Mt. Giluwe is the second highest mountain in Papua New Guinea with 4368 meters (14,331 ft), Mt. Wilhelm being the highest. It is located in the Southern Highlands Province and is an old shield volcano with vast alpine grasslands. Ancient volcanic plugs form its two summits with the central peak the highest and a east peak about 2 kilometes (1.2 miles) at 4300 meters (14, 108ft). Giluwe has the distinction of being the highest volcano on the Australian continent and is thus one of the Volcanic Seven Summits.

History

Australian explorers Mike Leahy, and his brother Dan, were the first Westerners to reach the area and to discover and climb Mt. Giluwe. However, another explorer Jack Hides also laid claim to be the first to discover Mt. Giluwe after viewing the peaks from the west in 1935. Hides aptly named them the Minaret Mountains. However, the name did not stay after Leahy went to London in 1935 and set up a hearing into the two opposing claims at the Royal Geographical Society.

Dr. Taiye Pendene