The residents of Bougainville, the easternmost island in Papua New Guinea, voted on 11 December 2019 to be separated from the South Pacific Island nation and are now in the process of negotiating to become an independent country.
Bougainville is an archipelago of volcanic islands and atolls roughly 1,400 km north of Australia, and hosts one of the world’s largest caves called Benua Cave, taking up a gigantic 4.5 million cubic metres.
According to CNN, an astounding 98% of residents voted in favor of the historic referendum in an effort to claim independence.
Before fully gaining independence, the government of Papua New Guinea has to consent to the separation and the two parties will have to agree to terms in order for Bougainville to become its own country. Though it might take some time, experts say this is likely to be successful.
It seems this Pacific island is not extremely eager to be reached, as there are no flights to Bougainville. Instead, visitors have to take a boat from the nearby Solomon Islands, or go through Papua New Guinea, then hire a local boat, since there are no commercialised ferries.
Those who are willing to undertake the long and arduous journey will be rewarded with dazzling natural beauty, stunning scenery and amazing culture.
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