Raja Ampat Islands in West Papua, Indonesia

Raja Ampat is a tourist place rich in beauty sea. Raja Ampat is the King of Coral Reefs. So for those of you who like diving or diving, do not complete it if you have not been diving in Raja Ampat archipelago.The origin of the name of Raja Ampat by local myth comes from a woman who found seven eggs. Four grains of which hatch into four princes who separated and each - each a king who ruled in Waigeo, Salawati, Misool Misool East and West. Meanwhile, three other eggs became a ghost, a woman, and a stone.In the course of history, the Raja Ampat has long been inhabited by fishing communities and implement a custom system Maluku. In this system, the people are members of a village community. Each village was led by a king. Since the establishment of the two Muslim sultanate in the Moluccas, Raja Ampat become part of the Sultanate of Tidore claims. After the defeat of the Dutch Empire Tidore, Raja Ampat Islands became part of the Indian claims - Netherlands.

• Rich islands island

In Raja Ampat, there were 88 villages and 10 districts, which are autonomous regions Sorong. The total area of ​​Raja Ampat reach ± ​​46,000 km2. A total of 6000 km2 is land, sea dalah remaining 85%. Wow! There are approximately 610 islands, only about 35 are inhabited island. The rest have not been settled, but already have a name, but there are also some who do not yet have a name. There were four largest islands here, namely Misool Island, Salawati Island, Island Batanta and Waigeo Island.Raja Ampat Islands is an area that is included in the Coral Triangle (Coral Triangle). For the uninitiated, the Coral Triangle is the area that has the richest marine biodiversity in the world. Countries included in the Coral Triangle are Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Japan, and Australia.It is estimated there are over 1070 species of fish in the Raja Ampat Islands. Of course there are fish - fish seed to marketable. For example, tuna fish, tuna, mackerel, grouper, napoleon wrasse, red snapper, sea cucumbers, shrimp, and lobster are abundant there. So not surprisingly, the Raja Ampat Islands majority work as fishermen.In addition there are also carried cultured pearls, and seaweed are able to export commodities, and sold to Australia, New Zealand, China, and Japan. There are also people who manage the oil palm and coconut, Pam Island, Kofiau, and Salawati. Even some of the islands have the potential mining of gold, coal, petroleum, nickel, and friends - fellow course.

• Comprehensive in the world of flora and fauna

Location of Raja Ampat Islands are in the western part of the island of Papua, West Irian Jaya province, more precisely, at the head of birds of Papua. In a way, the location is 50 miles west of the Sea of ​​Sorong.

Raja Ampat has been recognized by the world as one of the 10 best waters for diving dive alias. So, do not settle first when diving but not to the Raja Ampat! By tourists who had to dive here, the waters of Raja Ampat considered comprehensive flora and fauna in the world. Coral (coral) reaches 537 species.Biggest house reefResearch in 2001 - 2002 reported there were more than 540 hard coral species (75% of the total species in the world), more than 1,000 types of reef fish, 700 species of mollusks, and the highest record for gonodactyloid stomatopod crustaceans. Means 75% of the world's coral species in Raja Ampat.

• Halmahera Edy

Conditions in the Raja Ampat Islands waters influenced by the mass of water from the western Pacific Ocean. The proof is, the current that moves from the east to northeast (North-East) and parallel to the northern mainland of Papua.

When they arrived at Halmahera Sea to the north Raja Ampat, some stream moves south and towards Alur Shipping Jailolo. There is also a small current veering towards Dampier Strait. Just info, Dampier Strait is the strait that connects the island and the island Batanta Waigeo.

Most of the flow is then reversed course to the Pacific Ocean. Well, this is called the flow of Halmahera Edy by researchers. The existence of these currents makes the waters of Raja Ampat to be very fertile. Plus, the sea surface temperatures around 28oC to 27oC at a certain depth. Light can penetrate up to 30-37 meters with very high salinity. That is why, abundant coral reefs in Raja Ampat. Plankton - plankton that are part of the coral reef ecosystem are also abundant.

 Coral reef ecosystems were able to actively manage their own food for organsisme - organisms in it. Although coral reefs typically grow in the ocean waters oligoptrik (which has the nutrients and nutrient very little). And no wonder, when the waters of Raja Ampat is a gathering place for a variety of fish species because the need for food producers (plankton) to consumers (fish - fish) are met. 

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