Besar Island, Flores

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Besar Island
Besar Island, Flores
Geography
Location Flores Sea
Coordinates 8°24′48″S122°22′16″E / 8.41333°S 122.37111°E / -8.41333; 122.37111
Area51.84 km2 (20.02 sq mi)
Highest elevation931 m (3054 ft)
Administration
Province East Nusa Tenggara
Regency Sikka
District East Alok
Demographics
Population2,965 (2022 est.)

Besar Island (Indonesian : Pulau Besar) is an island in the Flores Sea, located near the larger island of Flores. It is part of the East Alok district of Sikka Regency, and comprises two villages of Koja Doi and Kojagete. It is over 50 square kilometers in size with around 3,000 inhabitants.

Contents

Geography

The island has an area of 51.84 square kilometres (20.02 sq mi), not including the inhabited 4.5-hectare Koja Doi islet connected to it by a 680 metres (2,230 ft) stone causeway. [1] [2] It is the largest out of 18 registered islands in Sikka Regency. [3] Its highest point is at 931 meters above sea level, the highest point compared to other islands in the Maumere Bay. [4]

Generally, the island is accessed by speedboat from Maumere, a half-hour trip. [5]

History

The island was known to the Bajo people, who named it "Tukukaba" (meaning "Bat") after the bat populations on the island. Koja Doi (Bajo for "little acorn") used to be a disconnected islet, until locals with the help of the local Indonesian Army unit of Sikka constructed a stone causeway connecting Koja Doi and Besar. The bridge was repaired and improved in 1983. [2]

Part of Besar Island was designated as a protected forest in 1983, with further expansions in 1987, 1999, 2014, and 2016. [6] During the 1992 Flores earthquake and tsunami, the island's (and Koja Doi's) inhabitants did not suffer heavy casualties especially compared to the nearby Babi Island, due to the high elevation of Besar's peak where they evacuated. [7] Many houses were destroyed by the tsunami, however, including the local village office of Koja Doi. Some of the ruins were deliberately preserved to this day, with the village office being rebuilt across the causeway on Besar. [8]

A 190 kWp solar power station was opened on the island in 2019 near Koja Doi. [9] A smaller 8.5 kWp station was established in 2022 near Kampung Loang, on the island's north side. [10]

Economy and demographics

The island's inhabitants are primarily fishermen and farmers, with maize, upland rice, cashew nuts, and teak being cultivated. [11] There is some tourism to the island, centered at the Koja Doi islet. [12]

Statistics Indonesia estimated the total population of the two villages of Koja Doi and Kojagete comprising the island (including the Koja Doi islet) at 2,965 people, with 1,477 in Koja Doi and 1,488 in Kojagete. [13] There are two publicly funded elementary schools and one middle school in Besar. [14] [15]

Ecology

There are populations of Javan rusa deer and green sea turtles on the island, which used to be hunted by local villagers, but are now protected. The waters immediately around Koja Doi is surrounded by coral reefs, and there are mangrove forests around the island. [2]

References

  1. ↑ "Kepmendagri 300.2.2-2138 Tahun 2025" (in Indonesian). Ministry of Home Affairs. p. 4059. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 Fajar, Jay (22 September 2019). "Menikmati Koja Doi, Desa Peraih Sustainable Tourism. Apa Keunikannya?". Mongabay.co.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  3. ↑ "Di Kabupaten Sikka NTT Ada Berapa Pulau, Ini Infonya". Tribun Flores (in Indonesian). 16 April 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  4. ↑ "Pesona Taman Wisata Alam Laut Teluk Maumere". RRI.co.id (in Indonesian). 20 November 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  5. ↑ "Menyusuri Pesona Berbalut Keramahan Warga Pulau Wisata Koja Doi Sikka". liputan6.com (in Indonesian). 9 September 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  6. ↑ "Taman Wisata Alam Laut Gugus Pulau Teluk Maumere" (in Indonesian). Ministry of Forestry . Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  7. ↑ "Gempa NTT dan Trauma Tragedi Tsunami Flores Tahun 1992". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). 14 December 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  8. ↑ "Jejak Tsunami Flores 1992 di Pulau Kojadoi". Warisan Flores (in Indonesian). 5 March 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  9. ↑ R, Rahmadi (11 December 2019). "Inilah Energi Surya yang Membuat Pulau Kecil Koja Doi Menjadi Terang". Mongabay.co.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  10. ↑ "Warga Kampung Lo'ang, NTT Kini Nikmati Akses Listrik". Republika (in Indonesian). 12 December 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  11. ↑ "Jambu Mete Ubah Hidup Petani Koja Doi di Sikka". Dwipa News (in Indonesian). 7 October 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  12. ↑ "Pesona Jembatan Batu Desa Kojadoi di Sikka". Tribun Flores (in Indonesian). 14 March 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  13. ↑ "Kecamatan Alok Timur Dalam Angka 2023" (in Indonesian). Statistics Indonesia. 26 September 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  14. ↑ "Perjuangan Siswa Pulau Kojadoi Flores, Seberangi Jembatan Batu untuk Sekolah". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). 28 October 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  15. ↑ "Tak Ada Internet dan Listrik, Siswa SD di Sikka Seberangi Pulau demi Ikut Ujian". Kumparan (in Indonesian). 26 October 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
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