Administratively, Asmat district is situated in the south area of Papua province. It consists of 7 sub-districts  and 130 villages and borders on Jayawijaya and Yahokimo districts in North, while it borders on Boven Digoel and Mappi districts in South and on Arafuru sea and Mimila district in East. Meanwhile, it borders on Mimika district in West.

Based on its land characteristics, Asmat district may be considered as very unique. Its territory represents soft land because there are many rivers in it. Consequently, there are always flooded areas all year long in addition to the existing tidal areas close to river’s estuaries and sea.

Considering the climatologic aspect, Asmat district has various climates, ranging from the areas with dry climate such as south costal areas to the areas with wet climate such as those in north areas of the district on the foothills of Jayawijaya Mountain. The majority (85%) of the district is covered by tropic forests, consisting of natural preservation and protection areas, preservation forests, production forests and conservation production forests.

Asmat people consider Arafuru Sea as the bridge to the areas outside Papua such as Australia and other Pacific areas. From the point of view of accessibility and economy the position of Asmat district is highly advantageous because it enables international trade that can support the economic development of the district.

The economy of Asmat district is driven by the trading through water transportation, including sea and river transportations. The main livelihood of the people of the district is related to the sea and the rivers in addition to the livelihood appertaining to forests such as timber and sago products. Such rich natural resources that can easily be accessed provide them with secure daily life. Nature provides them with abundant natural resources and hence they can lead an easier life than those living in the mountainous areas. However, they depend on the other areas such as Merauke and Timika for the supply of vegetables and fruits.

There are freighters that sail over Merauke-Asmat-Timika sea route. It is the freighters that supply Asmat people with basic requirements that can not be produced in the district.

Surrounded by Water

The characteristics of lowland areas are swampy and constantly flooded. It causes the difficulty in the construction of streets and hence many bridges are constructed in the district. It is such bridges that become communication and transportation means in the district and the majority of the people goes on foot.

All areas of the Agats city, the capital city of Asmat district, are connected using the bridges. The main road of the city is a 2 meter width bridge that stretches along the economic centers such as market, government center, health center, public facilities, house of worship and schools. Each of the existing houses is connected by simple bridges to other houses and to the main bridge as public road for the majority of the people who goes on foot. There is not any motorized vehicle, both two wheels and four wheels vehicles in the city. So, the city is completely free of air and sound pollution.

Such condition enables frequent interaction among the residents of the city because almost all of them will use the bridge, including the government officers. Consequently, they know each other very well and they address each other while they are going on foot.

The presence of outsiders will directly be recognized by almost all of the residents of the city. Asmat people are friendly to new people or guests. It is usual for them to greet their guests warmly while they are walking on the street.

Meanwhile, the residents of Agats city use water transportation to communicate with the areas outside the city.  They use canoes, traditional long boats, motorized traditional long boats, and speedboat for inter-village and inter-district transportation.

For daily life life requirements they gather sago and eaglewood in the surrounding forests and they use canoes. The canoes of Asmat tribesmen are very strong because they are made of iron wood and 7-8 meters long. They are painted with brownish red color with the combination of white and black colors ornament. The front end of the canoes is ornamented with beautiful Asmat carvings.  There is earthen fireplace or furnace in the middle of the canoes and when they use the canoes for long travel that lasts for days the furnace is used to cook sago or to roast fishes. It indicates a unique, clever and natural way to travel long distance.

The way how Asmat tribesmen row their canoe is very unique. They row the canoe in standing position with almost perfect balance that they are able to maintain their rowing position. Even, Asmat children can do it and it is very unique and interesting.

The Asmat district is connected by Merauke-Asmat-Timika-Kaimana-Doho sea route to other areas in addition to river transportation that connects its seven sub-districts using rented traditional canoes or motorized traditional canoes.

Only small ships can stop at the harbors in the sub-districts. Therefore, it is necessary to construct bigger harbors for bigger ships. Such bigger harbors are expected to be able to accelerate the development of the whole district.

Indeed, sea transportation network plays an important role in the development of the district, especially the development of the islands and the west costal areas of the district. The sea transportation may be classified into three, which are:

For air transportation, Ewer is a pioneering airport that connects Asmat district with Merauke and Mimika using Twin Otter aircrafts.

In addition to the water transportation, the air transportation also plays an important role in the district considering that it borders on Arafuru Sea and on mountainous area in North that insulates the district from the outside areas.

Asmat tribe is one of the tribes in Papua that is well-known in the world because of the cannibalism and beheading practice of its tribesmen and also the uniqueness and the beauty of the artistic works of its tribesmen, especially wood carvings.

Though there is similarity in the area of artistic carvings, there is also difference in the pattern and the model of the artistic carvings. It is also the case of the customs. For example, those who live in coastal area differ from those who live in forests in organizing traditional party. The wood used to create the artistic carvings is also different. Those who live in the coastal areas use the wood from mangrove forest to create their artistic works.

Their primary food is sago in addition to the catching results from rivers and sea such fish, shrimp, and crab that are abundantly found in the territorial waters of Amat district. They also like to eat sago worm or other rotten wood worms. However, recently they eat rice because of the influence of those coming from the outside areas.

Asmat tribesmen are well-known as religious people who pay a good attention to the balance between the present life, the myths and the help of their ancestors. They believe in three worlds. Cambinak or asmat-ow is the present world of Asmat tribesmen.  Capininniatau damer-ow is the world of spirits that becomes the source of their power. They believe that their ancestors live in a world called Safan or Ji-ow or using monotheistic concept it is referred to as heaven.

For Asmat tribesmen harmony and peace can only be maintained by keeping the three worlds in constant balance. They maintain such a balance between the three worlds by holding certain periodic rituals that are the part of the worship of their ancestors. Carving represents one of the rituals to worship their ancestors and is related to the balance of the three worlds.

Asmat tribesmen live in two areas, which are along river sides or in the costal areas and in the forests. They are different in terms of dialects, way of life, social structure and rituals. They are distributed at the villages in the region of 27,000 km² of width with the swampy land condition and flooded in wet season. In 1950s and 1960s missionary priests and foreign expeditions come to the region to pursue their respective missions among the primitive tribesmen.

The traditional house of Asmat tribesmen is called Jeu, which is almost 25 m of length. The Jeu can be found in the hinterland of the region. Even, one can find tree houses in the land of Asmat tribesmen.

There are at present many changes in Asmat people because of those coming from outside areas and introducing modern way of life. They are merchants and government officers who live in the capital city of the existing sub-districts. Asmat peole do not consider them as threat as used to be, but as partners in developing Asmat district.

Now, Asmat region becomes a new district that is separated from Merauke district. It is led by a regent named Yuvensius A. Baikai, the son of Asmat land who has been well-known by his people and gained their good acceptance in the direct local election. He symbolizes a new hope for his people.

The development programs that are based on the cultural aspects of the local people will surely be successful and the mission of the development programs will also surely be completed because of the active involvement of the local people and the results of the development programs will be evenly distributed to the people.