Filled with natural resources and beauty, the eastern part of Indonesia also has a significant history in it. Some can imply a lot for the locals, which indicate how the community’s beliefs, myth, and legend has shaped the areas. One of the unique intakes is raja Ampat’s history in West Papua. The beautiful array of archipelago also has a unique story.
The Origins Of Its Name
Raja Ampat is an archipelago from the eastern part of Indonesia. It spans over forty thousand square kilometers with thousands of five hundred islands. Those tiny islands are the archipelago and natural habitat of the richest biodiversity area of the world. It is also known that the marine life in Raja Ampat is the home of coral, fishes species, and unique biodiversity.
It works the same on the lands. Most of the tiny islands in its archipelago are untouched and left as the natural habitat of faunas and floras. It is also homes to indigenous animals, endangered birds, and thousands of bird species from Papua. But, the archipelago’s name itself is not a mere call. Raja Ampat means four kings that refer to the four biggest islands in the archipelago.
Local myths and legends shape up the name. The local said that the idea of four kings is a story following a woman of west Papua that found six eggs. Later on, out of the six eggs, only four hatched and inhibit the four biggest islands in Raja Ampat. The islands are Misool, Waigeo, Salawati, and Batanta.
However, there is also a story that indicates that the six eggs hatched four boys and a girl. Meanwhile, the one egg did not hatch. The children’s clothes resemble royalty, that is why the boys turned into kings of the four islands. Their name are Dohar (misool), War (Waigeo), Betani (Salawati), and Mohamad (Batanta).
The girl who hatched from the egg was named Pintolee. According to the myth, since she was pregnant, the brother floated her to Numfor island using a shell. Meanwhile, the unhatched egg was named Kapautuai, which later turn into a stone. The locals have high respect for the eggs, that is why they build a house on the Waikeo River, the place they are found.
The Four King Islands
1. Batanta
Among the west Papua Raja Ampat four islands, Batanta is the smallest one. It measures around 453 square km, and most of the area are consisting of rough nature. It is said that the king of Batanta is the craggiest one, that is why the island is way more rugged than the other. However, it is a natural habitat for unique species, including a bird of paradise.
2. Salawati
Salawati Island is the second smallest out of the four king islands. It spans about 1.623 square km. The location is a little bit on the Northwestern which makes the trip pretty rough. Tourists need to catch a boat and go on a long boat trip across many untouched or isolated islands along the way.
3. Misool
Being the second biggest island in Raja Ampat, Misool is one of the main destinations in the area. It is also located on the border of the Seram Sea and off the coast of Papua far to the West Papua. With that position, Misool is known for its marine biodiversity. The blue sea and coral on the sea carpet have become a paradise for divers.
4. Waigeo
Span over 3.155 square km, Waigeo is the biggest island in Raja Ampat regency. It is the main island in the area and also the host of the capital City, Waisai. Due to its position and island possibilities, Waigeo has been one of the buzzing areas in Raja Ampat. Every tourist that wants to explore the area will need to reach Waigeo beforehand.
The Historical Aspect Of Raja Ampat
Aside from the unique myth and legend, the archipelago has a pretty strong historical significance. It is seen from many historical sites splayed across the islands. You can find a historical aspect that indicates a strong Islam influence during the 15th century. It is said that the archipelago was the target of the expansion of the Tidore Sultanate from Maluku Island.
The close range and brimming nature resources are the main targets of the Sultane. It also said that during that time, the west Papua archipelago was ruled by the sultan who is the one that appointed four local kings to the biggest islands. They ruled Salawati, Batanta, Misool, and Waigeo, which later named the archipelago Raja Ampat.
Raja Ampat has always been one of the prime destinations in Papua. It is a place to visit, to be, and to conserve. The huge array of archipelago, untouched nature, and natural habitat for both sea and land biodiversity make tourists come to see. It is a landscape of heaven, which can turn into the best conservation area for certain endangered species in the world.
