Papau New Guinea (4,509 m) – Tallest Mountain in Oceania (alternate)
Mount Wilhelm is the highest peak in the nation of Papau New Guinea, which dominates the eastern half of the island of New Guinea. Puncak Jaya, which is higher, is located on the eastern half of the island, which is part of Indonesia. According to some, this technicality locates Puncak Jaya in Asia, making Mount Wilhelm the highest peak in Oceania. It was named Wilhelm in honor of the son of German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck.
Wilhelm was first explored by Europeans in 1888, although it had been discovered much earlier. It was not ascended until 1938. In 1944, the mountain made military headlines when an American bomber plane crash landed into the side of the mountain. Wreckacge from the crash can still be seen at around 4,000 meters.
Mount Wilhelm is a popular hiking and climbing destination. Its rocky peak peeps out above the tree-line, one of the few places in the country that rises above the dense jungle. There are several routes to the top, including a moderate path that’s hikeable almost to the peak. Wilhelm is somewhat difficult to reach due to the surrounding jungle, with the closest base being Kundiawa about ten miles to the south, more than 260 miles northwest of Port Moresby.
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