Papua New Guinea · PG

Lake Kutubu

Lake Kutubu is Papua New Guinea's second-largest lake and the largest body of water in the country's highlands, perched at 800 meters above sea level in the remote Southern Highlands Province. At roughly 19 kilometers long and 4.5 kilometers wide, this volcanic-origin mountain lake holds crystal-clear waters with extraordinary biodiversity—more than ten species of fish are found nowhere else on Earth. Designated a Ramsar Wetland of International Significance since 1998, Lake Kutubu is one of the world's most unique freshwater ecosystems. The surrounding communities maintain living traditions of sago cultivation, Bird of Paradise conservation, and the annual Kutubu Kundu & Digaso Festival, which draws visitors into a landscape of pristine rainforest, clear-water reefs, and ancient culture.