Wikipedia

Talaud Islands Regency

The Talaud Islands Regency (Indonesian: Kabupaten Kepulauan Talaud) is a regency of North Sulawesi province, Indonesia. The Talaud Islands form an archipelago situated to the northeast of the Minahasa Peninsula, with a land area of 1,251.02 km2. It had a population of 83,434 at the 2010 Census,[2] increasing to 94,521 at the 2020 Census;[3] the official estimate as of mid-2023 was 97,312 (comprising 50,061 males and 47,251 females).[1]

Talaud Islands Regency
Kabupaten Kepulauan Talaud
Regency
Tuhan Yesus Raja Memberkati monument
Tuhan Yesus Raja Memberkati monument
Official seal of Talaud Islands Regency
Seal
Location within North Sulawesi
Location within North Sulawesi
Talaud Islands Regency is located in Sulawesi
Talaud Islands Regency
Talaud Islands Regency
Location in Sulawesi and Indonesia
Talaud Islands Regency is located in Indonesia
Talaud Islands Regency
Talaud Islands Regency
Talaud Islands Regency (Indonesia)
Coordinates: 4°18′42″N 126°46′51″E / 4.31178°N 126.78085°E / 4.31178; 126.78085
Country Indonesia
Province North Sulawesi
Regency seatMelonguane
Government
 • RegentElly Engelbert Lasut
 • Vice RegentMoktar A Parapaga
Area
 • Total
1,251.02 km2 (483.02 sq mi)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (mid 2023 estimate)[1]
 • Total
97,312
 • Density78/km2 (200/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+8 (ICST)
Area code(+62) 433
HDI (2019)Increase 0.689 (Medium)
Websitetalaudkab.go.id

The largest island is Karakelong, on which lies the regency seat in the town of Melonguane. To its south lie the islands of Salibabu and Kabaruan, while the Nanusa group of 7 small islands lies to the northeast of Karakelong, and Miangas island is situated midway between Karakelong and the Philippines. It is one of the three regencies to the north of North Sulawesi that are located between Sulawesi and the Philippines, along with the Sitaro Islands Regency and Sangihe Islands Regency; originally these formed a single regency, but on 10 April 2002 the Talaud Islands were split off to form their own Regency.

The island of Miangas is the most northerly in the regency and is widely regarded as the northernmost point of Indonesia. As a result, it is often referenced to describe the territorial integrity of Indonesia in various patriotic statements and songs together with Sabang, Merauke, and Rote Island (respectively the most western, most eastern and most southern points in Indonesia).

History

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The islands were known as Maleon, Sinduane, Tamarongge, Batunampato, and Tinonda. Human settlements in the region have been present since prehistoric times, as shown by several artifacts of hand axe and chopper from 6,000 BC. There were also remains of chinaware, suggesting there had been continuous trading activity between the natives of the islands and the outside world.[4]

It was thought that inhabitants of the island originated from Southern Philippines especially Mindanao and also traders from Ternate.[5]

Geography

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A Topographical Map of the Islands[a]
 
Bitunuris Beach, near Bitunuris Village, Salibabu

Grouping Talaud with the Sangihe Islands and Sitaro regencies, there are 77 islands in the Talaud-Sangihe archipelagos, of which 56 are inhabited. Compared with the Sangihe archipelago, the islands are low-lying and forested, with hills rising to 2,231 feet (680 metres).[6] The coast of Karakelong Island is steep except on the southern shore, which is fringed by a wide reef.[7]

The region is regularly rocked by large earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, as the Molucca Sea Plate is being consumed in both directions.[8] A notable earthquake was the 2009 Talaud Islands earthquake, which was felt in the Philippines as well.[9]

Governance

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The Regency is divided into nineteen districts (kecamatan), tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Census[2] and 2020 Census,[3] together with the official estimates as of mid-2022.[10] The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages in each district (totaling 142 rural desa and 11 urban kelurahan), and its postcode.

List of districts of Talaud Islands Regency
Kode
Wilayah		 Name of
District
(kecamatan)		 Area
in
km2		 Pop'n
Census
2010		 Pop'n
Census
2020		 Pop'n
estimate
mid 2022		 Admin
Centre		 No.
of
villages		 Post
code
71.04.06 Kabaruan 66.03 5,472 5,860 5,853 Mangaran 12 95873
71.04.09 Damau (formerly
East Kabaruan)		 49.58 4,127 4,530 4,551 Damau 8 95872
Total Kabaruan
Island		 115.61 9,599 10,390 10,404 20
71.04.01 Lirung 31.11 6,137 6,330 6,283 Lirung 7 (a) 95875
71.04.11 Salibabu 21.80 5,566 6,330 6,401 Salibabu 6 95871
71.04.12 Kalongan 24.81 3,060 3,460 3,490 Kalongan 5 95874
71.04.17 Moronge 20.35 3,505 3,880 3,903 Moronge 6 95870
Total Salibabu
Island		 98.07 18,268 20,000 20,077 24
71.04.07 Melonguane 77.39 10,463 11,920 12,058 Melonguane 13 (b) 95885
71.04.16 East Melonguane 48.35 2,964 3,750 3,870 Bowombaru 6 95886
71.04.02 Beo 70.93 5,521 5,980 5,997 Beo 6 (c) 95876
71.04.14 North Beo 144.85 3,609 4,350 4,453 Lobbo 8 (d)

95881

71.04.18 South Beo 63.87 3,475 3,960 4,011 Tarohan 7 95877
71.04.03 Rainis 80.68 5,959 7,180 7,346 Rainis 11 95880
71.04.10 Tampan' Amma 124.18 5,497 6,450 6,564 Dapalan 11 95882
71.04.15 Pulutan 58.81 1,953 2,350 2,398 Pulutan 5 95878
71.04.04 Essang 94.76 3,397 3,870 3,914 Essang 8

95883

71.04.19 South Essang 75.02 3,198 3,680 3,725 Sambuara 9 95887
71.04.08 Gemeh 137.71 5,470 6,430 6,539 Gemeh 15 95888
Total Karakelong
Island		 976.55 51,506 59,920 60,875 99
71.04.05 Nanusa (e) 58.40 3,333 3,400 3,373 Karatung 9 95884
71.04.13 Miangas 2.39 728 810 816 Miangas 1 95889
Total Regency 1,251.02 83,434 94,520 95,545 153

Notes: (a) including 3 kelurahan - Lirung, Lirung I and Lirung Matane. (b) including 3 kelurahan - Melonguane, Melonguane Barat and Melonguane Timur.
(c) including 3 kelurahan - Beo, Beo Barat and Beo Timur. (d) including 2 kelurahan - Makatara and Makatara Timur. (e) comprising the 7 Nanusa Islands.

Economy

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Talaud Islands Regency is one of the outermost regions in Indonesia located in North Sulawesi Province, directly bordering the Philippines. Its strategic location provides great potential for economic growth, especially in the marine and fisheries sector. This potential is supported by abundant marine natural resources, ranging from capture fisheries, fish farming, to marine tourism.[11][12]

Potential of Fisheries Sector

The fisheries sector is the main pillar of the Talaud economy, with the majority of the population working as fishermen. The Talaud Sea is rich in various types of fish such as tuna, skipjack, and reef fish, which are the mainstay of this area. However, although this great potential has been developed, its utilization is still limited by problems with infrastructure, fishing technology, and market access.

Marine Tourism

The Talaud Islands also have quite large tourism potential, especially marine tourism such as diving, snorkeling, and beach tourism.[13] The beauty of the underwater world and the richness of marine life are the main attractions for domestic and international tourists. However, the lack of transportation facilities and tourism promotion are challenges that need to be overcome to encourage this sector as a source of regional income.

Agriculture and Plantation

 
A coconut plantation in Tampan'amma District, Talaud Islands Regency; Coconut is among the major cash crops in the regency.

In addition to the maritime sector, the agricultural and plantation sectors also play an important role in the Talaud economy. Food crops such as coconut, corn, and bananas are the main commodities. Coconuts in particular are exported in the form of copra and coconut oil. However, challenges in this sector include climate change, access to modern agricultural technology, and inadequate infrastructure.

Infrastructure and Connectivity

The main issue in the economic development of Talaud is the lack of infrastructure, especially in terms of transportation and connectivity with other regions in Indonesia. Sea and air access to Talaud is still limited, making it difficult to distribute goods and services. Infrastructure improvements, such as better ports, more modern airports, and improved road quality, are needed to accelerate the pace of the economy.[14]

Demography

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Market in Siaoe, Talaud Islands[b]

The population of the Talaud Islands was 97,312 according to the mid-2023 official estimates.[1] The total population of the Talaud, Sangihe and Sitaro Islands combined was 310,809 in mid 2023.

Ethnicities

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The population of the Talaud Islands Regency is mostly from the Talaud ethnic group , which is the indigenous ethnic group in this region. The Talaud ethnic group has a distinctive language and culture, with the Talaud language as a regional language that is still used in everyday life, especially in rural areas and in traditional activities. They have strong cultural ties, with various traditions and traditional ceremonies still practiced, such as harvest celebrations and sea rituals.[15][16]

In addition to the Talaud ethnic group, there is also the presence of the Sangir ethnic group , who come from the Sangihe Islands, a neighboring region in North Sulawesi. The Sangir ethnic group has cultural and linguistic similarities with the Talaud, so that these two ethnic groups can live side by side in harmony. They are also involved in the same economic activities, such as agriculture and fisheries.[17]

In addition to local ethnic groups, there are a number of immigrant tribes such as Minahasa , Bugis , Makassar , Javanese , as well as immigrants from Ternate and Tidore. The presence of these immigrants is related to trade, transmigration, or work in the government and education sectors. Although their numbers are relatively small, their presence has enriched the ethnic diversity in the Talaud Islands Regency.[18][19]

The regency also has historical ties with the Southern Philippines , especially the Mindanao region. During the colonial period, the Maluku Islands was known as the "Spice Islands," where various valuable spices such as cloves, nutmeg, and pepper were produced. Ships from the Philippines often stopped in Talaud to conduct trade these goods, as well as local seafood and agricultural products. Talaud served as an important stopping point for sailors to refuel and obtain supplies.[20] Geographical proximity has led to long-standing interactions between the two regions, and although the number of migrants from the Philippines is insignificant, there are a number of Filipinos who have assimilated into the local Talaud population.[21]

Religion

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Christianity is the majority religion of the islands (Protestantism). There is a significant Muslim minority community also.[22]

Biodiversity

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The Talaud Islands are a hotspot of endemism and zoological diversity, and are situated in the Sulawesi lowland rain forests ecoregion.[23]

Endemic mammals include the endangered Talaud flying fox (Acerodon humilis), the critically endangered Talaud bear cuscus (Ailurops melanotis), the endangered Short-tailed Talaud mosaic-tailed rat (Melomys caurinus), and the endangered Long-tailed Talaud mosaic-tailed rat (Melomys talaudium). Birds endemic to the Talaud Islands include the vulnerable Talaud bush-hen (Amaurornis magnirostris), the endangered Talaud rail (Gymnocrex talaudensis), the near-threatened Talaud kingfisher (Todiramphus enigma), and the vulnerable Red-and-blue lory (Eos histrio), which formerly lived across the Talaud and Sangihe islands, now restricted only to Karakelang. The Talaud black birdwing (Troides dohertyi) is a butterfly endemic to the Sangihe and Talaud Islands.

Sangihe and Talaud were largely deforested by 1920, and there is minimal natural forest remaining on these islands. A survey has been proposed to determine appropriate locations for additional protected areas around the remaining forest (Stattersfield et al. 1998).[6] There is a Wildlife Reserve on Karakelong [246.69 km2 (95.25 miles2)].[24]

Infrastructure

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Education

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There are 74 kindergartens, 117 elementary schools, 43 junior high schools, and 24 senior high schools, in addition of 13 vocational high schools. Of the 24 senior high schools, five of them are Christian senior high schools (SMAK) which are administered by the Ministry of Religious Affairs instead of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology.[25]

There's only one college in the regency, Rajawali Computer Science College which is private. It was established after the MoU between the regency government and IPB University in 2006. The main campus was previously located in a temporary location in Melonguane town, but later relocated to town of Beo in 2011 where the newly built campus complex was located.[26][27][25]

Healthcare

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There are two main hospitals, 42 Puskesmas, and six registered pharmacies in the regency; 17 Puskesmas have inpatient care. There are also 153 healthcare centers in the regency as of 2020.[25] Talaud Regional Hospital, which is the main hospital of the regency, is located at the town of Melonguane and classified by Ministry of Health as C-class hospital. The other hospital is located at town of Gemeh, is RSB Gemeh Talaud which has smaller building and classified as D-class hospital.[28][29]

Transportation

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Miangas airport, serving the northernmost Indonesian island of Miangas

Total length of road in the regency as of 2020 was 470.771 kilometers out of which 265.44 kilometers are sealed with asphalt and 38.147 kilometers were gravel surface. Almost half of the roads are under the authority of the regency government, while the other half are under the authority of the province. Only 66.05 kilometers are under direct authority of the central government. The main port in the regency is Melonguane Port, located in the town of Melonguane. It is connected to other smaller ports scattered around the regency as well as big ports in mainland Sulawesi by Sea Toll Program.[30] In addition, the Melonguane Port also host an Indonesian Navy naval base.[31][25]

The regency is mainly served by Melangguane Airport, which has regular flight to Manado. There's also recently built Miangas Airport serving the island of Miangas which has flights to Manado and also Melonguane. It is one of the most remote airports in Indonesia and was inaugurated by Joko Widodo in 2017.[32] As of 2021, there's one proposed airport that would be built in Marampit, which has been approved by Ministry of National Development Planning.[33]

Notes

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  1. ^ The islands of the Talaud group are: (ordered from South to North)
    • Kabaruang Island
      * Salibabu Island
      * Sara Besar Island (off Salibabu's east coast)
      * Nusa Dolong and Nusa Topor (off Karakelong's central west coast)
      * Karakelong Island
      * the Nanusa Islands: (ordered S to N) Kakalotan Island, Kakarotan Island, Intata Island, Magupu Island, Karatung Island, Merampit Island (largest) and Garat Island
      * Miangas (not visible on map[6])
  2. ^ Photo was taken during the Siboga Expedition of 1899-1900.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024, Kabupaten Kepulauan Talaud Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.7104)
  2. ^ a b Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
  3. ^ a b Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.
  4. ^ "Sejarah Kabupaten Kepulauan Talaud". Pemerintah Kabupaten Kepulauan Talaud (in Indonesian). 14 August 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  5. ^ Itsnaini, Faqihah Muharroroh. "Suku Sangir Taulud dari Sulawesi Utara, Asal Usul, Karakteristik, dan Kebudayaannya". detikedu (in Indonesian). Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  6. ^ a b c "Indonesia: Island of Sulawesi | Ecoregions | WWF". World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  7. ^ "Talaud Islands | islands, Indonesia". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  8. ^ Moore, G.F; Kadarisman, D; Evans, C.A; Hawkins, J.W (1981). "Geology of the Talaud Islands, molucca sea collision zone, northeast Indonesia". Journal of Structural Geology. 3 (4): 467–475. Bibcode:1981JSG.....3..467M. doi:10.1016/0191-8141(81)90046-8.
  9. ^ "M 7.2 – 196 km SSE of Sarangani". earthquake.usgs.gov. Philippines: United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  10. ^ Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2023, Kabupaten Kepulauan Talaud Dalam Angka 2023 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.7104)
  11. ^ Pontororing, Prilly; Rorong, Ita Pingkan F.; Tolosang, Krest D. (11 January 2023). "KAJIAN POTENSI PEREKONOMIAN KABUPATEN TALAUD PERIODE 2017-2021". Jurnal Berkala Ilmiah Efisiensi. 23 (2): 49–60. ISSN 0853-6708.
  12. ^ "Neraca Ekonomi - Tabel Statistik - Badan Pusat Statistik Kabupaten Kepulauan Talaud". talaudkab.bps.go.id. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  13. ^ "Inovasi Pendidikan di Era Digital". Jurnal Innovative. J-innovative. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  14. ^ Pemerintah Kabupaten Kepulauan Talaud. Peraturan Daerah tentang Perubahan RKPD Tahun 2022. Diterbitkan Februari 2023. Akses 6 September 2024.
  15. ^ "Talaud Language". Ethnologue. SIL International. 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  16. ^ Essing, Edwin Aldrin (2024). "PERAN MASYARAKAT TALAUD DALAM MENINGKATKAN KEBUDAYAAN ALAM PORODISA DITINJAU DALAM PERSPEKTIF EKOLOGI". E-Journal IAKN Manado (in Indonesian). IAKN Manado. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  17. ^ "PERAN MASYARAKAT TALAUD DALAM MENINGKATKAN KEBUDAYAAN ALAM PORODISA DITINJAU DALAM PERSPEKTIF EKOLOGI". E-Journal IAKN Manado (in Indonesian). IAKN Manado. 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  18. ^ "Sejarah Kanwil Sulawesi Utara". Kemenag Sulut. Kementerian Agama Provinsi Sulawesi Utara. 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  19. ^ Minahasa Cultural Customs | International Journal of Multicultural and Multireligious Understanding
  20. ^ Prastowo, Fuji Riang (September 2014). "Aku, Kamu, Kita ini Bukan Orang Pasifik: Mengurai Akar Kebudayaan Laut Masyarakat Pasifik - Biennale Jogja" (in Indonesian). ResearchGate. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  21. ^ "POPULATION DYNAMICS IN THE AREAS OF STATE BORDER: STUDY ON POPULATION MIGRATION IN THE DISTRICT OF TALAUD ISLANDS". Jurnal UMJ. Universitas Muhammadiyah Jakarta. 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  22. ^ Jacobsen, Michael (22 April 2002). "'To Be or What to Be – That is the Question' : On factionalism and seccessionism in North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia" (PDF). Southeast Asia Research Centre Seminar – Working Papers Series. pp. 16–17 – via City University of Hong Kong.
  23. ^ Wikramanayake, Eric; Dinerstein, Eric; Loucks, Colby J. (2002). Terrestrial Ecoregions of the Indo-Pacific: A Conservation Assessment. Washington, D.C.: Island Press. ISBN 9781559639231. OCLC 48435361.
  24. ^ "North Karakelang Wildlife Reserve · Indonesian Forest". Indonesian Forest. 15 July 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  25. ^ a b c d "Badan Pusat Statistik Kabupaten Kepulauan Talaud". talaudkab.bps.go.id. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  26. ^ Studn.id. "Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Komputer Rajawali | Studn.id". studn.id. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  27. ^ "PDDikti - Pangkalan Data Pendidikan Tinggi". pddikti.kemdikbud.go.id. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  28. ^ "Informasi SDM Kesehatan Nasional". bppsdmk.kemkes.go.id. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  29. ^ "Informasi SDM Kesehatan Nasional". bppsdmk.kemkes.go.id. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  30. ^ "6 Trayek Laut Baru Perkuat Konektivitas ke Talaud | Ekonomi". Bisnis.com (in Indonesian). 31 March 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  31. ^ "Lanal Melonguane Lengkapi Tiga Pelabuhan Utama Di Kabupaten Kepulauan Talaud Dengan Gerbang Desinfektan Karya Prajurit Guna Mendukung Gugus Tugas Covid-19 Talaud". koarmada2.tnial.mil.id (in Indonesian). 1 June 2020. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  32. ^ Antony, Noval Dhwinuari. "Telan Biaya Rp 205 M, Begini Wujud Bandara Miangas yang Diresmikan Jokowi". detikfinance (in Indonesian). Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  33. ^ Mauri, Alfa (26 March 2021). "Wow!!! Menjadi Sejarah, Talaud Miliki 3 Bandar Udara". Radio Republik Indonesia (in Indonesian). Retrieved 9 September 2024.
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