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Raja Ampat Islands, West Papua, Consist Of Four Small Islands: Waigeo, Batanta, Salawati, And Misool. We Will Learn About Their Exotic Animals And Places Here.
Raja Ampat in West Papua is one of the most well-known islands in Indonesia. The beautiful panoramic view has attracted many tourists to enjoy Indonesian nature. The place is considered to have one of the bluest and clearest water on earth, not to mention the green scenery everyone can breathe.
As the name suggests, Raja Ampat consists of four small islands: Waigeo, Batanta, Salawati, and Misool. A mythology tells that there used to be four kings (raja) who occupied those islands.
Waigeo
The largest among the four islands, Waigeo, is called Amberi or Waigiu. Reaching the island and the others is one hell of a journey. You need to take a plane, a car, and a boat. And it takes three hours trip from Sorong. FYI, despite the long journey, it is the closest island to Sorong.
Waigeo is a house for various kinds of wild animals. You can see some amphibian and reptile species that you can only find on this island. West Papua government establishes bird sighting activity for visitors. Maleo Waigeo and Cenderawasih Wilson have bright, colorful feathers. Last but not least, you can always enjoy the clear underwater view through snorkeling and diving activities.
Batanta
Batanta is the island where you can find a 10-meter-tall waterfall with a small cave behind it. To reach the place, you must go deep into a mangrove forest by speedboat.
Being the smallest among the four islands, Batanta is the most favorable spot for divers. Because the place is one of the silent witnesses of World War II, there are many airplane wrecks in the water. It makes the underwater world of Batanta and West Papua offer various kinds of fish.
When visiting the island, you don’t need to worry about when the sun goes down. The local people offer homestays. Before leaving, consider buying some souvenirs, like woven fabric.
Salawati
With an area of 1,623 square kilometers, Salawati does not have much difference from the rest of the islands. But you can still find a particular aspect of the island that you can’t find anywhere else. Those are the endemic animals and colorful coral reefs.
While enjoying the green view of the sago forest and walking on white sand by the shore have been defaulted activities, you can witness other unique things. The small island houses hundreds of ikan pelangi Salawati (Salawati rainbow fish). The name comes from its colorful scale.
Situated in Doktor river, the fish was found by the Indonesian and French research teams. This endemic species has purple dorsal and caudal fins. Greenish yellow appears on the lateral line up to the top dorsal fins. Meanwhile, the lower body shows red, green, and white. It’s so colorful that it’s hard to describe. It would be best to visit West Papua on your next trip to prove it.
Indeed, we still need to talk about the island’s coral reef. The island hosts coral reefs of fringing type. Atoll reefs are not as many. The good news is the clear water allows you to view those colorful coral reefs from the mainland.
Misool
Misool has an area of 2,034 square kilometers. With such a width, the island is divided into Southeast Misool and West Misool. Like the other islands, Misool is blessed with natural wealth, especially coral reefs. Misool is also a part of the coral triangle with the richest center of underwater life and coral. It is also the place for 6,000 species of fish and 76% of the world’s coral species.
The heart-shaped lagoon is also a favorite tourist spot on this island. Green trees that grow on karst surround the naturally built salt water. You can go from Sorong or Waisai West Papua to reach this place. If you go from Waisai, you will travel by speedboat.
Those are things about the four main islands of Raja Ampat in West Papua. I hope it helps you prepare for the next trip.
