Kangean Islands

The Kangean Islands or simply Kangean (Indonesian: Kepulauan Kangean) is a collective name for a group of islands lying to the east of Madura. Kangean (the main island) and its surrounding islands lie to the north of Bali in the northern Bali Sea, to the northwest of the Lesser Sunda Islands (Nusa Tenggara),[3] and administratively they form three districts within Sumenep Regency, East Java Province. The group comprises a total of 91 islands including 27 inhabited islands. Kangean is located approximately 120 km (75 mi) in the north of Bali,[4] the northwest of Lombok, and 120 km east of Madura.[5] The biggest and most populous district is Arjasa, which includes the town of that name located in the west of the island. The Kangean Islands have a relatively large potential for natural resources, such as natural gas, teak, coconut, and salt production.[3]

Map of Lesser Sunda Islands with mark showing location of Kangean Islands
Map of Lesser Sunda Islands with mark showing location of Kangean Islands
Kangean Islands
Location of Kangean Islands in the north of Bali in northern Bali Sea, and the northwest of Lombok.

Kangean Islands
Kangean
Location of Kangean Islands
Kangean Islands is located in Indonesia
Kangean Islands
Kangean Islands
Coordinates: 6°59′S 115°39′E
CapitalArjasa
Divisions3 districts, 37 villages[1]
Government
 • BodySumenep Regencial Government
Area
 • Total648.56 km2 (250.41 sq mi)
Elevation
364 m (1,194 ft)
Population
 (mid 2022 estimate)[2]
 • Total166,742
 • Density260/km2 (670/sq mi)
Demographics
 • Ethnic groups
Kangeanese, Bajo/Bajau, Bugis, Mandarese, Chinese, Arabs, Madurese and Others
 • Religion
 • LanguagesIndonesian (official)
Kangeanese (regional)
Other languages:
Bajo/Bajau, Mandarese, Buginese, Madurese
Time zoneUTC+7 (Indonesia Western Time)

Layout

The largest island, at about 490 km², is Kangean Island. Other islands include Paliat, Sepanjang, and several smaller. The towns of Arjasa and Kalikatak, both on Kangean Island, are the area's largest population centres. The Kangean islands have strong historic and ethnic ties with Madura, Bali, West Nusa Tenggara, Sumbawa, South Borneo, and also South Sulawesi. The majority religion on Kangean is Islam.

The highest elevation point on the islands is in the northeast at 1,192 feet (364 m.), while overall the islands are low in elevation.[3] The weather tends to rain regularly.

West coast of Kangean Island

Saltwater crocodiles are reported to be present within the island's coastal mangroves.

They are administered as three districts (kecamatan) of Sumenep Regency - Arjasa, Kangayan, and Sapêken. Arjasa District forms the west part of the main island, Kangayan District forms the east part of that island, and Sapêken District comprises a number of separate islands to the east and southeast of Kangean, of which Paliat and Sepanjang are the largest. Together, their population was 108,264 in the 2000 census, increasing to 123,367 in the 2010 census[6] and to 161,056 at the 2020 census,[7] while the official estimate as at mid 2022 was 166,742.[2]

Ethnic group

The Kangeanese (Kangeanese: Oréng Kangéan, Indonesian: Orang Kangean or Suku Kangean) are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the Indonesian island of Kangean and its surrounding islands.[8] The Kangeanese population live mostly on the Kangean Islands, making up c.90% of the island group's population of 166,742.[2]

Languages

The Kangean language is mainly spoken in Kangean areas.

Exports and reserves

Since 1993 the islands have been the site of substantial natural gas mining. The natural gas fields were first discovered and developed by the United States corporation ARCO, which became a subsidiary of BP in 2000. In mid-2004, BP sold its Kangean holdings to an Indonesian corporation, PT Energi Mega Persada. The islands are connected to East Java via a 430 km pipeline,[9] most of which runs underwater.

Other economic activities on the islands include teak, coconut, and salt production.[3]

Airstrip

In 2014, the local government agreed to reactivate an old airstrip on Kangean Island. The airstrip is 1,000 meters long and 30 meters wide.[10]

References
  1. "Area by District in Sumenep Regency". sumenepkab.bps.go.id. The Official Statistics of Sumenep Regency. 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2020. Kangean's districts of Sapeken, Arjasa, Kangayan
  2. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2023.
  3. "Kangean Islands". britannica. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  4. "Y E 3 K". www.mdxc.org. Archived from the original on 2 August 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  5. "KANGEAN ISLANDS". en.voi.co.id. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  6. Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
  7. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.
  8. "Kangean in Indonesia". joshuaproject.net. Joshua Project. 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  9. "Kangean People Group". www.frontiersusa.org. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  10. "Pemkab Buka Lapter Eks Belanda di Pulau Kangean". 7 May 2014.
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