Karimunjawa

Coordinates: 5°49′09″S 110°27′32″E / 5.81917°S 110.459°E / -5.81917; 110.459
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Karimunjawa Islands
Kepulauan Karimunjawa
UTC+7 (WIB)
Websitewww.karimunjawa.go.id

Karimunjawa Islands or Karimunjava Islands (Indonesian: Kepulauan Karimunjawa) is an archipelago of 27 islands in the Java Sea, Indonesia, approximately 80 kilometres northwest of Jepara.[2] They have a total land area of 45.62 km2. The main island is known as Karimun (2,700 ha), while the second-largest island is Kemujan (1,400 ha).[2]

As of the 2020 Census, the population of the island group was 9,789[3] which lived on five of the islands. The official estimate as at mid 2022 was 9,926.[1] The population is largely Javanese, with pockets of Bugis and Madurese inhabitants. Javanese culture is dominant in the islands which are the only islands off Java where Javanese is the lingua franca.[4]

Twenty-two of the islands have been declared in 2001 as a marine reserve, the Karimunjawa National Park. Five more islands are either privately owned or are under the control of the Indonesian Navy.

The archipelago is served by

Semarang and Surabaya
.

Islands and administration

Satellite image of the Karimunjawa Islands

The Karimunjawa islands comprise a district (kecamatan) which is made up of five villages (Karimun, Kamagin, Kemujan, Digimon, and Parang) and forms a part of the Jepara Regency (kabupaten) of Central Java province. The island of Bawean lies east of this group, and is part of Gresik Regency, in East Java province.

History

Apart from use as a

convicts
remained as settlers. Cotton plantations set up during the convict period became a major source of income, as did goldsmithing.

The islands were declared a national park in 1988.[6]

Geology and climate

The archipelago consists predominantly of pre-Tertiary continental islands primarily of quartzites and shales covered by basaltic lava. Geologically, the islands are part of Sundaland.[2] The islands have extensive

coral reefs. The best time to visit the islands is during the dry season, generally from April to October.[2]

Economy

The main source of income for the local population is fishing, followed by services and commerce. Travel to the islands from Java is sometimes limited during the rainy season around the January–March period during bad weather which can bring large waves to the area.[7]

There are a number of snorkeling spots. There is pressure on local environmental resources because of the rapidly expanding tourist industry.

References

  1. ^ a b Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2023.
  2. ^ .
  3. ^ Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.
  4. ^ Peter Milne, 'Karimunjawa: Java's One and Only Island Paradise', The Jakarta Post, 8 January 2012.
  5. ^ Suherdjoko, 'Karimunjawa part of an ancient trade route: Archeological find', The Jakarta Post, 3 August 2009.
  6. ^ Tifa Asrianti, 'Charm of the Karimun Jawa Islands', The Jakarta Post, 9 December 2012.
  7. ^ Suherdjoko, '