Batanta is one of the four major islands in the Raja Ampat Islands in Southwest Papua province, Indonesia. Its area is 479.5 km2 and its highest point is 1184 m. The Pitt Strait separates it from Salawati Island, while the Dampier Strait separates it from Waigeo Island.

Batanta
Batanta is located in Raja Ampat Islands
Batanta
Batanta
Location in Raja Ampat Islands
Batanta is located in Maluku
Batanta
Batanta
Location in Papua
Geography
LocationPacific Ocean
Coordinates0°52′4″S 130°39′27″E / 0.86778°S 130.65750°E / -0.86778; 130.65750
ArchipelagoRaja Ampat Islands
Area479.5 km2 (185.1 sq mi)
Highest point1184 m
Administration
ProvinceSouthwest Papua
The Raja Ampat Islands

Dampier Strait is named after the English explorer William Dampier. In 1759 Captain William Wilson sailing in the East Indiaman Pitt navigated these waters and named the channel between Batanta and Salawati as Pitt Strait, after his vessel.

History

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Islam first arrived in the Raja Ampat archipelago in the 15th century due to political and economic contacts with the Bacan Sultanate.[1] During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Sultanate of Tidore had close economic ties with the island.[1] During this period, Islam became firmly established and local chiefs began adopting Islam.[1][2] Batanta was historically under the rule of the Salawati Kingdom, one of the Raja Ampat (Four Kings).

Fauna

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The following reptile, mammal, and bird species are found on the island:

References

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  1. ^ a b c Wanggai, Toni V. M. (2008). Rekonstruki sejarah umat Islam di tanna Papua [Reconstruction of the History of lslam in Papua]. Syariff Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  2. ^ Slama, Martin (2015), "Papua as an Islamic Frontier: Preaching in 'the Jungle' and the Multiplicity of Spatio-Temporal Hierarchisations", From 'Stone-Age' to 'Real-Time': Exploring Papuan Temporalities, Mobilities and Religiosities, ANU Press, pp. 243–270, ISBN 978-1-925022-43-8