The Sepik region is an immense grassland reserve, surrounded by one of the world's greatest rivers which runs 1,126kms from its origins in the mountains to the sea. The people along the river depend heavily on it for transportation, water and food. Their cultural links with the Sepik river are symbolised in many of their ancient and spiritual rituals, such as the manhood initiation. This requires painful carving of flesh on the backs of young men with razor blades.
Patterns are that of a crocodile lying on the banks of the river.
The history of the Sepik region reflects the influence over the years of the missionaries, traders, labour recruiters and administrators. Here river and crocodiles, man and nature have learned to live in mutual respect. The Sepik river has no actual river delta and stains the sea brown for up to 50 kilometres. It is said islanders off the coast can draw fresh water straight from the sea. The Sepik is navigable for almost its entire length and winds down through the land resembling a huge, brown, coiling serpent.