Raja Ampat, is an archipelago located off the northwest of the Bird’s Head Peninsula on the island of New Guinea, in Indonesia’s Southwest Papua province. Raja Ampat literally means the Four Kings in Indonesian and it refers to the Islands of Misool, Salawati, Batanta and Waigeo. The four Islands share common history and culture. Besides the main islands, the area includes over 1,500 small islands scattered around the main islands.
Raja Ampat
Historically, Raja Ampat stands as a stepping stone between cultures and kingdoms in Maluku (Mollucas) and the tribes of Papua, especially during the spice wars between Mollukan kingdoms and the Europeans.
Politically, covering approximately 70,000 km2 (27,000 sq mi) of both land and sea, the regency of Raja Ampat comprises 8,000 km2 as its land area. According to the 2020 Census, the population within this land area amounts to 64,141 individuals. This archipelago is located on the Equator and it is part of the Coral Triangle, an area between the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean which contains the richest marine biodiversity on earth.
The archipelago is considered by many to be the best tropical archipelago when it comes to wildlife and geology. In 2023, UNESCO designated Raja Ampat as a Global Geopark due to its well-preserved, unique, and scarce landscapes being of international geological significance. Already in the beginning of the 21st century the nature tourism in Raja Ampat has increased dramatically, and the society in Northern Raja Ampat has become more and more dependent on tourism. In Misool the main occupation is working in the pearl farms or in the fishing industry.
Misool
Situated in the southern region of Raja Ampat, Misool, previously spelled Mysol (Dutch: Misoöl) or Misol. The original Matbat inhabitants called the island Batan Me. Misool is the second largest island among the four Raja Ampat Islands. Spanning an area of around 2,000 km2, it reaches its highest elevation at 561 meters. In 2020 the population of Misool was 9,854 people. Waigama and Lilinta serve as the main villages, situated on the island’s northwest and southeast coasts, respectively.
Because of its distance to its sister Islands, Misool is the least visited and because of this many consider it as the excitingly mysterious one. Comprising of chains of small islets offering unbelievably rich coral reefs, awe inspiring cliffs, labyrinth, and hills of karst limestone, and dozens of lagoons, Misool stands out as an independent destination worth exploring.
For history lovers, Misool has two major charms: at one point in history the karst mazes were perfect hiding places for rebels and pirates, and the place was a home for pre-modern humans as it was shown in the rock arts that are scattered on the chain of islands.
