New Guinea is the world’s second-largest island and is shared by Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
The island lies north of Australia and is divided politically along a roughly north–south boundary. Indonesia administers the western half, while the independent country of Papua New Guinea occupies the eastern half.
New Guinea has exceptionally varied environments, including lowland rainforests, coral reefs, and high mountain ranges. Puncak Jaya, also called Carstensz Pyramid, is its highest point at 4,884 metres.
A common mix-up is to call Papua New Guinea the whole island. Papua New Guinea is the country on the eastern half; New Guinea is the geographical island. The Indonesian half includes the provinces of Papua and West Papua.