Lingga Islands
Not to be confused with "Linga", a common Scottish island name, see Linga (disambiguation)
| Lingga Islands | ||
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| Islands and Regency | ||
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 Red Circle is Lingga Islands, south of Riau Archipelago, part of Riau Islands province (green) |
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| Country | Indonesia | |
| Province | Riau Islands | |
| Capital | Daik | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 2,205.95 km2 (851.72 sq mi) | |
| Population (2010) | ||
| • Total | 86,230 | |
| • Density | 39/km2 (100/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | WIB (UTC+7) | |
The Lingga Islands or Lingga Archipelago (Indonesian: Kepulauan Lingga) are a group of islands in Indonesia, located south of Singapore, along both sides of the equator, off the eastern coast of Riau Province on Sumatra island. They are south of the populated Riau Archipelago, known for the industrial island of Batam and the tourist-frequented island of Bintan, although the Lingga Islands themselves are rarely visited due to the infrequent local transportation. The equator goes through the northern tip of Lingga, the name of the main island in the archipelago. Administratively they form a Regency of the Riau Islands Province with an area of 2,205.95 km² [1] and a population of 86,150 people at the 2010 Census. The capital lies at Daik.
The population are mainly Malay, Bugis and Chinese (predominantly Hakka, Teochew and Hokkien).
Name
Lingga derives its name from the profile of Mount Daik which is shaped like the Hindu lingam, often interpreted as a phallic symbol. This mountain has three sharp teeth as peak, one of them seems to have broken off at its base, and it was immortalised by Malay poets as the symbol of durability. The poem is
Pulau Pandan jauh ke tengah,
Gunung Daik bercabang tiga,
Hancur badan dikandung tanah,
Budi yang baik dikenang juga.
Nearby are the remains of the fort of Benteng Bukit Cening, overlooking the sea. The cannons are still lined up, as if they were awaiting another enemy attack.
Islands
By size and population the most important islands in the archipelago are Lingga and Singkep, then Sebangka and Bakung.
- Lingga with smaller Pulau (P.) Alut.
- P. Selayar of Riau Islands between Lingga and Singkep.
- Singkep with P. Posik to the west, P. Serak to the SW, P. Lalang to the South.
- Sebangka and Bakung NW of Lingga, with town of Limas, islets Senayang, Kapas, Kentar, Mowang.
- P. Lobam and Cempah to the west of Sebangka.
- Temiang and Mesawak in the north.
Administration
The Regency is divided into five districts (kecamatan) – tabulated below with their 2010 Census population:[2]
| Name | Population Census 2010[2] |
|---|---|
| Singkep Barat (West Singkep) |
14,552 |
| Singkep | 26,647 |
| Lingga | 16,651 |
| Lingga Utara (North Lingga) |
9,701 |
| Senayang | 18,693 |
Transport
Ferry services to the islands from outside the archipelago come from the provincial capital to the north, Tanjung Pinang on Bintan, including from Singapore. These days the main industry is fishing. There are a number of fine beaches with some coral around the Archipelago but there is very little tourism on account of the poor transport links with the outside world.
- Singkep has two ports, Dabo near Dabosingkep and Jago near Sungaibuluh. Service to the port of Muntok on P. Bangka of Sumatera Selatan ceased operating regularly with the demise of the tin mining industry. However, a high-speed ferry continues to connect Tanjung Pinang to Singkep, from where local boats may be chartered to Lingga.
- For Lingga, Daik is the major town and port. It can be reached in a day from Singapore transferring at Tanjung Pinang.
Lingga Roads
Lingga Roads is an anchorage in the Lingga Islands, south of Lingga Island and northwest of Singkep.[3] During World War II, Lingga Roads was used as a fleet anchorage by major units of the Imperial Japanese Navy, in order that these ships be near a source of fuel. It was from Lingga Roads that the main Japanese southern striking force deployed for the Battle of Leyte Gulf.[4]
References
External links
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Main islands of Riau Islands Province
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| Riau Archipelago |
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| Natuna Islands |
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| Anambas Islands | ||
| Lingga Islands | ||
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Regencies and cities of Riau Islands Province
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Capital: Tanjung Pinang
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