[1] The range is named after the German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck.

The highest point of the range and the country is Mount Wilhelm at 4,509 metres (14,793 ft).

At over 3,400 metres (11,155 ft), the landscape is alpine with tundra, in spite of the tropical climate.

The Bismarck Forest Corridor, which bridges the provinces of Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, Jiwaka, and Madang, is located on the Bismarck Range.

The forest is a critical habitat for endangered species such as the Goodfellow's tree-kangaroo, giant rats, and many species of birds of paradise.