RAMU RIVER

formerly Ottilien, one of the longest rivers in Papua New Guinea, rising in the southeast on the Kratke Range and flowing northwest through the great Central Depression, where it receives numerous streams draining the Bismarck (south) and Finisterre and Adelbert (north) ranges. For the last 60 miles (100 km) of its approximately 400-mile- (640-kilometre-) long course, it flows directly north. This swampy portion receives the river's principal tributary, the Sogeram River. The Ramu, entering the Bismarck Sea just 20 miles (32 km) southeast of the mouth of the Sepik, experiences flooding, and changes of the channel are not infrequent. Dumpu, Bundi, and Atemble are the chief settlements along the generally unnavigable river. The upper Ramu River project supplies hydroelectricity to the highlands. The project includes a reservoir and a power-generating station that is located 700 feet (210 m) below ground near Kainantu.