The flatter coastal regions of Irian Jaya, however, were visited as early as the 7th century by traders from Sriwijaya, European traders began arriving in the early 16th century, looking or spices and have left historical footprints in the area with names such as Bougainville, Cape d'Urville and the Torres Strait, named after Luis Baez de Torres, a Spanish navigaror from the early 17th. It was the Dutch who made the most lasting impact on the island, who in 1828, formally made Irian a Dutch Territory which was not released until 1962.

The Provincial capital of Jayapura capital of Jayapura is built on hills which slope down to the sea and is accessible by boat and place. It was here that General MacArthur assembled his fleet for the invasion of the Philippines during the Second World War. Regular flights to other major parts of the archipelago are available with Garuda and Merpati Nusantara Airlanes.