Indonesia’s territory stretches out from Sabang to Merauke. It is included in national songs, historical books, and scripts. Have you ever wondered what you will find in these two points; Sabang Island and Sota district in Merauke?
Sabang is a small island in the farthest western part of the country. Inside this island, you can find a small monument marking Indonesia’s territory. It does not have a direct border with any neighboring country.
It is quite the contrary with the border in Merauke. The border is the direct crossing gateway between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. It has security applied to ensure nobody slips away between both countries. There are several posts for border security; one of the newly inaugurated posts is the Sota border post.
Where is Sota?
Without guessing, you might know that Sota city is located in Merauke. This is the farthest eastern district of Indonesia. The border is shared with Papua New Guinea as the only neighboring country on this side.
Sota is in the southern part of West Papua. It takes around one hour by car to reach Sota point since it is 80 kilometers away from Merauke. However, it is not a rough journey since it goes through a straight, tree-lined road.
The journey to Sota will bring you to go through The Wasur National Park. It is not the entire journey going through the national park, but still, the view will keep you entertained during your one-hour trip. Besides, Wasur National Park is known as the most popular site around Merauke. It becomes the habitat of several endemic species of Papua.
If you are lucky, you might be able to catch a glimpse of these animals in their natural habitat. The most famous thing to see in the area is the termite mounds. It is often mistakenly considered as a giant anthill called Musamus. These unique mounds can be found all over Papua.
What to Expect at Sota
Similar to Sabang, you will also find the zero-kilometer structure in Sota. It has a statue of Soekarno alongside the large Zero sign. Although you do not have your Sota map, you will notice this big sign. You can stop by and take pictures of yourself in the zero-kilometer landmark.
Once you have safely arrived at the Sota post, you will notice the wave of people going in and out of the border. It is only natural since Indonesia and Papua New Guinea have been close for many years.
Every day numerous people pass the border mainly for trading purposes. Mostly Papua New Guineans cross the border to buy daily necessities, such as cooking oil and rice. They also sell venison and fish from their hunting trips.
Although there are active crossing activities between both countries, there is only minimum security along the borders. Even after Sota Integrated Cross-Border Post (PLBN) was inaugurated in October 2021, there is not much difference. Most of the activities are from the Indonesian border, with guards checking the documents and products from the Papua New Guineans.
The new Sota PLBN is fully equipped with public facilities. It has public facilities and a worship area. It also includes commercial buildings. The government also provides a market to increase local trading activities. It even has dorms for workers on the Sota border.
Final Words
Sota district may not be the perfect tourist spot. Its main attraction is the zero-kilometer landmark which gives a complete experience if you visit a similar landmark in Sabang.
Basically, there are only very few things that can be explored at Sota. However, it is the trip to Sota that has more to offer. Taking the trip through the national park, seeing the large termite compounds, and then visiting the zero-kilometer landmark. That sounds like a plan for the Sota district before continuing your trip to Merauke.
