MENDI

town, central Papua New Guinea. It lies at an elevation of 5,495 feet (1,675 m) in the Mendi River valley on a gentle volcanic slope with mountains to the west and east. The heavily populated area surrounding Mendi remains little-developed. Besides vegetable gardens, a tea plantation is located near Mendi, some coffee is grown nearby, and the town has a sawmill. Most transportation is by air, although a road links Mendi with the town of Mount Hagen and with a highway to the northeast. Pop. (1980) 4,130.