town on the island of New Guinea, north-central Papua New Guinea, southwestern Pacific Ocean. Situated on the Lai River at an elevation of 6,000 feet (1,830 m), it was first visited by Europeans in 1934. A radio camp and airstrip were set up at Wabag in 1938–39. Wabag developed slowly as a trading centre owing to restrictions on transportation and the relative infertility of the surrounding land. Coffee is grown in the region, which has a dense rural population. The regional cultural centre is located at Wabag, and the town lies on the Highlands Highway, connecting it with Mount Hagen. Pop. (2000) 4,072.