Natuna Islands

Natuna Islands Kepulauan Natuna
Islands and Regency
Seal
Motto: Laut Sakti Rantau Bertuah
Natuna location in the South China Sea.
Country	Indonesia
Province	Riau Islands
Capital	Ranai
Area
• Total	1,992.79 km2 (769.42 sq mi)
Population (2010 Census)
• Total	69,319
• Density	35/km2 (90/sq mi)
Time zone	WIB (UTC+7)
Website	www.natunakab.go.id

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 Subi Besar.

Administration

The Regency is divided into twelve districts (kecamatan) – tabulated below with their 2010 Census population:

Name	Population Census 2010
Midai	5,007
Bunguran Barat (West Bunguran)	10,893
Bunguran Utara (North Bunguran)	3,817
Pulau Laut	2,169
Pulau Tiga	4,826
Bunguran Timur (East Bunguran)	22,800
Bunguran Timur Laut (Northeast Bunguran)	4,306
Bunguran Tengah (Central Bunguran)	2,834
Bunguran Selatan (South Bunguran)	2,537
Serasan	4,506
Subi	2,577
Serasan Timur (East Serasan)	2,731

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 Malayu, with the remainder consisting of Javanese, Sumatrans and Chinese.

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 the Terengganu dialect of 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.

Geography

The Natuna Islands have a rich diversity of birds, although some, like the Green Iora are threatened by habitat loss

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. The Natuna Sea itself is a section of the South China Sea.

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 and the rare silvery pigeon. 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.

See also

• Anambas Islands
• Badas Islands
• Tambelan archipelago

Further reading

• National Geospatial-intelligence Agency (2005) "Borneo: Northwest Coast and Kepulauan Tudjuh" Sailing directions (enroute): Borneo, Jawa, Sulawesi, and Nusa Tenggara United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency