The former Bougainville Copper/Gold Mine commenced operations in the 1970's and was closed due to landowners disruption in 1989. This led to a bloody civil war between the Papua New Guinea Defense forces at a cost of more than 5,000 lives. Although the mine has been closed to the outside world, limited access has been allowed through the boom gate at Morgan junction “No Go Zone”.
The industrial noise from ball mills shovels and haul trucks have been replaced by the chirping from the abundant birdlife, wildlife and gushing water falls and creeks. Beautiful wild orchids can be seen carpeting the surface structure of the abandoned mine.
