papua province) to the west, and Middle Fly District to the south.

Area and climate
- Area: about 21,800 square kilometres (8,435 square miles)
- The district is mostly a plain with very high rainfall. Average yearly rainfall is about 8 metres (310 inches), and the highlands can get even more.
- Climate varies from hot, humid plains (27–32°C) to cooler highlands (19–27°C).

People and places
- Population: 62,850 (2011 census)
- Local-level governments (LLGs): Kiunga Rural, Kiunga Urban, Ningerum Rural, Olsobip Rural, Star Mountains Rural
- Towns: Kiunga, Tabubil, Olsobip, Ningerum
- Kiunga is the administrative center. Tabubil is a large town in the Star Mountains area.

Government and services
- The district has 105 police officers, mostly in Kiunga and Tabubil. Courts are in the main towns.
- A jail was recently reopened in Ningerum.

Geography and rivers
- The area includes all or parts of the Fly River system. The Fly River and Ok Tedi River start here, and the Strickland River also flows through the district.
- The southern plain is very low and humid, while the Star Mountains begin near Tabubil in the south.

Economy and transport
- The Ok Tedi Mine is the district’s dominant economic activity, based in Tabubil. It makes up a large share of Western Province’s economy and a significant portion of Papua New Guinea’s export earnings.
- A rubber industry is present around Kiunga.
- Kiunga hosts the province’s main port, handling imports and exports (copper from Ok Tedi, rubber, lumber).
- The Kiunga–Tabubil Highway is the main transport link, built and maintained by Ok Tedi Mining Limited.