Country Indonesia Website www.natunakab.go.id Province Riau Islands Islands Natuna Besar | Time zone WIB (UTC+7) Area 2,009 km² Capital Ranai Kota | |
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Points of interest Masjid Agung Natuna, Alif Stone Park, Batu Sindu | ||
Indonesia looks to boost defenses around natuna islands in south china sea
The Natuna Islands archipelago (272 islands) is located in the South China Sea in the larger Tudjuh Archipelago, off the northwest coast of Borneo. Administratively, the islands (including the nearby Bunguran Islands) constitute a regency within the Riau Islands Province of Indonesia and are the northernmost non-disputed island group of Indonesia. The Natuna Islands themselves are divided into three groups: North Natuna, which includes Laut Island (Pulau Laut); Middle Natuna, which includes Bunguran (or Natuna Besar); and South Natuna, which includes the Subi Islands and Serasan.
Contents
- Indonesia looks to boost defenses around natuna islands in south china sea
- Map of Pulau pulau Natuna Besar Seleman Bunguran Timur Laut Natuna Regency Riau Islands Indonesia
- Administration
- Demographics
- Economy
- Geography
- Natural resources
- Ecology
- References
Map of Pulau-pulau Natuna Besar, Seleman, Bunguran Timur Laut, Natuna Regency, Riau Islands, Indonesia
Administration
The Regency is divided into twelve districts (kecamatan) – tabulated below with their 2010 Census population:
Indonesia's exclusive economic zone off the coast of Natuna slightly overlaps with the large part of the South China Sea controversially claimed by China within its nine-dash line. In 2014–2015, the presence of the Indonesian army on the islands is being reinforced, which the Indonesian government hopes will reduce the chance of any conflict.
Demographics
According to statistics released in 2010, the population of the islands stood at 69,003 people. 85.27% of the inhabitants are Malays, with the remainder consisting of Javanese, other Sumatrans and Chinese. By January 2014, the population was estimated officially to be 83,498.
Despite being politically part of Indonesia, the majority of the inhabitants trace their ancestry to the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The prevailing language is a distinct variety of Malay which has strong similarities with Terengganu Malay and Sarawak Malay. Malaysia has no claims to the Natunas and acknowledges the islands as Indonesian territory.
Islam is the prevalent religion of the islands.
Economy
Despite important natural gas reserves, most of the locals work as fishermen or farmers. There is no significant tourism industry. Farming is not on an industrial scale, just small holdings. The other main source of income is gained by people working for the government.
Geography
The Natuna Islands are a 272-island archipelago of Indonesia, located in the Natuna Sea between Peninsular Malaysia to the west and Borneo to the east. They extend in a NNW direction for 300 km from Tanjung Api, the northwest extremity of Kalimantan/Borneo. The Natuna Sea itself is a section of the South China Sea.
The North Group consists of a large island (Pulau Laut), two small islands and several adjacent islets and reefs which lie about 50 kms NNW of Natuna Besar Island. Pulau Laut is about 11 km long with a greatest width of 5 km towards the south; it is generally hilly, rising to 273 metres near its north end.
The Middle Group consists of Natuna Besar Island, which contains the bulk of the area and population of the archipelago, together with small offshore islets and reefs; the Bodas Islands (Kepulauan Bodas) are a group of moderately high wooded islands lying close to the southwest coast of Natuna Besar.
The Southern Group (Kepulauan Natuna Selatan) consists primarily of two groups of islands separated from the coast of Kalimantan by the Api Passage. The Subi Islands (Kepulauan Subi) of which the main islands are Subi Besar, Subi Kecil, Bakau, Panjang and Seraya, lie southeast of Natuna Besar. Serasan Island (Pulau Serasan) is the largest of the islands lying further to the southeast and nearer to Kalimantan.
Natural resources
Natuna has large reserves of natural gas (estimated to 1.3 billion m3) that is exported to neighbouring countries such as Singapore. Matak Island now serves as an offshore exploitation base.
Ecology
The Natuna Islands have a remarkable avifauna with 71 species of bird registered, including the near-threatened lesser fish-eagle, the Natuna serpent-eagle. Other endangered species include the green iora, the brown fulvetta or the green broadbill.
Colourful coral reefs are found in the neighbouring waters. The Natuna banded leaf monkey, Presbytis natunae, is among the 25 most endangered primates on Earth.