Bangka-Belitung Islands

Bangka-Belitung Islands Province Provinsi Kepulauan Bangka Belitung 邦加-勿里洞省
Province
Downtown Pangkal Pinang, the largest town of the province
Flag Seal
Motto: Serumpun Sebalai (Malay) (The same root, the same place)
Location of Bangka-Belitung in Indonesia
Coordinates: 2°8′S 106°7′E / 2.133°S 106.117°E / -2.133; 106.117Coordinates: 2°8′S 106°7′E / 2.133°S 106.117°E / -2.133; 106.117
Country	Indonesia
Capital	Pangkal Pinang
Government
• Governor	Rustam Effendi
• Vice Governor	Hidayat Arsani
Area
• Total	16,424.14 km2 (6,341.40 sq mi)
Population [1]
• Total	1,223,048
• Density	74/km2 (190/sq mi)
Demographics
• Ethnic groups	Malays (60%), Chinese (Mostly Hakka) (24%), Javanese (4%), Buginese (3%), Madurese (1%), Sundanese (1%)
• Religion	Muslim (72%), Buddhist (9.24%), Confucianism (5.25%), Protestantism (3.8%), Roman Catholicism (1.2%), Hindu (0.09%)[2]
• Languages	Indonesian, Malay, Hakka (A variety of Chinese)
Time zone	WIB (UTC+7)
Website	www.babelprov.go.id

The Bangka-Belitung Islands (Indonesian: Kepulauan Bangka Belitung) or (Chinese: 邦加-勿里洞省) is a province of Indonesia, previously a part of South Sumatra Province. Lying off Sumatra, the province comprises two main islands, Bangka and Belitung, and several smaller ones. In 2010 its population was 1,223,048.^[1] The capital is Pangkal Pinang.

The Bangka Strait separates Sumatra and Bangka, and the Gaspar Strait separates Bangka and Belitung. The South China Sea is to the north, the Java Sea is to the south, and the province is separated from Borneo in the east by the Karimata Strait.

History

The first Chinese (Mostly Hakka people) workers who came to Indonesia were mainly men. They began assimilating with local people and intermarriages followed, residents coexisting peacefully in spite of differences in religion and ethnicity. When anti-Chinese riots occurred in some parts of Indonesia in 1998 at the end of the Soeharto regime, local people and those of Chinese descent lived peacefully in the Bangka Belitung province.^[3]

The province was formerly part of South Sumatra, but became a separate province along with Banten and Gorontalo in 2000.

Economy

These islands are the largest producer of tin in Indonesia. White pepper is also produced.

Health

According to the Indonesian Health Department, Bangka-Belitung is highly malarious area, with an annual malaria incidence rate of 29.3/1000 population.^[4]

Administrative divisions

Bangka-Belitung is divided into six regencies and one city, below with their (provisional) populations at the 2010 Census and at the most recent (January 2014) estimates.

Tourism

Bangka-Belitung Islands have many beaches and several small islands. Some beaches are famous for their natural attractiveness with blue sea waters, variety of coral reefs, white sand, and giant granite rock formations. Thus, Bangka-Belitung beaches have attracted tourists from around the world. The most well known beaches in Bangka Island are Pasir Padi, Matras, Parai Tenggiri, Tanjung Pesona, Rambak, Teluk Limau, Teluk Uber, Tanjung Penyusuk,Tanjung Kalian, and Tanjung Kerasak.^[5]

Whereas Belitung Island beaches are Tanjung Kiras, Tanjung Pendam, Tanjung Tinggi, Tanjung Kelayang Beach, Tanjung Binga, Panyaeran Beach, Tanjung Kubu, Teluk Gembira, and Tanjung Ru Beach. Most of the beaches in Belitung features the sites for diving, scuba, snorkeling, fishing and sailing.^[6]

References

Further reading

• Somers Heidhues, Mary F.(1992)Bangka tin and Mentok pepper : Chinese settlement on an Indonesian island Singapore : Social Isuues in Southeast Asia, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. ISBN 981-3035-99-4

Regencies and cities of Bangka-Belitung Islands Capital: Pangkal Pinang Regencies Bangka Belitung Central Bangka East Belitung South Bangka West Bangka Cities Pangkal Pinang See also: List of regencies and cities of Indonesia