Derawan Islands

Derawan Island shoreline

The Derawan Islands (Indonesian: Kepulauan Derawan) are in the province of East Kalimantan in Indonesia. They include Derawan, Sangalaki, Kakaban, Maratua, Panjang, and Samama Island and submerged reefs and islets. They are located in the Sulawesi Sea, on the coastal shelf of East Kalimantan (2°17′N - 118°13′E). The islands are part of the Berau Regency.

Biodiversity

Derawan islands is a part of Coral Triangle, which contains one of the richest marine biodiversity on earth. Located in a biodiversity hotspot, the Derawan Islands feature 872 species of reef fishes, 507 species of coral, and invertebrates, including protected species (5 giants clam species, 2 sea turtles, coconut crab, etc.). Some of the islands harbor the heavily exploited turtle eggs and yet the largest green turtle nesting site in Indonesia.

Unpoisoned jellyfish

Derawan Islands have at least two ponds contain unpoisoned jellyfish, one in Kakaban Island and the other in Maratua Island with Haji Buang Pond. Kakaban is more famous than the second which is also more difficult to access. Indonesia at least have 7 ponds with unpoisoned jellyfish, the others are 3 ponds in Raja Ampat, West Papua, one in Togean Island, Central Sulawesi and one in Rote Island, East Nusa Tenggara.^[1]

Resources Use

There are two inhabited islands, namely Derawan (1 village of 1,259 people) and Maratua (4 villages of 2,704 people). Fishing is an important income-generating activity for the community. Since the early 1990s, people have caught live groupers, napoleon wrasse, and lobsters, to fill high demand. There are 3 dive resorts on Derawan Islands, while more additional resorts or facilities are in the planning process.

Caves

Maratua Island is 384.36 square kilometers and has at least 13 caves, but the prediction, more than a hundred caves are not yet explored. The caves usually have connection directly to the sea. These caves originated from reef which sea water infiltrated into, creating underground channels.^[2]

Islands

There are 31 named islands (see table)

Names of islands
No.	Island Name	Hectare (ha)
1.	Semut island	6.9
2.	Andongabu Island	5.3
3.	Bakungan Island	8.7
4.	Bantaian Island	230.6
5.	Besing Island	560.1
6.	Bonggong Island	123.2
7.	Bulingisan Island	4.5
8.	Derawan Island	44.6
9.	Maratua Island	2375.7
10.	Nunukan	4.8
11.	Panjang Island	565.4
12.	Rabu-rabu Island	26.7
13.	Sangalaki Island	15.9
14.	Sangalan Island	3.5
15.	Sapinang Island	241.3
16.	Semama Island	91.1
17.	Sidau Island	31.2
18.	Tiaung Island	372.5
19.	Pabahanan Island	2.0
20.	Kakaban	774.2
21.	Sodang Besar Island	6145.8
22.	Telasau Island	1080.0
23.	Tempurung Island	1291.2
24.	Bilang-bilangan Island	25.2
25.	Manimbora Island	2.0
26.	Blambangan Island	22.0
27.	Sambit Island	18.0
28.	Mataha Island	25.8
29.	Kaniungan Besar Island	73.3
30.	Kaniungan Kecil Island	10.2
31.	Bali Kukup Island	18.2

Airport and seaport

To boost tourism, local government will build an airport and a seaport at Maratua Island and both were predicted to operate in 2013. World Wildlife Fund and environmental activists are opposing it because the construction of the projects will surely affect the turtle habitat and coral reefs on Maratua Island, but the local government apparently focuses more on development projects instead of conservation.^[3]

References

↑ "Tujuh Danau Ubur-Ubur Unik di Indonesia". Retrieved November 5, 2014.
↑ Robby Irfany (August 26, 2015). "13 Prehistoric Caves Await Cavers in Derawan Islands".
↑ "Activists nix airport, seaport plans for Maratua Island". February 10, 2012.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Derawan.

Coordinates: 2°15′N 118°25′E / 2.250°N 118.417°E / 2.250; 118.417

Tourist attractions in Indonesia

Sumatra	Ampera Bridge Baiturrahman Grand Mosque Barelang Bridge Bintan Island Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park Gunongan Historical Park Jam Gadang Kerinci Seblat National Park Krakatoa Lagundri Bay Lake Maninjau Lake Singkarak Lake Toba Lumbini Natural Park Maimun Palace Mentawai Islands Regency Nias Pagaruyung Palace Penyengat Island Sipura Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra

Java	Ancol Dreamland Anyer Arjuno-Welirang Batu City Bogor Palace Borobudur Cukang Taneuh Dieng Volcanic Complex Ceto Temple G-Land Gembira Loka Zoo Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park Ijen Crater Istiqlal Mosque Karimunjawa National Park Kawah Putih Keraton Kasepuhan Kraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Malang Mount Bromo Mount Merapi Mount Semeru Mrapen Pangandaran Patenggang Lake Pelabuhan Ratu Penataran Prambanan Puncak Ragunan Zoo Sangiran Suramadu Bridge Taman Mini Indonesia Indah Tangkuban Perahu Thousand Islands Tirto Samodra Beach Tretes Trowulan Yogyakarta City Ujung Kulon National Park

Kalimantan	Betung Kerihun National Park Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park Danau Sentarum National Park Derawan Islands Kakaban Kutai National Park Sabangau National Park Samboja Lestari Tanjung Puting The Equator monument

Sulawesi	Bantimurung – Bulusaraung National Park Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park Bunaken National Park Kepulauan Togean National Park Lake Tempe Lore Lindu National Park Rawa Aopa Watumohai National Park Taka Bone Rate National Park Toraja Trans Studio Makassar Wakatobi National Park

Lesser Sunda Islands	Awang Bay Bedugul Bali Bird Park Bali Safari and Marine Park Canggu Cempi Bay Dreamland Beach Garuda Wisnu Kencana Gili Air Gili Meno Gili Trawangan Goa Gajah Gunung Rinjani National Park Jimbaran Kelimutu Kintamani Komodo National Park Kuta Lake Segara Anak Lovina Beach Mount Rinjani Mount Tambora Moyo Island Nusa Dua Nusa Lembongan Pecatu Rinca Sanur Seminyak Senggigi Tampaksiring Tanah Lot Tanjung Ringgit Tirta Gangga Ubud Ujung Water Palace Uluwatu

Maluku and Papua	Fort Belgica Lorentz National Park Puncak Jaya Raja Ampat Islands Teluk Cenderawasih National Park Wasur National Park

Regencies and cities of East Kalimantan

Capital: Samarinda

Regencies	Berau Kutai Kartanegara West Kutai East Kutai Paser North Penajam Paser Mahakam Ulu

Cities	Samarinda Balikpapan Bontang

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