Website of Dr. Galen Royer Frysinger
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People of the Pacific Ocean
the Asmat, Irian Jaya, Papua.
Indonesia
The Asmat are an ethnic group of New Guinea,
residing in the Papua province of Indonesia. The
Asmat inhabit a region on the island's
southwestern coast bordering the Arafura Sea,
with lands totaling approximately 18,000 km²
(7,336 mi²) and consisting of mangrove, tidal
swamp, freshwater swamp, and lowland
rainforest.
The land of Asmat is located both within and
adjacent to Lorentz National Park and World
Heritage Site, the largest protected area in the
Asia-Pacific region. The total Asmat population
is estimated to be around 70,000 as of 2004. The
term "Asmat" is used to refer both to the people
and the region they inhabit.