NATUNA: The Beauty of Indonesia

Welcome to Natuna

Natuna Islands is a regency of Riau Island Province. This regency is located 600 km from the northeast of Singapore and 1100 km from the north of Jakarta. This place is one of the north-est area of Indonesia which is bordered with Vietnam and Cambodia to the north, Bangka Belitung and Jambi to the south, Singapore and Malaysia to the east and Serawak and West Kalimantan to the west. This strategic position makes Natuna become international shipping line.

Geography

Mount Ranai

Natuna is located geographically in northern part of Indonesia, with 2’ until 5’ north latitude and 104’ and
110’ east longitude. Natuna has 2009.04 km2 in width which consists about 272 main islands and small islands around South Chinese Sea. They are Bunguran island, Subi island, Laut island, etc. Among these islands, only 76 islands have population, meanwhile the left 195 islands are not so.

Based its physical condition, Natuna regency is surrounded by hill and rocky mountain. The low parts or valleys can be found near of the beach. The height among the areas is varied, 3 meter up to 1035 meter (top of Ranai). Generally, the soil structures consist of granite and alluvial and/or also organosol and gley.

The capital city of this regency names Ranai, which is located in Bunguran Island. So many tourism objects that visitor can find when visiting this place. There are Ranai Mount, located near of capital city; Stress beach, well-known with its uniqueness; Natuna Great Mosque, called as Taj Mahal replica; many others. Then, for shopping, visitor can visit Natuna’s Mall (Ranai City Market) and other shopping centres.

People

According to census data of population in 2010, Natuna had 69.319 people, which male’s ratio is higher than woman. (35.780:33.449). This number increased by the year of 2012 became 76.606 people. Then, Wikipedia has listed that the composition of Natuna’s ethnic is varied. This variation has Melayu as dominant ethnic with 85%, followed by Javanese with 6%, Chinese 3%, etc.

Economic

Not only strategic, Natuna is also rich with its natural resources which have not been managed yet by the government and resident. Moreover, this place is surrounded by seas that make Natuna produces so many fish to sell and export. Predictably, Natuna can produce fish up to 1 million ton per year, but only 36% has been exploited. From its agriculture and farm sector, Natuna produces cassava, coconut, rubber, oil palm, clove, etc.

Furthermore, tourism objects also affect Natuna economically. There are so many tourism objects here, such as beach, mount, waterfall, cave and also absolutely its culture.

Season

The season of Natuna is considerably affected by wind direction. Dry season usually happens on March until July. Averagely, Natuna’s rainfall is about 137.6 millimeter, with humidity 83.17% and temperature 27.10 Celsius. The season also causes marine sector cannot be explored effectively. It is only for half year, the season cooperates with human, the left one will be impeded people for doing activity in the sea. It makes fishermen stop doing their activity and choose farming to survive.

Beach

Natuna islands have tremendous beautiful scene which the beaches are still naturally protected. There are many beaches with its potentiality as tourism object, such as Alif Stone, Tanjung, Sebagul, Teluk Selahang, Sisi, Stress, etc. Some of locations have its special function, from snorkeling area and diving until turtle conservation.

Alif Stone

Then, one of the most beautiful places visited in Natuna is Senoa Island. This island is also well-known with its beach which can be accessed by using Pompong (small machine vessel) for half hour. This island is also called as Preggy Lady Island, because physically this island looks like a pregnant woman laying in the sea .In this island, visitor also can find turtles which stay to spawn and walk around the sand’s island. Then, there is also cave which becomes the habitat of swallow birds.

Kekah Natuna

This regency also becomes a place for endemic animal which is usually called “Kekah” (Presbytis Natunae). This animal is a species of primates which threats to be extinct. Kekah only lives and grows in Bunguran Island, they spread in Sintu mount, Ranai mount and Ceruk mount. This kind of primates has unique appearance. The body is covered by black thick fur, followed by white fur across the black which makes this animal looks like wearing white vest. Then, in the face, white and grey furs surround the eyes. So, it makes them look like wearing glasses.

Kekah is herbivore animal, this primate really like eating fruits, leaves, tubers. They are also live in group and have shy characteristic. So human tends difficult to be closed around them. But if this animal tame from early age, they will be so friendly with their mate. If lucky, visitor can find them in the streets near forest.

Transportation

To reach the capital city of Natuna, visitor can use air transportation. This flight can be accessed from Hang Nadim, Batam and it needs an hour 30 minutes with tariff about 800.000 rupiah. Another way to reach Natuna is by using ship. It can be accessed from Kijang Harbour, Tanjung Pinang, Riau islands which costs about 200.000 rupiah.

Rerefences:
1.http://natuna.org/
2.http://www.kemendagri.go.id/pages/profil-daerah/kabupaten/id/21/name/kepulauan-riau/detail/2103/natuna
3.http://natuna.enjoybatam.com/id/how-to-get-to-natuna/