Derawan Islands


The Derawan Islands are in the province of East Kalimantan in Indonesia. They consist of 31 islands, most well known among these are the islands of Derawan, Maratua, Sangalaki and Kakaban. There are also numerous submerged reefs and islets. They are located in the Sulawesi Sea, on the coastal shelf of East Kalimantan. 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. Some of the islands harbor the heavily exploited turtle eggs and yet the largest green turtle nesting site in Indonesia.

Stingless jellyfish

Derawan Islands have at least two lakes containing stingless 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. The lake in Kakaban consists of millions of jellyfish, ranging from small to large ones, some, twice as big as an adult's palm. Indonesia has at least 7 lakes with stingless jellyfish. Some others are located in: Raja Ampat, West Papua, Togean Island, Central Sulawesi and one in Rote Island, East Nusa Tenggara.

Resources use

There are two inhabited islands, namely Derawan and Maratua. 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 three diving resorts in the Derawan Islands, while more additional resorts or facilities are in the planning process.

Caves

Maratua Island has an area of 35.5 square kilometers and has at least 13 caves, but the prediction is that there are more than a hundred caves which 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.

Islands

There are 31 named islands
No.Island NameHectare
1.Semut island6.9
2.Andongabu Island5.3
3.Bakungan Island8.7
4.Bantaian Island230.6
5.Besing Island560.1
6.Bonggong Island123.2
7.Bulingisan Island4.5
8.Derawan Island44.6
9.Maratua Island2375.7
10.Nunukan4.8
11.Panjang Island565.4
12.Rabu-rabu Island26.7
13.Sangalaki Island15.9
14.Sangalan Island3.5
15.Sapinang Island241.3
16.Semama Island91.1
17.Sidau Island31.2
18.Tiaung Island372.5
19.Pabahanan Island2.0
20.Kakaban774.2
21.Sodang Besar Island6145.8
22.Telasau Island1080.0
23.Tempurung Island1291.2
24.Bilang-bilangan Island25.2
25.Manimbora Island2.0
26.Blambangan Island22.0
27.Sambit Island18.0
28.Mataha Island25.8
29.Kaniungan Besar Island73.3
30.Kaniungan Kecil Island10.2
31.Bali Kukup Island18.2

Airport and seaport

On September 11, 2015 Maratua Airport with runway 1,200 meters has been operated to boost tourism and also to secure defence strategy due to Maratua island is near the border with Malaysia and the Philippines. On February 13, 2017 an ATR 72 airplane has landed successfully in Maratua Airport, but it is not a scheduled flight, but a chartered flight. Until February 2017, there are no signs that scheduled flight will operate in Maratua Airport. There are also plans to build seaport.