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Mount Hagen
	Mount Hagen; Western Highlands,; Papua New Guinea
	Location of Mount Hagen in Papua New Guinea
Population:; (as of 2000)	27,782 (4th)
Main languages:	Tok Pisin, English, Melpa
Language area:	Melpa
Established:	1934
Elevation:	1,677 m (5,502 ft)
Coordinates:	5°52′S 144°13′E / 5.867°S 144.217°ECoordinates: 5°52′S 144°13′E / 5.867°S 144.217°E
	; NASA Landsat image of Mount Hagen city, with a perspective looking almost due east towards the Mount Hagen Airport

This article is about the city. For the volcano which the city named is after, see Mount Hagen (volcano).

Mount Hagen is third largest city in Papua New Guinea. It is the capital of the Western Highlands Province and is located in the large fertile Wahgi Valley in central mainland Papua New Guinea, at an elevation of 1,677 m (5,502 ft).

The Highlands Highway is the main arterial route to connect Mount Hagen with the coastal cities of Lae and Madang. The city is named after the old eroded volcano Mount Hagen, located about 24 kilometres (15 mi) to the northwest.

[edit] History

The plane, 'Canberra', before the 1933 expedition to 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 in to contact with the tribes that are now on 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', was located on a site where the future town was formed.

[edit] Culture

Mt Hagen Cultural Show, one of the largest annual cultural events in Papua New Guinea

Each year, Mount Hagen hosts 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 attraction of the country.

[edit] Transport

Mount Hagen Airport is located at Kagamuga, a satellite town 15 minutes drive from the centre of Mount Hagen. It is an international airport although flights into and out of it are not always available to the public. The airport lies almost 5400 feet above sea level. Currently, Airlines PNG operates a charter service using Dash 8 aircraft from Cairns, Queensland to Mount Hagen for mine workers at the Porgera Gold Mine in Enga Province. Asia Pacific Airlines also fly Dash 8s regularly to Tabubil, their hub, to service the Ok Tedi Mine. Air Niugini also service Mount Hagen, with regular Fokker F100 and Dash 8 services to destinations such as Port Moresby, Moro and Cairns. Near the airport is Airport Hotel.

From time to time, the combination of altitude, midday temperatures and runway length restrict takeoff weights for domestic flights out of Mount Hagen.

Mount Hagen is connected via the Highlands Highway to the city of Lae and other provincial capitals such as Madang, Goroka, Wabag, Mendi and Kundiawa. The road between Mount Hagen and all these centres is sealed, although frequent landslides and general deterioration can lead to parts of the road becoming unsealed or rough.

You can travel from Mt Hagen along the Highlands Highway by using the popular PMV buses or hire a car from the numerous hire car [1]companies within Mt Hagen. Because of the difficult road conditions of the Highlands Highway, it is advisable to use four-wheel drive cars.