Waigeo
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | South East Asia |
| Coordinates | 0°12′S 130°50′E / 0.200°S 130.833°ECoordinates: 0°12′S 130°50′E / 0.200°S 130.833°E |
| Archipelago | Raja Ampat Islands |
| Area | 3,155 km2 (1,218 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 958 m (3,143 ft) |
| Highest point | Buffalo Horn |
| Country | |
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Indonesia | |
Waigeo is an island in West Papua province of eastern Indonesia. The island is also known as Amberi, or Waigiu. It is the largest of the four main islands in the Raja Ampat Islands archipelago, between Halmahera and about 65 km to the northwest coast of New Guinea. The Dampier Strait (a.k.a. Augusta's Strait) separates it from Batanta, and the Bougainville Strait from the Kawe Islands to its northwest. The "inner sea" that nearly cleaves the island in two is the Majoli Gulf.[1]
The area of the island is 3,155 km²; the highest elevations are 958 m high Buffalo Horn and 939 m high Serodjil.[2] From west to east the island measures approximately 110 km, north-south circa 50 km.
The town of Wasai in the west of the island is the capital of the Raja Ampat regency. The inhabitants of Waigeo speak the Waigeo language, also known as Ambel, Amberi or Amber, as well as the Ma'ya language[3]
History
Jorge de Menezes, a Portuguese explorer, landed on Waigeo Island in 1526-27.
Since 1997, the island has been the site of a substantial pearl farming operation owned by the Australian company Atlas Pacific.[citation needed]
Fauna and flora
- Waigeo Brushturkey
- Waigeou cuscus
- Waigeo rainbowfish
- Waigeo seaperch
- Golden-spotted tree monitor
- Achaea simplex
- Hypochlorosis ancharia
- Hypolycaena phorbas
- Karstarma waigeo
- Nepenthes danseri
References
External links
Media related to Waigeo at Wikimedia Commons