Riau Islands travel guide - Wikitravel Understand[ edit ] Map of the Riau Islands in Indonesia The Riau Islands Province came into existence in July, 2004, when it was separated from neighboring Riau Province on the island of Sumatra . It includes the islands of Karimun, Batam, Bintan, Singkep-Lingga, and the Anambas and Natuna island groups in the South China Sea. Though Kepri is a new addition to the political map of Indonesia, the far-flung islands of this archipelago make up one of the most important historical regions in the country. An archipelago of over 3,000 islands, the region has benefited greatly from its location: straddling the sea routes between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. For thousands of years traders and pirates alike have taken advantage of its relatively calm and shallow waters, along with its many safe harbors. The earliest Malay kingdoms may have arisen in Sumatra but their prosperity relied on trade through these islands, while their navies were supported by the Orang Laut (literally "sea peoples") who lived in the archipelago.

After the destruction of the Malacca Sultanate at the hands of the Portuguese in 1511, the Riau Islands and neighboring Johor (in Malaysia) became the center of a powerful successor sultanate. The Riau-Johor Sultanate, with its chief port near present-day Tanjung Pinang , reached the height of its power in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, though it eventually succumbed to internal disputes, slave raiding by the Sulu Sultanate, and a war with the Dutch East India Company in 1784. By the early 1800s trade had moved elsewhere and the islands were split by a succession dispute between two sons of the recently deceased Sultan Mahmud. In 1819 an agent of the British East India Company promised to support one of the sons' (Sultan Hussain's) claim to the thrown in exchange for allowing him to set up a settlement that would become Singapore . An Anglo-Dutch treaty in 1824 divided the archipelago into two spheres of influence, splitting the former sultanate between Singapore and Johor on the British side and the Riau Islands on the Dutch side.

Strung between Singapore and Batavia (present-day Jakarta ), the Riau Islands declined in economic and political importance in the 19th and 20th centuries. However, the area remained a center of Malay culture and Islamic learning in Southeast Asia and many historic buildings, especially on Penyengat Island near Tanjung Pinang , remain from this period. The province still lies on some of the most important shipping routes in the world and, for better or worse, it is firmly embedded in the greater Singaporean economy. Some of the Riau Islands are within eyesight of downtown Singapore, while others are hundreds of kilometers away from anything. Because of this, the province offers many different experiences to a traveller. The luxury resorts on the north coast of Bintan and the much seedier towns of Batam are a short ferry ride from Singapore. Historic and ethnically-diverse Tanjung Pinang , the capital and largest town on Bintan, is further away but still easy to reach. Lingga and Singkep islands are much further afield and have become a favorite destination for cycling enthusiasts from Singapore.

At the furthest extreme, the Anambas and Natuna Islands are the realm for divers and adventurous backpackers. Islands[ edit ] Map of central Riau: Batam and Bintan Bintan - the largest island, home to the provincial capital Tanjung Pinang and to a large resort area Batam - an island with a fast-growing city, industrial zones, resort area and an international airport Karimun - an island west of Batam popular for its granite mine. The island also has a few beautiful beaches. Talk[ edit ] Bahasa Indonesia is modeled on the version of Malay which originates from the Riau Islands. In fact, Riau Malay is regarded as the purest form of the Malay language and visitors from Malaysia will find the Malay spoken here very similar to Bahasa Malaysia, which is the version of Malay spoken back home. Many of the islands, especially Batam, Bintan , Karimun and Kundur , have huge Chinese populations who speak Hokkien and Teochew as well as Mandarin . Get in[ edit ] The Riau Islands are a major gateway into Indonesia because of good ferry links to nearby Singapore and Malaysia . For detailed visa information, please see the Indonesia page.

Many of the seaports in the Riau Islands and the main airport on Batam are visa-free and visa-on-arrival points of entry. Please see the pages for the individual islands or cities on the visa status for a particular port. By plane[ edit ] Batam 's Hang Nadim Airport (BTH) is the main airport in the province and fields flights from various Indonesian cities. It has connections with cities in the Sumatra "mainland" such as Banda Aceh , Pekanbaru , Bengkulu , Palembang , Jambi , and Pangkal Pinang , Medan , and other part of Indonesia such as Jakarta , Surabaya , Yogyakarta , Semarang , Pontianak , Bandung , and Balikpapan . See the Batam and individual city pages for details on connections. As for international connections, Malindo Air operates flight from Batam to Subang-Kuala Lumpur.

Bintan has airport called Raja Ali Haji Fisabilillah Airport at Kijang near Tanjungpinang with flights From Jakarta By Garuda Indonesia or Lion Air From Jakarta and Xpress Air from Pekanbaru By ferry[ edit ] Ferries are the main way to get to the Riau Islands. Check the individual island or city pages for details. From Singapore: Frequent ferries connect Singapore with Batam and Bintan . See pages of the two islands for details of ports served by the ferries. Ferries also link Singapore with Tanjung Balai on Karimun Island. Note that ferry service from Singapore to Tanjung Batu on Kundur Island have been terminated. (Tanjung Batu is not listed as a visa-free or visa-on-arrival point of entry, although visa-free nationalities seem to not have any problems entering via this port.) From Malaysia: Frequent ferries link Johor Bahru with Batam and Bintan . Ferries also run between Kukup in the south western part of Johor state, and Tanjung Balai on Karimun Island.

As of mid 2007, a ferry service has been planned for Batu Pahat in Johor and Tanjung Balai on Karimun but has not taken off yet. From other parts of Indonesia: Numerous ferries link Sumatra mainland cities such as Pekanbaru , Dumai , Palembang , Kuala Tungkal in Jambi and other smaller ports with Batam , Bintan , Karimun and other islands. Ships belonging to Indonesia's passenger shipping company Pelni call at Bintan's Kijang port, Batam's Sekupang domestic ferry terminal and the Natuna Islands, linking them with Jakarta , Medan , Pontianak and other major ports. By boat[ edit ] Boats are the only practical means of traveling through the archipelago. There are very frequent ferries between Batam and Bintan . Frequent ferry links the two islands with other islands in the province like Karimun , Singkep and Lingga. The remote Natuna and Anambas islands are linked by infrequent ferries and Pelni boats from Bintan . For more details, please see the pages for the individual islands.

By air[ edit ] There are airports on Batam , Bintan and the remote Natuna Islands, where there are airstrips on Natuna and Matak. The main airline linking the various Riau islands is Riau Airlines . It also offers flights south to Singkep Island (Dabo) from Batam and that is a viable option rather than spending 3-6 hours on a ferry. Local transport[ edit ] In terms of land transport, local transport in the form of taxis, buses, vans (angkut, bemo), and motorcycle taxis (ojek) are available on most islands. It cost a dollar or two, it depends how long the trip is. However, to enjoy the island even more try to rent your own motor bike ("rental moto") It starts at 50'000 Rupias (3.2 €uro)/day when there are space to bargain, but on smaller islands they know they can charge more, up to 100'000 Rupias/day. See[ edit ][ add listing ] In the capital of the Riau province Tanjung Pinang will you find many historical attractions. The famous Buddhist Temple and Penyengat Island.

With the famous Mesjid Raya Mosque made by egg. Include the unique building, it's much a spiritual island.To be there you smell the glorious history of Indonesia, yoe can find the parts of the kings palace. Several mausoleum of royalties and a spirit of old religion. The mysterious of Indonesia, this is maybe the place. Good/evil, black/light, animism. The old ruler's palace and royal tombs, among them the grave of the respected Sultan Haji, who also was creator and author of the first Malay Language grammar book, are among the legacies left by the Riau sultanate. Still in use is the old vice-royal mosque, the Mesjid Raya. Beach resort at Trikora , Bintan Riau has many fantastic beaches. The cultural center for stage performances of Malay music and dances is located in Tanjung Pinang . The center organize regulary festivals and other cultural performances, such as music and dance. Under construction, just off Batam is an Eco resort going is named Funtasy Island. They claim that they will preserve 70% of all the mangroves and trees etc. Building 450 villas.

Sleep[ edit ][ add listing ] Hotels of various budgets are available in the main towns such as Tanjung Pinang on Bintan , Nagoya on Batam , Tanjung Balai on Karimun and Tanjung Batu on Kundur , although those at the lower end are often sleazy and unpleasant. Five-star beach and golf resorts, catering mostly to Singaporeans, are also popular in this part of Indonesia, mostly located in the Bintan Resorts area on the northern part of the island. There are also resorts on the other islands, eg. Nongsa on Batam . See the individual city/island pages for listings. Bear in mind that the economic boom has made accommodation in the Riau Islands more expensive than in other parts of Indonesia. Stay safe[ edit ] Riau province is a safe place, with a very low crime rate. There is no terrorism in the province. Get out[ edit ] Riau doesn't have night life as the western world, but people hang out in the street in the night. So just go out and see how the locals enjoy their evening.

The island of Batam is home to many clubs and bars, catering to the large Western expat population working at the engineering companies, and the younger locals. Be aware of prices, which are quite high in the hotel bars and clubs, and of illegal drugs, which are widely available but dangerous. Riau Islands | province, Indonesia | Britannica.com Riau Islands list of cities and towns in Indonesia Riau Islands, Indonesian Kepulauan Riau, propinsi (or provinsi; province), western Indonesia , that embraces some 2,000 islands in the South China Sea . The province includes, most notably, the Riau archipelago, to the south of Singapore ; the Lingga archipelago, off the southeastern coast of the Indonesian province of Riau (east-central Sumatra ); and the Natuna, Anambas, and Tambelan island clusters, widely scattered in the waters between western Borneo , Sumatra, and the Malay Peninsula . The most important islands are Batam, Bintan, and Great Karimun (Indonesian: Karimun Besar), all in the Riau archipelago.

Tanjungpinang, on Bintan, is the provincial capital. Area 3,167 square miles (8,202 square km). Pop. (2010 prelim.) 1,679,163. Indonesia in its entirety (upper map) and the islands of Java, Bali, Lombok, and Sumbawa (lower … Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Geography Most of the terrain in the Riau Islands is moderately high and hilly, ranging in elevation from roughly 650 to 1,300 feet (200 to 400 metres). The islands in the Anambas group, however, are somewhat more rugged, with hills exceeding 1,640 feet (500 metres). The highest peaks in the province are Mount Daik (3,816 feet [1,163 metres]), on Lingga, and Mount Ranai (3,146 feet [959 metres]), on Great Natuna.

Mangrove swamps are common along the coasts, except in the Anambas archipelago, where most of the islands have a steep, rocky, but forested shoreline. The province has no major rivers; rather, the islands are drained by many small streams. The Riau Islands are home to a great diversity of animal life. Tree shrews are found throughout the province, and various primates , including leaf monkeys ( langurs ) and slow lorises , are common on many of the islands. Other notable mammals include Sunda stink badgers (variously classified either as badgers or as skunks ), which are endemic to the Natuna Islands and parts of Java , Sumatra, and Borneo; civets ; and horseshoe bats . Fish eagles and waterbirds, such as ducks, herons, egrets, plovers, kingfishers, and terns, are abundant. Cuckoos , owls , woodpeckers , bulbuls , sunbirds , and many types of pigeons —including the endangered silvery pigeon—are found in the woodland areas. Shellfish of many sorts, including crabs, mussels, clams, and oysters, thrive in the coastal waters.

Groupers are among the common finfish. Similar Topics Aceh Over one-third of the province’s residents are Malay . Javanese constitute the next largest segment of the population, followed at some distance by Minangkabau , Chinese, and Batak peoples in roughly equal numbers. The greatest ethnic diversity is found on Batam, while Malays account for most of the population of the Natuna Islands. Nearly three-fourths of the population practices Islam , while most of the remainder follows Christianity (primarily Protestant ) or Buddhism . A tiny fraction of Riau Islands residents are Hindu . The bulk of the population lives in the Riau archipelago, particularly on Batam and in or around Tanjungpinang. By contrast, the Natuna Islands are only sparsely populated. Some two-fifths of the province’s islands are neither named nor inhabited. The greatest contributor to the economy of the Riau Islands is the manufacturing sector, the principal output of which includes electronics, mineral and metal products, plastics, and heavy machinery. Trade and hospitality are the second largest sources of revenue.

Mining—primarily of bauxite, granite, and tin—has long been an important activity in the region, particularly in the Riau and Lingga islands, and construction is expanding throughout the province. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing constitute a relatively small segment of the economy. The ever-expanding road network of the Riau Islands is most extensive in the Riau archipelago, particularly on Batam. Similarly, Batam’s port system is well-developed, with a number of facilities handling international shipments. Several ports on Bintan and Great Karimun also accommodate international cargo, but those in the Lingga archipelago and the Natuna Islands receive only domestic traffic. Batam has an international airport, while domestic service is available at several other airports across the province. World Tour For administrative purposes, the province is divided into the two kota (cities) of Batam (which spans the entire island of Batam) and Tanjungpinang and several kabupaten (regencies). These units are subdivided on multiple levels, with the village group—variously called desa or kelurahan—on the lowest administrative level. The chief executive of the Riau Islands is the governor.

History Ringling Bros. Folds Its Tent The Riau Islands region formed part of the Buddhist Srivijaya empire , with its capital at Palembang (in southeastern Sumatra ), from roughly the 7th through the 13th century. The Hindu Majapahit empire of eastern Java established supremacy over the region in the 14th century, after the fall of the Srivijaya empire. Muslim states in Sumatra grew rapidly in the 15th and 16th centuries, especially following the disintegration of the Majapahit empire. Europeans began to arrive in the early 16th century, propelled by a desire to control the Southeast Asian spice trade. In 1511 the Portuguese seized the Malay sultanate of Malacca (or Melaka), on the southwestern coast of the Malay Peninsula . The deposed sultan, Mahmud Shah , subsequently fled to the southern tip of the peninsula, where he founded the kingdom of Johor (Johore), with its capital located on Bintan, in the Riau archipelago.

Near the turn of the 17th century, the Dutch and the British landed at Bantam (near present-day Banten ), on the western end of Java. By the late 18th century—after a period of intense rivalry between the European powers, particularly the British and the Dutch—the Dutch had wrested the port town of Melaka from the Portuguese, confined the British to Bengkulu (in southwestern Sumatra), established the trading post of Tanjungpinang on Bintan, and effectively gained control of the region. The persistent rivalry between the Dutch and the British was not fully relieved, however, until the signing of the Anglo-Dutch Treaty in 1824. Through that agreement, a boundary was established at the Strait of Malacca . Territories to the north and east of the strait (i.e., the Malay Peninsula and Singapore ) fell to the British, while the areas to the south and west of the boundary (i.e., Sumatra and the Riau and Lingga island groups) were given to the Dutch. British Bengkulu was exchanged for Dutch Melaka.

Following an interval of Japanese occupation (1942–45) during World War II , the various island groups of the Riau Islands were incorporated in 1950 into the newly formed Republic of Indonesia as part of the province of Central Sumatra. In 1957 Central Sumatra was divided into three provinces: West Sumatra (Sumatera Barat), Jambi , and Riau . The Riau Islands belonged to Riau province until 2002, when the islands were separated administratively from the Sumatran mainland to become Riau Islands province. The government of the new province, however, was not officially installed until 2004. Riau Islands - 必应 Sign in Riau Islands Riau Islands Province (Indonesian: Provinsi Kepulauan Riau, acronym: Kepri) is a province of Indonesia. It comprises the principal group of the Riau Archipelago, together with other island groups to the south, east and northeast. In Indonesian, Riau Islands and Riau Archipelago are synonymous and are distinguished by the word for province, "Provinsi".

Originally part of the Riau province, the Riau Islands were split off as a separate province in September 2002. Riau Islands Kepulauan Riau; Province: Other transcription(s) • Jawi: كڤولاوان رياو • Chinese: 廖内群岛 Komp. Nagoya Hill Superblock, Nagoya, Riau Islands Province, Indonesia 查看Nagoya Hill Shopping Mall的点评 入住 退房 1 间客房 1 间客房 2 位成人 2 位成人 0 名 : ... The Riau Islands Province came into existence in July, 2004, when it was separated from neighboring Riau Province on the island of Sumatra. It includes the islands of ... wikitravel.org/en/Riau_Islands Riau Islands Province Tourism: TripAdvisor has 42,841 reviews of Riau Islands Province Hotels, Attractions, and Restaurants making it your best Riau Islands Province ... Bintan Island or Negeri Segantang Lada is an island in the Riau archipelago of Indonesia.

It is part of the Riau Islands province, the capital of which, Tanjung ... Riau Islands – Travel guide at Wikivoyage Understand[ edit ] This is also the name of the new Indonesian province which was created in 2004 which was carved out of Riau province. The province includes all the islands off the Sumatra coast which were previously part of the province, namely Karimun, Riau, Singkep-Lingga, Anambas and Natuna in the South China Sea. The remainder of Riau province on the Sumatra mainland retains the name Riau province with its capital at Pekanbaru . Islands[ edit ] Map of central Riau: Batam and Bintan Bintan - the largest island, home to the provincial capital Tanjung Pinang and to a large resort area Batam - an island with a fast-growing city, industrial zones, resort area and an international airport Karimun - an island west of Batam popular for its granite mine. The island also has a few beautiful beaches.

Understand[ edit ] An archipelago of over 3,000 islands, the province has benefited greatly from its location - just 40 minutes from Singapore. Its two main islands Batam and Bintan are some of the most developed and affluent parts of Indonesia. While Bintan and Batam get many visitors from Singapore and Malaysia via Johor Bahru , the rest of the islands in the province are very much off the beaten track, offering endless exciting trips to the adventurous. The islands have also become a favourite destination for cycling enthusiasts from Singapore. Talk[ edit ] Bahasa Indonesia is modeled on the version of Malay which originates from the Riau Islands. In fact, Riau Malay is regarded as the purest form of the Malay language and visitors from Malaysia will find the Malay spoken here very similar to Bahasa Malaysia, which is the version of Malay spoken back home. Many of the islands, especially Batam, Bintan , Karimun and Kundur , have huge Chinese populations who speak Hokkien and Teochew as well as Mandarin . Get in[ edit ] The Riau Islands are a major gateway into Indonesia because of good ferry links to nearby Singapore and Malaysia .

For detailed visa information, please see the Indonesia page. Many of the seaports in the Riau Islands and the main airport on Batam are visa-free and visa-on-arrival points of entry. Please see the pages for the individual islands or cities on the visa status for a particular port. By plane[ edit ] Batam 's Hang Nadim Airport (BTH) is the main airport in the province and fields flights from various Indonesian cities. Riau Airlines provides connections with cities in the Sumatra "mainland" such as Pekanbaru , Palembang , Jambi and Pangkal Pinang (in Bangka-Belitung province), while other airlines like Garuda-Indonesia, Sriwijaya air, Merpati, Kartika Airlines, and Mandala Airlines fly to other cities like Medan , Jakarta , Surabaya , Makassar and Banjarmasin . See the Batam and individual city pages for details on connections. As for international connections, Riau Airlines operates flights every Friday and Sunday between Batam and Johor Bahru in Malaysia . Check the Batam and Johor Baru pages for more details.

Bintan has a smaller airport called Raja Ali Haji Fisabilillah Airport at Kijang near Tanjungpinangwith flights From Jakarta By Sriwijaya airlines or Riau-airlines From Jakarta and Pekanbaru By ferry[ edit ] Ferries are the main way to get to the Riau Islands. Check the individual island or city pages for details. From Singapore: Frequent ferries connect Singapore with Batam and Bintan . See pages of the two islands for details of ports served by the ferries. Ferries also link Singapore with Tanjung Balai on Karimun Island and Tanjung Batu on Kundur Island. Note that Tanjung Batu is not listed as a visa-free or visa-on-arrival point of entry, although visa-free nationalities seem to not have any problems entering via this port. From Malaysia: Frequent ferries link Johor Bahru with Batam and Bintan . Ferries also run between Kukup in the south western part of Johor state, and Tanjung Balai on Karimun Island.

As of mid 2007, a ferry service has been planned for Batu Pahat in Johor and Tanjung Balai on Karimun but has not taken off yet. From other parts of Indonesia: Numerous ferries link Sumatra mainland cities such as Pekanbaru , Dumai , Palembang , Kuala Tungkal in Jambi and other smaller ports with Batam , Bintan , Karimun and other islands. Ships belonging to Indonesia's passenger shipping company Pelni call at Bintan's Kijang port, Batam's Sekupang domestic ferry terminal and the Natuna Islands, linking them with Jakarta , Medan , Pontianak and other major ports. By sea[ edit ] Boats are the only practical means of traveling through the archipelago. There are very frequent ferries between Batam and Bintan . Frequent ferry links the two islands with other islands in the province like Karimun , Singkep and Lingga. The Anambas islands are linked to Bintan by a daily ferry [1] and a twice-monthly Pelni ship. For more details, please see the pages for the individual islands.

By air[ edit ] There are airports on Batam , Bintan and the remote Natuna Islands, where there are airstrips on Natuna and Matak. The main airline linking the various Riau islands is Riau Airlines . It also offers flights south to Singkep Island (Dabo) from Batam and that is a viable option rather than spending 3-6 hours on a ferry. Local transport[ edit ] In terms of land transport, local transport in the form of taxis, buses, vans (angkut, bemo), and motorcycle taxis (ojek) are available on most islands. It cost a dollar or two, it depends how long the trip is. However, to enjoy the island even more try to rent your own motor bike ("rental moto") It starts at 50'000 Rupias (3.2 €uro)/day when there are space to bargain, but on smaller islands they know they can charge more, up to 100'000 Rupias/day. See[ edit ] In the capital of the Riau province Tanjung Pinang will you find many historical attractions. The famous Buddhist Temple and Penyengat Island.

With the famous Mesjid Raya Mosque made by egg. Include the unique building, it's much a spiritual island.To be there you smell the glorious history of Indonesia, yoe can find the parts of the kings palace. Several mausoleum of royalties and a spirit of old religion. The mysterious of Indonesia, this is maybe the place. Good/evil, black/light, animism. The old ruler's palace and royal tombs, among them the grave of the respected Sultan Haji, who also was creator and author of the first Malay Language grammar book, are among the legacies left by the Riau sultanate. Still in use is the old vice-royal mosque, the Mesjid Raya. Sleep[ edit ] Hotels of various budgets are available in the main towns such as Tanjung Pinang on Bintan , Nagoya on Batam , Tanjung Balai on Karimun and Tanjung Batu on Kundur , although those at the lower end are often sleazy and unpleasant. Five-star beach and golf resorts, catering mostly to Singaporeans, are also popular in this part of Indonesia, mostly located in the Bintan Resorts area on the northern part of the island.

There are also resorts on the other islands, eg. Nongsa on Batam . See the individual city/island pages for listings. Bear in mind that the economic boom has made accommodation in the Riau Islands more expensive than in other parts of Indonesia. Stay safe[ edit ] Riau province is a safe place, with a very low crime rate. There is no terrorism in the province. Go next[ edit ] Riau doesn't have night life as the western world, but people hang out in the street in the night. So just go out and see how the locals enjoy their evening. The island of Batam is home to many clubs and bars, catering to the large Western expat population working at the engineering companies, and the younger locals. Be aware of prices, which are quite high in the hotel bars and clubs, and of illegal drugs, which are widely available but dangerous. This region travel guide to Riau Islands is an outline and may need more content. It has a template , but there is not enough information present.

If there are Cities and Other destinations listed, they may not all be at usable status or there may not be a valid regional structure and a "Get in" section describing all of the typical ways to get here. Please plunge forward and help it grow ! Lighthouses of Indonesia: Riau Islands Lighthouses of Indonesia: Riau Islands Indonesia has been independent since 1945, after having been the Dutch East Indies for more than 350 years. It is a huge country, stretching along both sides of the Equator for more than 46 degrees of longitude (roughly 5100 km or 3200 miles). Comprised of some 17,000 islands (more than 6000 inhabited islands), it has hundreds of major aids to navigation. Unfortunately, we have no idea how many of these aids can be considered lighthouses. Information about them is scarce, and photos are even scarcer. Official light lists contain dozens of entries for "framework towers" and "white beacons," providing little guidance for the lighthouse fan. We need more more information and photos; if you know about lighthouses in Indonesia, please share that knowledge.

Indonesia's Riau Islands Province includes four groups of small islands located between Sumatra and Kalimantan (Borneo). The Riau group is south of Singapore and off the east coast of Sumatra; the Lingga group is farther south, straddling the Equator in the Karimata Strait; the Anambas group is in the South China Sea off the east coast of West Malaysia; and the Natuna group is also in the South China Sea northwest of Sarawak in East Malaysia. In all there are more than 3000 islands in the province. The Indonesian word for a lighthouse is mercusuar. The phrase menara suar, which includes the Arabic word menara, is sometimes used instead. Tanjung and ujung are words for capes, pulau is an island, selat is a strait, and teluk is a harbor. Aids to navigation in Indonesia are operated and maintained by the Directorate General of Sea Navigation. ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights . Admiralty numbers are from volume F of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 112.

General Sources Garis Depan Nusantara - Kepulauan Riau This site, no longer online, was the source for several of the photos on this page. The Indonesian name means "frontier archipelago," and the site concentrated on remote islands where Indonesian sovereignty might be in question. Historic postcard views from the collection of Michel Forand. Pulau Tokong Nanas Light, Anambas Islands, June 2013 Panoramio photo copyright Taufik Hidayatullah; used by permission Singapore Strait Lighthouses (see also Singapore ) Note: Across the Singapore Strait from Singapore, the Riau Islands proper are a loose group lying off the east coast of Sumatra. These islands form the core of the Riau Islands Province, which also includes the Lingga, Anambas, and Natuna Islands. The majority of the population of the province lives in the Riau group. These islands, along with Singapore, were ruled historically by the Sultan of Johor in Malaya; the current international frontier dates from a treaty between Britain and The Netherlands in 1824.

Pulau Iyu Kecil (The Brothers) (2) Date unknown (station established 1906). Active; focal plane 41 m (135 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 13 m (43 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white. Deny Ruly has a photo , a view from the sea is available, Lightphotos.net also has a view from the sea, and Google has a satellite view . NGA lists a skeletal tower at this location. Vessels eastbound in the Malacca Strait pass between this important light and Malaysia's Tanjung Piai Light shortly before turning into the Singapore Strait. Located on an island at the western entrance to the Singapore Strait, about 8 km (5 mi) north of the northern tip of Pulau Karimun. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS IDO-072; Admiralty F1674; NGA 22584. Pulau Karimun Kecil (Little Karimun Island) 2007.

Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); white flash every 5 s. 15 m (49 ft) square pyramidal white skeletal tower. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view . Located on the northern tip of Little Karimun, about 5 km (3 mi) southeast of The Brothers. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1674.05; NGA 22581. Pulau Cula Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 16 m (52 ft) round tower with gallery, mounted on a round concrete pier. Lighthouse painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view . Located on a reef about 13 km (8 mi) west of Singapore's Raffles Lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1693.9; NGA 21495. Pulau Nipah (Nipa Reef) (2) Date unknown (station established 1912).

Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); white flash every 3 s. 16 m (52 ft) round tower with gallery, mounted on an octagonal concrete pier. Lighthouse painted white. Feybe Lumanauw has a closeup photo , and Google has a satellite view . The original light had a focal plane of 11 m (36 ft). In the Straits traffic separation scheme, westbound vessels pass just to the north of this light. Located on a dangerous reef about 10 km (6 mi) west of Singapore's famous Raffles Lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1692; NGA 21492. Pulau Pelampong Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (56 ft); white flash every 4 s. 15 m (49 ft) "white beacon." A distant view from the sea is available, and Google has a satellite view . Located at the north end of a reef about 5 km (3 mi) east southeast of Nipa Reef. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed.

Admiralty F1693.95; NGA 21487. Takong Kecil (Pulau Takong Kecil) (2) Date unknown (station established 1910). Active; focal plane 48 m (157 ft); two flashes every 10 s, white or red depending on direction. 30 m (98 ft) tapered octagonal aluminum tower. Entire lighthouse is white. A photo is at right, Haryadi Be has a 2012 view , another view is available, Wikipedia has a distant view , and Google has a satellite view . The present lighthouse was apparently built sometime shortly after World War II. It was rebuilt in 1998 and its height may have been increased at that time. Eastbound vessels in the strait pass just to the south of the lighthouse. Located on a small island in the strait about 7 km (4.5 mi) southwest of Singapore's famous Raffles Lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Admiralty F1694; NGA 21480.

Takong Kecil Light, Singapore Strait, undated Small Islands Directorate photo Helen Mar Reef Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); white flash every 6 s. 16 m (52 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower mounted on a square concrete pier. Upper half of the tower painted black, lower half yellow. Google has a satellite view . Located on a reef about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) northwest of Pemping Besar. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1694.7; NGA 21476. Buffalo Reef Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); quick-flashing white light. 16 m (52 ft) concrete tower with gallery. Upper half of the tower painted black, lower half yellow. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view . Located on a reef about 12 km (7.5 mi) northeast of Pulau Takong Kecil. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1695.6; NGA 21464.

Batu Berhanti Date unknown (station established 1910). Active; focal plane 16.5 m (54 ft);white flash every 8 s. 16.5 m (54 ft) round concrete tower with four wings, mounted on a square concrete pier. Jürgen Klinksiek's photo is at right, Lightphotos.net has a good photo , and Google has a satellite view . The original light had a focal plane of 12 m (39 ft). Located on a shoal in the center of Singapore Strait, about 10 km (6 mi) south of downtown Singapore. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Admiralty F1696; NGA 21400. Batu Berhanti Light, Singapore Strait, 2002 photo copyright Jürgen Klinksiek; used by permission Pulau Bintan Area Lighthouses Note: Pulau Bintan ( Bintan Island ), the largest of the Riau Islands, lies southeast of Singapore at the eastern entrance to Singapore Strait. Tanjung Berakit Date unknown.

Active; focal plane 68 m (223 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 30 m (98 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. A photo is at right (the lighthouse is the shorter tower at lower left), but a cloud blocks Google's satellite view . This lighthouse marks the south side of the eastern entrance to Singapore Strait from the South China Sea. Located on the northern tip of Pulau Bintan, near the village of Berakit. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1812; NGA 21176. Merapas Date unknown. Active; focal plane 121 m (397 ft); three white flashes every 5 s. 40 m (131 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available, and Google has only a fuzzy satellite view of the island. Located on an isolated island in the South China Sea about 25 km (15 mi) east of Pulau Bintan and 55 km (35 mi) southeast of Tanjung Berakit. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown.

ARLHS IDO-168; Admiralty F1809; NGA 22694. Pulau Mantang Date unknown. Active; focal plane 62 m (203 ft); white flash every 3 s. 20 m (66 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available, and Google has only a distant satellite view of the location. Located at the southwestern tip of Pulau Mantang, a smaller island off the south coast of Pulau Bintan. Site status unknown. ARLHS IDO-219; Admiralty F1806; NGA 22672. Pulau Terkulai Date unknown. Active; focal plane 23 m (75 ft); white light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 20 m (66 ft) square pyramidal white skeletal tower. Several station buildings. No photo available, but Google has an indistinct satellite view . Located on a small island off the west coast of Pulau Bintan. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1786; NGA 22652.

Pulau Loban Date unknown. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, 4 s on, 4 s off. 15 m (49 ft) skeletal tower, described as black by NGA, but Google's satellite view shows a white tower. Located on a small island west of Pulau Bintan, guiding vessels in the passage between Bintan and Batam Islands. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1776; NGA 22640. Tanjung Berakit Light, Pulau Bintan, June 2011 Creative Commons photo by rock black Riau Strait and Pulau Batam Lighthouses Note: Batam is a large island west of Pulau Bintan and directly opposite Singapore city. The Riau Strait separates Batam and Bintan. Batam has a population of more than one million; it is by far the largest city of the Riau Islands Province. Karang Galang Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); white flash every 6 s.

10 m (33 ft) metal tower painted with black and white horizontal bands. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view . Located at the northeast corner of a reef in the northern entrance to the Riau Strait. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1772; NGA 22620. * Kabil Range Rear Date unknown. Active; focal plane 30 m (98 ft); white light, 2 s on, 2 s off. Approx. 27 m (89 ft) square cylindrical white skeletal tower. Google has a street view and a satellite view . The range guides vessels to an oil terminal on the east coast of Batam. Located behind the port area at Kabil. Site and tower closed, but the lighthouse can be seen from a nearby road. Admiralty F1772.31; NGA 22620.6. Kabil South Range Rear (?) Date unknown. Active; focal plane 23 m (75 ft); white light, 2 s on, 1 s off.

23 m (75 ft) square cylindrical white skeletal tower mounted on a square concrete pier supported by piles. No photo available, and the tower has disappeared from Google's satellite view . The range guides southbound vessels in the Riau Strait. This light may have been removed in connection with the construction of a large shipyard. Located just off the east coast of Batam about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) south of Kabil. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1772.41; NGA 22621.5. * Punggur Harbor (Tanjung Kasem) Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); white flash every 3 s. 10 m (33 ft) square white skeletal tower mounted on a platform supported by piles. A photo is at right, but the tower is not seen in Google's satellite view . Located at the ferry terminal on the south side of Batam. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1772.48; NGA 22620.8.

Punggur Harbor Light, Batam, February 2015 Creative Commons photo by agungsty Durian Strait and Pulau Kundur Lighthouses Note: The Durian Strait (Selat Durian) is a north-south passage through the Riau Islands beginning at the western end of the Singapore Strait. Pulau Kundur is a large island on the west side of the Durian Strait, separated from the mainland of Sumatra by another strait. Jangkat Date unknown. Active; focal plane 37 m (121 ft); white flash every 5 s. 30 m (98 ft) "white pyramidal tower," according to NGA. This might describe a tower similar to the Takong Kecil Light. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view . Located on an islet about 25 km (15 mi) east of Tanjung Rambut. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1694.6; NGA 22592. Tanjung Rambut Date unknown.

Active; focal plane 41 m (135 ft); three white flashes every 22 s. 40 m (131 ft) skeletal radar tower, painted with red and white horizontal bands. A photo is available, and Google has a satellite view . This lighthouse is located near the city of Tanjungbalai on Great Karimun (Karimun Besar), an island at the southwestern end of Singapore Strait. The tower is part of a Maritime Security Agency (Badan Keamanan Laut) station monitoring ship traffic in the arra. Located on the southeastern tip of the island; there should be a good view from fast ferries connecting Tanjungbalai with Singapore. Site status unknown. ARLHS IDO-323; Admiralty F1417.5; NGA 22588. Tanjung Lubuk Date unknown. Active; focal plane 35 m (115 ft); white flash every 8 s. Approx. 30 m (98 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery.

Photos (near the bottom of the page) are available, although the caption bekas mercusuar means "former lighthouse." and Google has only a distant satellite view of the location. NGA misspells the name as Tanjung Lubuh. Located on the southwestern tip of Pulau Kundur. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1417.2; NGA 22602. Rukan Utara (North Brother) Date unknown. Active; focal plane 30 m (98 ft); white flash every 4 s. White skeletal tower, probably at least 20 m (66 ft) tall. No photo available, and Google has only a distant satellite view of the location. Located on an islet about 10 km (6 mi) north of the better-known South Brother Island lighthouse (next entry). Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1426; NGA 22610. Rukan Selatan (South Brother Island) 1911. Active; focal plane 70 m (230 ft); white flash every 5 s.

22 m (72 ft) hexagonal skeletal tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. No current photo available, and Google has only a fuzzy satellite view of the island. Forand has a historic postcard view . This light guides vessels northbound toward Singapore as they approach the Riau Islands. Located on a small island at the southern edge of the Riau group, about 20 km (13 mi) east of Tanjungkilang. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS IDO-266; Admiralty F1428; NGA 22612. Lingga Islands Lighthouse Note: The Lingga Islands straddle the Equator south of the Riau group and east of Riau and Jambi Provinces of Sumatra. Pulau Kentar (2) Date unknown (station established 1919). Active; focal plane 122 m (400 ft); two long (2 s) white flashes every 10 s. 32 m (105 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view of the station.

This light stands only 3.5 km (2.2 mi) north of the Equator. Located on a small island on the eastern edge of the Linga group, in the Karimata Strait. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS IDO-207; Admiralty F1438; NGA 22696. Pulau Lingga 1897. Active; focal plane 56 m (184 ft); white flash every 19 s. 10 m (33 ft) iron skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view . Located on Tanjung Djang, the southeastern tip of Pulau Lingga, the largest island of the group. Site status unknown. ARLHS IDO-215; Admiralty K0954; NGA 22708. Daik Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); white flash every 3 s. 10 m (33 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with gallery, mounted on a concrete platform supported by piles. Lighthouse painted white.

No photo available, but Google has a satellite view . Located on the south side of the entrance to the Daik estuary on the central south coast of Pulau Lingga. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty K0956; NGA 22709. * Dabo Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); white flash every 3 s. 12 m (39 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with gallery, mounted on a concrete platform supported by piles. Lighthouse painted white. Dewindry Wisnu's photo is at right, and Google has an indistinct satellite view . Dabo is the principal port of Pulau Singkep , the second largest island of the Lingga group. Located adjacent to the jetty at Dabo, on the east coast of Singkep. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty K0958; NGA 22712. Pulau Muci (Mutji) Date unknown (station established 1914). Active; focal plane 67 m (220 m); continuous white light.

21 m (69 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available, and the island is only a blur in Google's satellite view . Located on a small island about 10 km (6 mi) west of Tanjung Sebayur on the west coast of Singkep. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty K0980; NGA 22724. Dabo Light, Dabo, October 2012 photo copyright Dewindry Wisnu; used by permission Anambas Islands Lighthouses Note: The Anambas Islands are an archipelago in the South China Sea about 250-350 km (160-220 mi) northeast of the Malayan coast.The largest islands in the group are Jemaja in the southwest and a group of islands in the north that includes Mubur, Matak, and Siantan. Malang Biru (Tokong Malangbiru) (?) Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); white flash every 4 s.

NGA describes the current light only as a "white beacon." The original (?) lighthouse here was a tapered octagonal cancrete or masonry tower with gallery. The upper half was painted white and the lower half black. A photo , a more distant view , and another view from the sea are available. In the photos, the lighthouse appears abandoned, and there is no sign of a more recent light. Malang Biru is an isolated rock about 65 km (40 mi) south southwest of the main Anambas group and 175 km (110 mi) northeast of Singapore Strait. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1831; NGA 21097.5. Pulau Mangkai Date unknown. Active; focal plane 196 m (343 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 40 m (131 ft) iron skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view of the station. Pulau Mangkai is the westernmost island of the Anambas group and is an important landmark for vessels bound to or from Singapore.

However, there have been reports of pirate activity in the vicinity. The mountainous island is about 6 km (3.5 mi) in length. Located on the highest point of the island. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1832; NGA 21096. Pulau Tulai Date unknown. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); white flash every 6 s. Approx. 15 m (49 ft) white tower. No photo available, but Google has an indistinct satellite view . Located on a small island off Letung, the principal town of Pulau Jemaja. Accessible only by boat. Admiralty F1831.5; NGA 21096.7. Tanjung Lelan Date unknown. Active; focal plane 40 m (131 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. No description in NGA, but this is probably a 40 m (131 ft) skeletal tower. No photo available, and Google has only a very distant satellite view . Located on an islet off the southern tip of Pulau Jemaja. Accessible only by boat.

Admiralty F1830.55; NGA 21096.8. Pulau Serak Date unknown. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); four white flashes every 20 s. Approx. 12 m (39 ft) square skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view . Located on the west side of a small island about halfway between the major islands of Jemaja and Airabu. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1830.6; NGA 21097.7. Pulau Nunsa Date unknown. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); four white flashes every 20 s. Approx. 15 m (49 ft) square skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view . Located at the south end of a small island at the southeastern end of an archipelago stretching southeastward from the major island of Siantan. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed.

Admiralty F1834; NGA 21097.8. Pulau Tokong Nanas 2006. Active; focal plane 40 m (131 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 30 m (98 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery, mounted on a square concrete equipment shelter. Lighthouse painted white. Taufik Hidayatullah's photo is at the top of this page, but the islet is only a blur in Google's satellite view . Located on a rocky reef about 25 km (15 mi) northwest of Tanjung Pedas. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1835.5. Terempa Light, Terempa, June 2013 photo copyright Taufik Hidayatullah; used by permission Tanjung Pedas Date unknown. Active; focal plane 82 m (269 ft); white flash every 4 s. 40 m (131 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available, and Google has only a fuzzy satellite view of the cape.

This lighthouse guides vessels to Terempa, the principal town of the islands. Located at the northwestern tip of Siantan, one of the major islands of the Anambas group. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1835; NGA 21117. * Terempa Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); continuous red light (?). 13 m (43 ft) round white concrete tower, flared at the top and bottom, mounted on a square platform supported by piles. Taufik Hidayatullah's photo is above right, F. den Boer has a view from the water, and Emha Darwin has a photo , but Google's satellite view has no detail in the area. In the photo the tower appears to have a white light. There is also a photo of a second light in Terempa. Located on the waterfront of Terempa, the principal town of the islands. Located on he north side of Siantan. Site open, tower closed. NGA 21120. Pulau Tokong Belayer 2006.

Active; focal plane 40 m (131 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 30 m (98 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery, mounted on a square concrete equipment shelter. Lighthouse painted white. A photo is at right, Taufik Hidayatullah has a photo , and a 2009 photo is available, and Google has a satellite view . Located on a rocky reef at the northern tip of the Anambas archipelago. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1835.8. Pulau Tokong Belayer Light, Anambas Islands anonymous Creative Commons photo posted by Garis Depan Nusantara Natuna Islands Lighthouses Note: The Natuna Islands are located in the South China Sea about 325 km (200 mi) off the coast of Borneo. Natuna Besar (Great Natuna Island) is by far the largest island of the group. The islands have a population of about 70,000. Sekatung (Sekatoeng) Date unknown.

Active; focal plane 98 m (322 ft); white light occulting once every 3 s. 30 m (98 ft) skeletal tower with gallery, painted white. Several 1-story keeper's houses or other station buildings. A photo is at right, but Google has only a distant satellite view of the island. This light marks the northernmost point of the Natuna group; it is Indonesia's northernmost light in the South China Sea. Located on a small island about 120 km (75 mi) north of Natuna Besar (Great Natuna). Site status unknown. Admiralty F1836.5; NGA 21112. Semium Date unknown. Active; focal plane 160 m (525 ft); white flash every 5 s. Approx. 40 m (131 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery, painted white. A view from the sea and a second view are available, and Google has a satellite view of the station. Located atop a small high island about 80 km (50 mi) northwest of the northern point of Natuna Besar. Site status unknown.

Admiralty F1836.6; NGA 21114. Pulau Sebetul 2006. Active; focal plane 34 m (112 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 30 m (98 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery, mounted on a square concrete equipment shelter. Lighthouse painted white. Dedi Yudia has a photo , and a distant view and a closeup of the base of the tower are available, but the islet is only a faint blur in Google's satellite view . Located on a rocky reef off the southwestern tip of Pulau Laut. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1836.55. Pulau Tokong Boro (Tokongboro) 2006. Active; focal plane 34 m (112 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 30 m (98 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery, mounted on a square concrete equipment shelter. Lighthouse painted white. A photo is below right.

Located on a rocky reef about 55 km (35 mi) west of Natuna Besar. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1836.9. Sekatung Light, Natuna Islands, September 2008 Creative Commons photo by Deni Sambas posted by Garis Depan Nusantara Pulau Seluan Date unknown. Active; focal plane 38 m (125 ft); four white flashes every 15 s. Approx. 15 m (49 ft) square skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view . Located at the south end of Seluan, an island about 18 km (11 mi) west of Natuna Besar. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1836.8; NGA 21101. Pulau Senua (Senoa) 2006. Active; focal plane about 46 m (151 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 30 m (98 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery, painted white, rising from a large square station building.

Opin Latuputty has a photo , Dedi Yudia has a photo , and Google has a satellite view . Located on an island about 7 km (4 mi) north northeast of Tanjung Senubing, off the east coast of Natuna Besar. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1836.65. Tanjung Senubing (Senoebing) Date unknown. Active; focal plane 106 m (348 ft); white flash every 10 s. 20 m (66 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available, although Bayuseta Jati has a view from the gallery, and the tower has not been found in Google's satellite view . Located on the easternmost point of Natuna Besar. Site open, and apparently the tower can be climbed. Admiralty F1836.7; NGA 21108. Selat Lampa (Lampa Strait) Date unknown. Active; focal plane 31 m (102 ft); green flash every 9 s. 30 m (98 ft) skeletal tower, painted green.

No photo available, and the tower is not seen in Google's satellite view of the area. Lampa, at the southern end of Natuna Besar (Great Natuna), is the principal port of the Natuna Islands. Located on the west side of the harbor entrance. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1837.75; NGA 21104.7. Pulau Midai Date unknown. Active; focal plane 158 m (518 ft); white flash every 20 s. 30 m (98 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view of the station. Pulau Midai is an isolated high island in the South Natuna group about 130 km (80 mi) southwest of Natuna Besar. Located on the highest point of the island. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1838; NGA 21100. Karang Jackson Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white flash every 5 s.

15 m (49 ft) square skeletal tower mounted on a square platform supported by piles. Lighthouse painted red, not white as listed by NGA. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view . Located just off the southeastern tip of Pulau Midai. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1838.35; NGA 21100.1. Tokong Boro Light, Natuna Islands, September 2008 anonymous Creative Commons photo Riau | province, Indonesia | Britannica.com province, Indonesia Indonesia Riau, propinsi (or provinsi; province), east-central Sumatra , Indonesia . It is bounded by the province of North Sumatra (Sumatera Utara) to the north and northwest, by the Strait of Malacca to the east and Berhala Strait to the southeast, and by the provinces of Jambi to the south and West Sumatra (Sumatera Barat) to the west. Riau includes the islands of Rupat , Bengkalis , Rangsang, and Rantau in the Strait of Malacca.

The capital is Pekanbaru , in the west-central part of the province. Area 33,600 square miles (87,024 square km). Pop. (2009 est.) 5,538,367. Indonesia in its entirety (upper map) and the islands of Java, Bali, Lombok, and Sumbawa (lower … Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Geography The Batak Plateau and the Padang Highlands of the Barisan Mountains, situated along the western boundary of Riau, are the only major uplands in the province. The Tigapuluh Mountains, with an average elevation of 2,369 feet (722 metres), thrust northward near the province’s south-central boundary. A belt of swamps, fed by the Rokan, Tapung, Siak, Kampar, and Indragiri rivers flowing eastward from the highlands, extends inward from the coast to a maximum width of about 150 miles (240 km); swamps also cover the greater part of Rupat and Bengkalis islands.

The region is subject to occasional flooding, and the coast is deeply indented by estuaries. The swamp vegetation includes sedge, pandanus, rattan, and ferns; dense bamboo thickets border the swamps at many places, and the estuaries are dotted with mangroves. Riau’s population consists primarily of Malay peoples, and Islam is the predominant religion . The Minangkabau , Batak , and Chinese communities are among the most prominent minority groups. Agriculture is a major occupation in Riau, with rice, corn (maize), cassava, soybeans, copra (dried coconut meat), gambier (a plant producing a resin used for tanning and dyeing), and pepper among the main products. There also are moderate logging and fishing industries. The principal large-scale industry is the extraction of petroleum from fields near Pekanbaru. Sungai Pakning and Dumai, both on the northern coast, have oil refineries. Other manufacturing activities include food processing, papermaking, and wood carving. Much of the internal transport is by riverboat; good roads are confined largely to the hinterland around Pekanbaru.

There is an international airport in Pekanbaru, and several smaller facilities handle domestic flights. History Riau Archipelago Riau Archipelago Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia. All Rights Reserved Suspected Uighur militants detected in Riau Islands province: Minister Luhut, SE Asia News & Top Stories - The Straits Times The Straits Times ePaper Suspected Uighur militants detected in Riau Islands province: Minister Luhut Indonesia's Chief Security Minister Luhut Pandjaitan speaks during a morning briefing with journalists at his office in Jakarta, Indonesia, on July 20.PHOTO: REUTERS Published Jul 20, 2016, 1:31 pm SGT Updated tkchan@sph.com.sg JAKARTA - Indonesian intelligence has been alerted to Uighurs in Riau Islands, said Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan on Wednesday (July 20). "Uighurs have entered that area, we are monitoring," said the minister, when asked if authorities have detected the presence of a terror cell in the Indonesian province.

He declined to elaborate further but militants from the Turkic-Muslim ethnic group in China's far western region of Xinjiang have been known to link up with Islamic extremists in Indonesia. Previous reports had indicated that up to eight Uighurs may have made their way to Indonesia with some having successfully joined groups such as the East Indonesia Mujahideen (MIT) which was led by Santoso, Indonesia's most wanted terrorist. A few unidentified Uighur militants have also appeared with MIT fighters in photographs circulated online, purportedly taken in a forested area somewhere in Poso, Central Sulawesi, where the MIT has been hiding out in recent years. The latest development revealed by Mr Luhut comes just two days after Santoso was shot dead by army troops during a firefight outside a village in Poso on Monday. It also follows a bomb threat from a little-known local Islamic militant group called Kelompok Islam Insaf that was mailed earlier this month to ferry operators in Singapore that ply the sea routes between the Republic and Batam.

In at least two letters sent by local mail to the Singapore offices of ferry operators Horizon Fast Ferry and Batam Fast on July 4, the Kelompok Islam Insaf threatened to strike popular tourist destinations such as Tanjung Pinang and the Nagoya Hill Shopping Mall in Batam, as well as key ports in Batam and Bintan in July. Riau Islands is the closest Indonesian province to Singapore, where visitors from both countries commute to and fro mainly by ferry. The provincial police in Riau Islands later lowered the terror alert levels in the area after it was satisfied that the bomb threat no longer posed any immediate danger to residents and visitors. Police investigations did not uncover any evidence to support the threat issued by the Kelompok Islam Insaf, Riau Islands police chief Sam Budigusdian said last week. However, more than 1,600 security personnel were deployed to places with crowds and a high concentration of foreigners, as well as seaports and the Hang Nadim International Airport in Batam. News of the bomb threat in Riau Islands broke within days of a suicide bombing attack on a police station in the city of Solo in Central Java on the eve of Aidilfitri.

A policeman was wounded when he successfully intercepted the suicide bomber, who died at the scene. Correction note: In an earlier version of the story, we referred to Riau Islands police chief as Sambudi Gusdian. His name should be Sam Budigusdian. We are sorry for the error. Topics:

Question: The Riau Islands are a province of which country?
Answer: Indonesia