Natuna Regency
The Natuna Regency is an archipelago of 272 islands located in the south part of the South China Sea in the Natuna Sea. It is part of the larger Tudjuh Archipelago, off the northwest coast of Borneo. Administratively, the islands constitute a regency within the Riau Islands Province of Indonesia and are the northernmost non-disputed island group of Indonesia.
The regency contains a land area of 2,008.8 km2 and had a population of 69,003 at the 2010 Census; the latest official estimate is 89,498.
Indonesia's exclusive economic zone off the coast of Natuna is slightly overlapped by China's widely disputed South China Sea claim.
The Natuna Islands themselves are divided into three groups:
- North Natuna, which includes Laut Island ;
- Middle Natuna, which includes Bunguran, Tiga Island and offshore islets; and
- South Natuna, which includes the Subi Islands and Serasan.
Administration
| Name | English name | Area in km2 | Population | No. of Villages | Postcode |
| Pulau Laut | 37.5 | 2,169 | 3 | 29789 | |
| Bunguran Utara | 402.6 | 3,817 | 8 | 29775 | |
| Bunguran Timur Laut | 233.9 | 4,306 | 7 | 29776 | |
| Bunguran Tengah | 171.9 | 2,834 | 3 | 29778 | |
| Bunguran Timur | 145.8 | 22,800 | 6 | 29777 | |
| Bunguran Barat | 444.8 | 10,893 | 5 | 29782 | |
| Bunguran Selatan | 232.1 | 2,537 | 4 | 29783 | |
| Pulau Tiga | 67.5 | 4,826 | 6 | 29788 | |
| Midai | 26.9 | 5,007 | 3 | 29784 | |
| Subi | 155.8 | 2,577 | 8 | 29779 | |
| Serasan | 45.9 | 4,506 | 7 | 29781 | |
| Serasan Timur | 45.9 | 2,731 | 4 | 29780 |
Since 2010, three additional districts have been created from parts of existing districts. These are Bunguran Batubi, Pulau Tiga Barat and Suak Midai.
Maritime administration and Chinese claim
Indonesia's EEZ extends 200 nautical miles from its shores, which around Natuna means it is slightly intersected by China's Nine-Dash Line, defining its widely disputed claim to most of the South China Sea. In 2014–2015, the presence of the Indonesian National Armed Forces on the islands was reinforced, which the Indonesian government hoped would reduce the chance of any conflict. Then from late 2019, Chinese fishing vessels increased illegal activity within the EEZ, escorted by a Chinese Coast Guard vessel. Indonesia responded with a formal diplomatic protest to Beijing and then deployed to the region a further 600 troops and eight navy warships, along with aerial support. The naval presence included Ahmad Yani-class frigates, Bung Tomo-class corvettes, and Kapitan Pattimura-class ASW corvettes, while aerial support came from Naval Aviation CN-235 MPA aircraft, four Indonesian Air Force F-16s and a Boeing 737-2x9, with BAE Hawk aircraft nearby on alert. A visit to the area by President Joko Widodo in early January reinforced Indonesia's resolve not to tolerate such incursions.Demographics
Peoples
According to statistics released in 2010, the population of the islands stood at 69,003 people. 85.27% of the inhabitants were Malays, with the remainder consisting of Javanese, Sumatrans and Chinese. By January 2014, the population was officially estimated to be 83,498 and by mid-2019 this had grown to 89,498.Religion
Islam is the dominant religion in the islands, with 96.97% of the total population identify themselves as Muslim. Other religions are Christianity, which forms 1.66% of the total population, Buddhism, which forms 1.23% of the total population, and Confucianism, which forms 0.14% of the total population. There is the largest mosque in the north-east corner of the islands. The :id:Masjid Agung Natuna|Masjid Agung Natuna was built over two years from 2007 to 2009, where can at least visited by 10.000 visitors every day.Economy
Despite important natural gas reserves, most of the locals work as fishermen or farmers. There is no significant tourism industry. Farming is not on an industrial scale, just small holdings. The other main source of income is gained by people working for the government.Geography
The Natuna Islands are a 272-island archipelago of Indonesia, located in the Natuna Sea between Peninsular Malaysia to the west and Borneo to the east. They extend in a NNW direction for 300 km from Tanjung Api, the northwest extremity of Kalimantan/Borneo. The Natuna Sea itself is a section of the South China Sea.The North Group consists of a large island, two small islands and several adjacent islets and reefs which lie about 50 km NNW of Natuna Besar Island. Pulau Laut is about 11 km long with a greatest width of 5 km towards the south; it is generally hilly, rising to 273 metres near its north end.
The Middle Group consists of Natuna Besar or Bunguran Island, which contains the bulk of the area and population of the archipelago, together with small offshore islets and reefs; the Bodas Islands are a group of moderately high wooded islands lying close to the southwest coast of Natuna Besar.
The Southern Group consists primarily of two groups of islands separated from the coast of Kalimantan by the Api Passage. The Subi Islands of which the main islands are Subi Besar, Subi Kecil, Bakau, Panjang and Seraya, lie southeast of Natuna Besar. Serasan Island is the largest of the islands lying further to the southeast and nearer to Kalimantan.
The highest point of this Islands is Mount Ranai at. The island had a population of 52,000 inhabitants according to the 2010 census. The principal settlement is Ranai. The island can be reached by scheduled air services via Ranai Airport.
Natural resources
Natuna has large reserves of natural gas that is exported to neighbouring countries such as Singapore. Matak Island now serves as an offshore exploitation base.Ecology
The Natuna Islands are part of the Borneo lowland rain forests ecoregion.The Natuna Islands have a remarkable avifauna with 71 species of bird registered, including the near-threatened lesser fish eagle, the Natuna serpent-eagle. Other endangered species include the green iora, the brown fulvetta or the green broadbill.
The Natuna Islands is home to three species of non-human primates: the slow loris, the long-tailed macaque, and the Natuna leaf monkey. A small number of wild goats live on the island as well as sea birds. Over 360 species of bird have been recorded on the island.
Colourful coral reefs are found in the neighbouring waters. The Natuna banded leaf monkey, Presbytis natunae, is among the 25 most endangered primates on Earth.
Transportation
Harbours and airports
The Military harbour was head-quartered on Teuku Umar where Navy ships tasked on Natuna Sea. Raden Sadjad Airport or Natuna Airport is located at Ranai, the capital city of Natuna Regency. The airport is also a Type B airbase of the Indonesian Air Force. Other than that, the airport also serves civilian flights. The airport also accommodate large military aircraft.A new passenger terminal opened in October 2016, inaugurated by President Joko Widodo.
The airport resides at an elevation of above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 18/36 with an asphalt surface measuring 2,560 m x 32 m. The runway is planned to be widened to 80 m in 2020. Moreover, the airport has an apron measuring 120 m x 60 m and a taxiway measuring 50 m x 32 m.
The recently built terminal at the airport has an area of 3,868 m², many times larger than the old terminal which only has an area of 243 m². The new terminal can accommodate around 13850 passengers daily. The parking lot has been expanded to 5.020 m² and can now cater to around 3.940 cars and 750 motorcycles. Other facilities inside the airport are the Aviation Accidents Rescue and Fire Fighting building, generator and the pump house.