Cilacap Regency is a regency in the southwestern part of Central Java province in Indonesia. Its capital is the town of Cilacap. Cilacap Regency covers an area of 2,124.47 km2, and it had a population of 1,642,107 at the 2010 Census; the latest estimate is 1,662,248. The language used in Cilacap is the Javanese language, but most people can speak Indonesian. The dialect used is Banyumasan. There are schools of all levels in Cilacap and several higher-learning institutions, but no university. There are several academies such as Akademi Maritim Nusantara. A polytechnic, called Politeknik Cilacap, was established in 2008 and offers education in Engineering, Electronics and Informatics.
Administrative Districts
Cilacap Regency comprises twenty-four districts, tabulated below with their populations at the 2010 Census:
District
Population 2010 Census
Dayeuhluhur
46,470
Wanareja
92,824
Majenang
122,763
Cimanggu
89,301
Karangpucung, Cilacap
68,412
Cipari
53,717
Sidareja
52,270
Kedungreja
71,796
Patimuan
42,716
District
Population 2010 Census
Gandrungmangu
88,562
Bantarsari
60,795
Kawunganten
69,799
Kampung Laut
12,666
Jeruklegi
59,152
Kesugihan
107,385
Adipala
75,334
Maos
40,410
Sampang
36,636
District
Population 2010 Census
Kroya
95,307
Binangun
54,574
Nusawungu
68,094
Cilacap Selatan
79,433
Cilacap Tengah
84,314
Cilacap Utara
69,265
Cilacap Town
The town of Cilacap is also a sea port on the southern coast of the island of Java. The port is one of only a few that exist on the southern coast that can service shipping of reasonable tonnage. The nearest safe anchorage east is Pacitan. The city's harbor is protected by Nusakambangan, an island best known as the site of several high-security correctional facilities although there are also hopes that the island can be developed as a tourist hub. Nusakambangan sheltered Cilacap from the worst of the 2004 tsunami. Nevertheless, the disaster took 147 lives, devastated beaches, damaged 435 fishing boats and inflicted material losses amounting to about Rp 86 billion. During World War II Cilacap was an important departure point for people fleeing the Japanese invasion, especially Dutch colonists. Many left the Dutch East Indies by boat or seaplane, the majority heading for Broome in Western Australia. The port is a hub for national or international trade. The town's Tunggul Wulung Airport provides scheduled airline services to Jakarta and Semarang. Cilacap is the site of many industrial plants, a geothermal power plant, a cement plant, and one of Pertamina processing units in Indonesia. The site has the largest production capacity, producing the most diverse kinds of products among other Pertamina units. The town of Cilacap offers several tourist attractions highlighting Banyumasan culture. The town has a number of beaches, two of the most popular being Teluk Penyu, but these are somewhat fouled from leakage of the shipping vessels docked adjacent to this and Widara Payung. Nearby the Teluk Penyu beach is also an ancient Dutch fortress called Benteng Pendem. This fortress was built in stages during 1861-1879 by the Dutch East Indies Army.
Segara Anakan
In early 2012 Segara Anakan Bay area is only 600 hectares from 700 hectares in 2005 after dredging. Heavy sedimentation from Citanduy River which is located in border of Ciamis Regency and Cilacap Regency caused it. To overcome the sedimentation in Segara Anakan Bay, Ciamis Regency has agreed, if a new canal from Citanduy River pass their area and exit in Nusawiru near Pangandaran Beach.
