Riau Islands, in Indonesian Kepulauan Riau Province (or provinsi; state), western Indonesia, which stretches some 2,000 islands in the South China Sea. The province includes, most importantly, the Riau archipelago, to the south of Singapore; the Natuna, Anambas, and Tambelan island clusters, broadly scattered in the oceans between Borneo, Sumatra, and the Malay Peninsula; along with the Lingga archipelago off the northwestern coast of the Indonesian state of Riau (east-central Sumatra). The most important islands include Batam, Bintan, along with Great Karimun (Indonesian: Karimun Besar), all from the Riau archipelago. Pop. (2010 prelim.) 1,679,163.
Geography of Riau Islands
The majority of the terrain in the Riau Islands is reasonably high and hilly, ranging in elevation from approximately 650 to 1,300 feet (200 to 400 metres). The islands at the Anambas collection, however, are more rugged, with hills exceeding 1,640 feet (500 metres). Mangrove swamps are common along the coasts, but at the Anambas archipelago, where the majority of the islands possess a steep, rocky, but forested shore. The state has no significant rivers; somewhat, the islands have been drained by smaller streams.
The Riau Islands are also home to a beautiful diversity of animal life. Other noteworthy mammals include Sunda stink badgers (variously classified either as badgers or as skunks), which are native to the Natuna Islands and parts of Java, Sumatra, and Borneo; civets; and horseshoe bats. Waterbirds and fish eagles, like herons, ducks, herons, egrets, plovers, kingfishers, and terns, are plentiful. Shellfish of several sorts, including turtles, mussels, clams, and oysters, flourish in the coastal waters. Groupers are one of the common finfish.
Over one-third of this state’s inhabitants is Malay. Javanese constitute another most significant segment of the populace, followed at a distance from Minangkabau, Chinese, along with Batak individuals in approximately equal amounts. The best diversity is located on Batam, although Malays account for a lot of the Natuna Islands’ populace. Virtually three-fourths of the people is Islam, even though the majority of the rest follows Christianity (mostly Protestant) or even Buddhism. A tiny portion of Riau Islands inhabitants is Hindu. The majority of the population resides around Batam, especially from the Riau archipelago and at roughly Tanjungpinang. By comparison, the Natuna Islands are densely populated. A few two-fifths of the islands of this province are named nor occupied.
The best contributor to the Riau Islands’ market is the production industry, the main output of that includes metal, mineral and electronic equipment products, plastics, and heavy machines. Hospitality and trade are sources of earnings. Mining of granite bauxite, and tin –has been a significant activity in the area in the Lingga and Riau islands. Also, construction is currently expanding throughout the province. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing constitute a small sector of the economy.
The Riau Islands’ ever-expanding road network is extensive at the Riau archipelago, particularly on Batam. Similarly, the interface process of Batam is well-developed, with quite a few centres managing shipments. Vents on Bintan and also Great Karimun also adapt to international cargo. Still, only traffic is received by people in the Lingga Archipelago and the Natuna Islands. While domestic service is available in many airports throughout the province, Batam has an international airport.
For administrative purposes, the province is subdivided into two kota (towns) of Batam (that crosses the whole island of Batam) and also Tanjungpinang and several kabupaten (regencies). These units are subdivided together with the village group — variously called desa or kelurahan — on the lowest administrative level, on several levels. The leader of the Riau Islands is that the governor.
Planning to visit Riau Islands soon? Find out more about the Riau Islands and Indonesia by visiting Wonderful Indonesia.