Mount Hagen

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 into 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' or 'Mogai Aerodrome', was located on a site where the future town was formed. The first flight arrived here on 1 April 1934, piloted by Bob Gurney, with the first airmail leaving the next day. 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 has a subtropical highland climate (Köppen climate classification: Cfb).

Each year, Mount Hagen hosts the Mount Hagen Cultural Show, one of the largest cultural events in Papua New Guinea. Various regional, provincial, even national tribal dance groups gather to celebrate their cultural heritage in the form of sing-sing. It is also one of the biggest tourist attractions of the country. Its near the Baiyer District which hosts the biggest collection of birds and wildlife in Papua New Guinea, the Baiyer River Sanctuary. The Baiyer River Sanctuary was a popular tourist attraction in the 1970's up until the mid 1990's as mismanagement of the once popular tourist attraction led to the closure of this zoo. There are four electorates in Western Highlands Province. 1. Mul Baiyer Lumusa 2. Dei Council 3. Hagen Central 4. Tambul Nebliyer. The total population of Western Highlands now stands at around 950,000. …