View source for Raja Ampat Islands

{{Infobox islands
| name             = Raja Ampat Islands
| native_name      = <!-- or local name to remove the "native name:" prefix -->
| native_name_link = 
| sobriquet        = <!-- or nickname -->
| etymology        = 
| image_name       = File:Raja Ampat Islands - journal.pbio.1001457.g001.png
| image_size       = 
| image_caption    = Panoramic view
| image_alt        = 
| image_map       = Karta ID RajaAmpat Isl.PNG
| map_size       = 250px
| map_caption    = Map of the islands
| pushpin_map              = Indonesia
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location in Indonesia
| location         = 
| coordinates      = 
| archipelago      = Raja Ampat Islands
| waterbody        = 
| total_islands    = 612
| major_islands    = [[Misool]]<br>[[Salawati]]<br>[[Batanta]]<br>[[Waigeo]]
| area_km2         = 
| area_footnotes   = 
| elevation_m      = 
| elevation_footnotes = 
| highest_mount    = <!--name-->
| Country_heading  = 
| country          = Indonesia
| country_admin_divisions_title     = Province
| country_admin_divisions           = [[West Papua (province)|West Papua]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_1   = Regency
| country_admin_divisions_1         = [[Raja Ampat Regency]]
| demonym          = 
| population       = 50,000
| population_as_of = 2017
| population_footnotes = 
| density_km2      = 
| density_rank     =
| density_footnotes = 
| ethnic_groups    = 
}}
Raja Ampat is located off the northwest tip of [[Bird's Head Peninsula]] on the island of [[New Guinea]], in [[Indonesia]]'s [[West Papua (province)|West Papua province]], '''Raja Ampat''', or the ''Four Kings'', is an [[archipelago]] comprising over 1,500 small islands, cays, and shoals surrounding the four main islands of [[Misool]], [[Salawati]], [[Batanta]], and [[Waigeo]], and the smaller island of [[Kofiau]]. 

The Raja Ampat [[archipelago]] straddles the [[Equator]] and forms part of [[Coral Triangle]] which contains the richest marine [[biodiversity]] on earth.

Administratively, the archipelago is part of the province of [[West Papua (province)|West Papua]] (formerly known as Irian Jaya). Most of the islands constitute the [[Raja Ampat Regency]], which was separated out from [[Sorong Regency]] in 2004. The regency encompasses around {{convert|70,000|km2|mi2|sigfig=2}} of land and sea, and has a population of about 50,000 (as of 2017).

==History==
The name of Raja Ampat (''Raja'' means king, and ''empat'' means four) comes from local mythology that tells of a woman who finds seven eggs. Four of the seven hatch and become kings who occupy four of Raja Ampat's biggest islands whilst the other three become a ghost, a woman, and a stone.

History shows that Raja Ampat was once a part of the [[Sultanate of Tidore]], an influential kingdom from [[Maluku (province)|Maluku]]. Yet, after the Dutch invaded Maluku, it was claimed by the Netherlands.

The first recorded sighting and landing by Europeans of the Ampat Islands was by the Portuguese navigator [[Jorge de Menezes]] and his crew in 1526, en route from [[Biak Island|Biak]], the [[Bird's Head Peninsula]], and [[Waigeo]], to [[Halmahera]] ([[Ternate]]).

The English explorer [[William Dampier]] gave his name to [[Dampier Strait (Indonesia)|Dampier Strait]], which separates [[Batanta]] island from Waigeo island. To the east, there is a strait that separates Batanta from [[Salawati]]. In 1759 Captain William Wilson sailing in the [[East Indiaman]] [[Pondichéry (1754 ship)|''Pitt'']] navigated these waters and named a strait the 'Pitt strait', after his vessel; this was probably the channel between Batanta and Salawati.

== Administration ==
Most of the islands make up the [[Raja Ampat Regency]], a [[Regency (Indonesia)|regency]] ({{lang|id|kabupaten}}) forming part of [[West Papua Province]]. It came into existence in 2004, prior to which the archipelago was part of [[Sorong Regency]].<ref>[http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/03/28/raja-ampat-hasanuddin-university-sign-mou.html Raja Ampat, Hasanuddin University sign MoU | The Jakarta Post<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The southern part of the island of [[Salawati]] is not part of the Raja Ampat Regency. Instead, it constitutes the Salawati Selatan District of Sorong Regency.<!--not to be confused with Salawati District, which is on the New Guinea mainland across Dampier Strait -->

Raja Ampat Regency is subdivided into the following districts ([[kecamatan]]):
{|class="wikitable"
!Kecamatan !! Land area<ref name = "BPSareas">{{cite web|title = Luas Wilayah Kabupaten Raja Ampat Menurut Kecamatan, 2017| url = https://rajaampatkab.bps.go.id/linkTableDinamis/view/id/20| website = Badan Pusat Statistik Kabupaten Raja Ampat| access-date = 2 June 2019}}</ref><br/> (in km{{sup|2}}) !! Total area<ref name = "BPSareas"/><br/>(land + sea) !! Population<ref name = "BPSpopulation">{{cite web|title = Jumlah Penduduk Kabupaten Raja Ampat, 2010 - 2017| url = https://rajaampatkab.bps.go.id/linkTableDinamis/view/id/44 | website = Badan Pusat Statistik Kabupaten Raja Ampat| access-date = 2 June 2019}}</ref><br/>(2017 estimate)
|-
| Misool Selatan (South Misool) || align="right" | {{round|91.16|0}} || align="right" | {{round|2308.13|0}} || align="right"|  4,270
|-
| Misool Barat (West Misool) || align="right" | {{round|336.84|0}} || align="right" | {{round|1440.3|0}} || align="right"|  1,321
|-
| Misool || align="right" | {{round|1235.68|0}} || align="right" | {{round|4260.86|0}} || align="right"|  1,825
|-
| Kofiau || align="right" | {{round|206.23|0}} || align="right" | {{round|7539.48|0}} || align="right"|  2,786
|-
| Misool Timur (East Misool) || align="right" | {{round|553.66|0}} || align="right" | {{round|5489.93|0}} || align="right"|  3,307
|-
| Kep. Sembilan (Sembilan Islands) || align="right" | {{round|17.21|0}} || align="right" | {{round|1773.91|0}} || align="right"|  2,066
|-
| Salawati Utara (North Salawati) || align="right" | {{round|38.52|0}} || align="right" | {{round|416.42|0}} || align="right"|  1,873
|-
| Salawati Tengah (Central Salawati) || align="right" | {{round|572.47|0}} || align="right" | {{round|730.94|0}} || align="right"|  1,674
|-
| Salawati Barat (West Salawati) || align="right" | {{round|502.47|0}} || align="right" | {{round|1916.65|0}} || align="right"|  1,008
|-
| Batanta Selatan (South Batanta) || align="right" | {{round|188.77|0}} || align="right" | {{round|1867.33|0}} || align="right"|  1,469
|-
| Batanta Utara (North Batanta) || align="right" | {{round|290.75|0}} || align="right" | {{round|1390.83|0}} || align="right"|  1,017
|-
| Waigeo Selatan (South Waigeo) || align="right" | {{round|240.12|0}} || align="right" | {{round|790.73|0}} || align="right"|  1,700
|-
| Kota Waisai || align="right" | {{round|121.87|0}} || align="right" | {{round|1120.02|0}} || align="right"|  8,443
|-
| Teluk Mayalibit (Mayalibit Bay) || align="right" | {{round|621.93|0}} || align="right" | {{round|917.05|0}} || align="right"|  767
|-
| Tiplol Mayalibit || align="right" | {{round|200.51|0}} || align="right" | {{round|298.88|0}} || align="right"|  842
|-
| Meosmansar || align="right" | {{round|218.87|0}} || align="right" | {{round|1499.58|0}} || align="right"|  1,862
|-
| Waigeo Barat (West Waigeo) || align="right" | {{round|763.64|0}} || align="right" | {{round|8747.88|0}} || align="right"|  1,751
|-
| Waigeo Barat Kep. (West Waigeo Islands) || align="right" | {{round|103.3|0}} || align="right" | {{round|8439.19|0}} || align="right"|  2,256
|-
| Waigeo Utara (North Waigeo) || align="right" | {{round|149.57|0}} || align="right" | {{round|1870.72|0}} || align="right"|  1,449
|-
| Warwabomi || align="right" | {{round|297.33|0}} || align="right" | {{round|1914.16|0}} || align="right"|  1,100
|-
| Supnin || align="right" | {{round|234.82|0}} || align="right" | {{round|850.22|0}} || align="right"|  891
|-
| Kepulauan Ayau (Ayau Islands) || align="right" | {{round|12.66|0}} || align="right" | {{round|5581.35|0}} || align="right"|  922
|-
| Ayau || align="right" | {{round|5.83|0}} || align="right" | {{round|4343.03|0}} || align="right"|  1,150
|-
| Waigeo Timur (East Waigeo) || align="right" | {{round|555.4|0}} || align="right" | {{round|1872.02|0}} || align="right"|  1,552
|-
| '''Total''' || align="right" | '''{{round|7559.6|0}} km{{sup|2}}''' || align="right" | '''{{round|67379.6|0}} km{{sup|2}}''' || align="right" | '''47,301'''
|}

Taking account of the 2,635 people of Salawati Selatan District in Sorong Regency,<ref>{{cite report|title = Distrik Salawati Selatan Dalam Angka 2018| url = https://sorongkab.bps.go.id/publication/2018/09/26/4c4204cb4120d9ec93836e12/distrik-salawati-selatan-dalam-angka-2018| p = 19}}</ref> the total population of the archipelago adds up to 49,936.

There are proposals to divide the current Raja Ampat Regency into three, with Waigeo and its surrounding small islands forming a new North Raja Ampat Regency (''Kabupaten Raja Ampat Utara''), and with Misool and Kofiau and their surrounding small islands forming a new South Raja Ampat Regency (''Kabupaten Raja Ampat Selatan''), leaving the residue of the existing Regency to cover the northern part of Salawati Island (the rest of Salawati Island still lies within Sorong Regency) and Batanta Island (which forms Selat Sagawin District).

==Population==

The main occupation for people around this area is fishing since the area is dominated by the sea. They live in a small colony of tribes that spreads around the area. Although traditional culture still strongly exists, they are very welcoming to visitors. Raja Ampat people are more like [[Ambonese]] than [[Papuan people]] and now some of them are Muslim and some of them are Christian.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.tempo.co/read/news/2014/06/30/199589071/The-Other-Side-of-Raja-Ampat |title=The Other Side of Raja Ampat |author=Mitra Tarigan |date=June 30, 2014}}</ref>

==Geography==
{{refimprove section|date=March 2020}}
[[File:Raja Ampat 1.jpg|thumb|Marine biodiversity of Raja Ampat.]]
The oceanic natural resources around Raja Ampat give it significant potential as a tourist area. Many sources{{which|date=March 2020}} place Raja Ampat as one of their top ten most popular places for diving whilst it retains the number one ranking for underwater biodiversity.{{fact|date=March 2020}}

According to [[Conservation International]], marine surveys suggest that the marine life diversity in the Raja Ampat area is the highest recorded on Earth.<ref>Doubilet, David (2007). Ultra Marine: In far eastern Indonesia, the Raja Ampat islands embrace a phenomenal coral wilderness. National Geographic, September 2007. Originally retrieved from http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2007/09/indonesia/doubilet-text. Archived on 2008-04-09 at https://web.archive.org/web/20080409084522/http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2007/09/indonesia/doubilet-text.</ref> Diversity is considerably greater than any other area sampled in the [[Coral Triangle]] composed of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and [[East Timor]]. The Coral Triangle is the heart of the world's coral reef biodiversity, making Raja Ampat quite possibly the richest coral reef ecosystems in the world.{{fact|date=March 2020}}

The area's massive coral colonies along with relatively high sea surface temperatures, also suggest that its reefs may be relatively resistant to threats like coral bleaching and coral disease, which now jeopardize the survival of other coral ecosystems around the world. The Raja Ampat islands are remote and relatively undisturbed by humans.{{fact|date=March 2020}}

The [[crown-of-thorns starfish]] eats Raja Ampat's corals, and the destruction this causes among reefs has posed a threat to tourism. The crown-of-thorns starfish, which "can grow as big around as a trash-can lid", has proliferated due to increasing nitrogen in the water from human waste, which in turn causes a spike in [[phytoplankton]] on which the starfish feed.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-area-scuba-divers-dig-out-their-old-snorkels-and-fins-to-combat-a-coral-eater/2019/06/23/|title=D.C.-area scuba divers dig out their old snorkels and fins to combat a coral eater |last=Kelly |first=John |date=2019-06-23|access-date=2019-06-24}}</ref> In 2019, local divers had begun the task of reducing starfish populations by injecting the starfish with a 10% [[vinegar]] solution; the dead starfish can then be eaten by local fish.<ref name=":0" /> 

The high marine diversity in Raja Ampat is strongly influenced by its position between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, as coral and fish larvae are more easily shared between the two oceans. Raja Ampat's coral diversity, resilience, and role as a source for larval dispersal make it a global priority for marine protection.{{fact|date=March 2020}}

1,508 fish species, 537 coral species (a remarkable 96% of all [[scleractinia]] recorded from Indonesia are likely to occur in these islands and 75% of all species that exist in the world<ref>{{cite web|author1=Allard, Tom|title=Sea of trouble|url=http://www.theage.com.au/environment/sea-of-trouble-20110701-1gv49.html|publisher=The Age |accessdate=2014-07-10 |date=2011-07-02}}</ref>), and 699 mollusk species, the variety of marine life is staggering.<ref>{{cite web |title=A Marine Rapid Assessment of the Raja Ampat Islands, Papua Province, Indonesia |url=https://www.conservation.org/Documents/RAP_Reports/RAP22_Raja_Ampat_Indonesia_Apr-2002.pdf |website=www.conservation.org |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101025223155/http://www.conservation.org/Documents/RAP_Reports/RAP22_Raja_Ampat_Indonesia_Apr-2002.pdf |archivedate=2010-10-25}}</ref> Some areas boast enormous schools of fish and regular sightings of sharks, such as [[wobbegong]]s.{{fact|date=March 2020}}

Raja Ampat Islands have at least three ponds containing harmless jellyfish, all in the Misool area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kakaban.co.id/detail_artikel/20/Tujuh--Danau-Ubur-Ubur-Unik-di-Indonesia- |title=Tujuh Danau Ubur-Ubur Unik di Indonesia |accessdate=2014-11-05 |date=2013-08-07 |author=Kakaban }}</ref>

===Climate===
[[File:Weather-raja-ampat.png|thumb|Weather in Raja Ampat.]]
The islands have a tropical climate, with temperatures ranging from {{convert|20| to|33|C|K}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rajaampatbiodiversity.com/en/raja-ampat |title=All about Raja Ampat |accessdate=2016-11-30 |author=Raja Ampat Biodiversity Resort |date=2016-10-20 }}</ref>

==Ecology==
Raja Ampat is considered the global center of tropical marine bio-diversity and is referred to as The Crown Jewel of the Bird's Head Seascape, which also includes Cenderawasih Bay and Triton Bay. The region contains more than 600 species of [[hard coral]]s, equaling about 75 percent of known species globally, and more than 1,700 species of [[reef fish]]. Compared to similar-sized ecosystems elsewhere in the world, this makes Raja Ampat's biodiversity the richest in the world.<ref>Silcock D.. 2013. [http://www.xray-mag.com/content/indonesias-raja-ampat Indonesia's Raja Ampat]. X-Ray Mag | International Dive Magazine. Retrieved on September 25, 2017</ref> Endangered and rare marine mammals such as [[Dugong]]s, whales (such as [[blue whale|blue]] or/and [[pygmy blue whale|pygmy blue]], [[bryde's whale|bryde's]], less known [[omura's whale|omura's]],<ref>Ogata J. M.. 2017. [http://www.mermaid-liveaboards.com/article/bio-diversity/ambon-banda-islands-raja-ampat/ Ambon – Banda Islands – Raja Ampat]. Mermaid Liveaboards. Retrieved on September 25, 2017</ref><ref>Lindbloom A.. 2017. [http://www.mermaid-liveaboards.com/article/raja-ampat/omuras-whale/ Omura’s Whale]. Mermaid Liveaboards. Retrieved on September 25, 2017</ref><ref>Bird's Head Seascape. [http://birdsheadseascape.com/photography/omuras-whale-alex-lindbloom/ Omura’s Whale by Alex Lindbloom]. Retrieved on September 24, 2017</ref> [[sperm whale|sperm]]), dolphins, and [[orca]]s occur here.<ref>Kahn B.. [http://birdsheadseascape.com/conservation-science/marine-mammal-species-biodiversity-in-raja-ampat-2011-15-by-benjamin-kahn/ Marine Mammal Species Biodiversity in Raja Ampat (2011-15)]. Bird's Head Seascape. Retrieved on September 24, 2017</ref><ref>Heike Iris Vester I.H.. Tapilatu F. R.. 2017. [http://thecoraltriangle.com/stories/home-to-the-richest-reefs-on-earth-raja-ampat-is-also-a-mecca-for-whales HOME TO THE RICHEST REEFS ON EARTH, RAJA AMPAT IS ALSO A MECCA FOR WHALES]. The Coral Triangle. Retrieved on September 25, 2017</ref><ref>OceanSounds e.V. - Whale & Dolphin - Research & Conservation. [http://ocean-sounds.org/en_US/whales-raja-ampat/marine-mammals-in-raja-ampat/ Marine Mammals in Raja Ampat]. Retrieved on September 25, 2017</ref>

Rainforest that covers tropical islands in Raja Ampat is the natural habitat of a lot of species of birds, mammals, reptiles and insects. Two species of birds of paradise, i.e. Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea rubra) and Wilson's Bird of Paradise (Diphyllodes respublica), are endemic to the islands of Waigeo, Gam and Batanta.<ref>
Charles R. 2019 [https://ecotoursindonesia.com/english/009-birds-of-paradise.html Paradise Birds from New Guinea]</ref>
In northeast region of Waigeo island, local villagers have been involved in turtle conservation initiatives by protecting nests or relocating eggs of leatherback, olive ridley and hawksbill turtles. Their works are supported by local government, and NGOs. <ref>Leo R. 2019 [https://www.naturelifewatch.com/2019/07/marine-life-in-raja-ampat.html Marine Life in Raja Ampat]</ref>

==Recent events==
The submarine world around the islands was the subject of the documentary film ''[[Edies Paradies]] 3'' (by Otto C. Honegger), which has been broadcast by the Swiss television network [[Schweizer Fernsehen]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mediaindonesia.com/mediatravelista/index.php/read/2012/02/01/3570/1/Pesona-Raja-Ampat-Difilmkan-di-Swiss |title=Pesona Raja Ampat Difilmkan di Swiss |date=February 1, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202070545/http://www.mediaindonesia.com/mediatravelista/index.php/read/2012/02/01/3570/1/Pesona-Raja-Ampat-Difilmkan-di-Swiss |archivedate=February 2, 2012 }}</ref>

In March 2017 the 90-meter cruise ship ''Caledonian Sky'' owned by British tour operator [[Noble Caledonia]] got caught in a low tide and ran aground in the reef. An evaluation team estimated that 1,600 square meters of the reef was destroyed, which will likely result in a compensation claim of $1.28m-$1.92m. A team of environmentalists and academics estimated much more substantial damage, with potential losses to Indonesia estimated at $18.6 million and a recovery time for the reef spanning decades.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thejakartapost.com/travel/2017/03/14/saving-raja-ampat-waters-with-tourism.html |title=Saving Raja Ampat waters with tourism |author=Seto Wardhana |date=March 14, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/03/13/cruise-ship-smashes-into-coral-in-raja-ampat.html |title=Cruise ship smashes into coral in Raja Ampat |date=March 13, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Guard1">{{cite news|last1=Gokkon|first1=Basten|title=British-owned cruise ship wrecks one of Indonesia's best coral reefs|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/10/british-owned-cruise-ship-wrecks-one-of-indonesias-best-coral-reefs|accessdate=14 March 2017|work=Guardian|date=10 March 2017}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Raja Ampat languages]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Raja Ampat Regency}}
* {{wikivoyage-inline|Raja Ampat}}
* [http://www.birdsheadseascape.com Bird's Head Seascape]
* [https://www.diveglobal.com/diving/raja-ampat/ Raja Ampat dive sites, map, videos and pictures]

{{West Papua}}
{{Tourist attractions in Indonesia}}
{{corals}}

[[Category:Coral reefs]]
[[Category:Islands of Western New Guinea]]
[[Category:Landforms of West Papua (province)]]
[[Category:Raja Ampat Islands| ]]
[[Category:Archipelagoes of Indonesia]]