Tectonic answer · 2026-08-11

Starting country: Papua New Guinea

Orange: seed · blue: neighbors · dots identify small countries

Neighboring countries

• Australia
• Indonesia
• Palau
• Solomon Islands

Three reviewed facts

1. Papua New Guinea occupies eastern New Guinea; the western half belongs to Indonesia

   Source: CIA World Factbook — Papua New Guinea (pinned third-party preservation)

2. Papua New Guinea lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, home to most of the world's volcanoes

   Source: CIA World Factbook — Papua New Guinea (pinned third-party preservation)

3. Papua New Guinea gained independence from Australia on 16 September 1975

   Source: CIA World Factbook — Papua New Guinea (pinned third-party preservation)