Merauke

Last updated

Merauke
Tugu Lingkaran Brawijaya 969.jpg
Lingkaran Brawijaya (Libra) 969 monument in Merauke
OpenStreetMap
Merauke
Indonesia Western New Guinea location map.png
Red pog.svg
Merauke
Location in Western New Guinea and Indonesia
Indonesia location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Merauke
Merauke (Indonesia)
Coordinates: 8°28′S140°20′E / 8.467°S 140.333°E / -8.467; 140.333
CountryFlag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia
Province South Papua
Regency Merauke Regency
Government
  Head of districtKristian Ndiken
Area
  Total500.41 km2 (193.21 sq mi)
Population
 (mid 2023 estimate)
  Total110,541
  Density220/km2 (570/sq mi)
  [1]
Demographics
  Languages Auyu, Kolopom, Mandobo, Marind, Muyu, Mombum (natives) Javanese (dominant), and others
Time zone UTC+9 (Indonesia Eastern Time)
Area code (+62) 975
Climate Aw
Website http://www.merauke.go.id

Merauke is a large town (kelurahan) and an administrative district (distrik) in Merauke Regency of South Papua Province, Indonesia. It is also the administrative centre of Merauke Regency, and is considered to be the easternmost city in Indonesia, although it currently lacks city status. The town was originally called Ermasoe. [2] It is next to the Maro River where the Port of Merauke is located. [3] Merauke District covers a land area of 500.41 km2, and had a population of 87,634 at the 2010 Census. [4] which at the 2020 Census had increased to 102,351; [5] the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 110,541 (comprising 56,578 males and 53,963 females). [1]

Contents

Communities

The district is sub-divided into eleven urban kelurahan and 5 rural villages (kampung). These are listed below with their official codes (kode wilayah) and their populations as at mid 2023, [1] together with their post codes. The names of the five desa are followed by asterisks.

Kode
Wilayah
Name of
kelurahan
or desa
Pop'n
Estimate
mid 2023
Post
code
93.01.01.2001Nasem *57299618
93.01.01.1002Samkai11,80199615
93.01.01.1003Karang Indah9,82899614
93.01.01.1004Mandala15,15899617
93.01.01.1005Maro11,01599613
93.01.01.1006Kelapa Lima12,03899612
93.01.01.1007Rimba Jaya11,77399610
93.01.01.2008Wasur *65299611
93.01.01.1009Bambu Pemali7,78899616
93.01.01.1010Seringgu Jaya8,05599619
93.01.01.1011Kamundu6,99699607
93.01.01.1012Kamahedoga3,04399606
93.01.01.1013Muli8,64099608
93.01.01.2014Bokem *46499604
93.01.01.2015Buti *2,41499605
93.01.01.2016Nggolar *30699609
93.01.01Totals41,642

History

Merauke was established in February 1902 as a military post by the Dutch, to prevent raids by the Marind-anim into neighbouring British New Guinea and the northwest Torres Strait Islands (Boigu, Dauan and Saibai). The Dutch also tried to establish a rice colony there, but to no avail.

In the late 1920s and early 1930s, Merauke was used as a transit point between Java, and the Boven-Digoel internment camp where many Indonesian Communist Party members were being sent.

RAAF No. 12 Squadron pilots in the mess at Merauke in December 1943 No 12 Squadron aircrew Merauke Dec 1943.jpg
RAAF No. 12 Squadron pilots in the mess at Merauke in December 1943

Merauke was the site of an Allied air and naval base, Naval Base Merauke, during World War II and there was ground fighting between Australian and Japanese patrols in the area. [6]

The expression "Sabang to Merauke" is used as shorthand for the territorial extent of Indonesia from west to east, for instance in the name of Sabang Merauke Raya Air Charter. For instance, President Suharto stated in 1968 that "independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity from Sabang to Merauke are for the Indonesian people matters of principle". [7]

Climate

Merauke has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw) with moderate to little rainfall from May to November and heavy rainfall from December to April.

Climate data for Merauke (2000–2020)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)33.9
(93.0)
32.8
(91.0)
33.3
(91.9)
33.3
(91.9)
33.3
(91.9)
32.2
(90.0)
32.2
(90.0)
32.8
(91.0)
33.3
(91.9)
35.6
(96.1)
36.1
(97.0)
35.0
(95.0)
36.1
(97.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)31.4
(88.5)
31.3
(88.3)
31.1
(88.0)
31.2
(88.2)
30.6
(87.1)
29.5
(85.1)
28.9
(84.0)
29.3
(84.7)
30.5
(86.9)
31.5
(88.7)
32.2
(90.0)
32.3
(90.1)
30.8
(87.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)24.6
(76.3)
24.6
(76.3)
24.6
(76.3)
24.5
(76.1)
24.2
(75.6)
23.6
(74.5)
22.5
(72.5)
22.0
(71.6)
22.5
(72.5)
23.2
(73.8)
24.4
(75.9)
24.9
(76.8)
23.8
(74.9)
Record low °C (°F)20.0
(68.0)
21.1
(70.0)
20.6
(69.1)
19.4
(66.9)
18.9
(66.0)
16.7
(62.1)
17.2
(63.0)
14.4
(57.9)
14.4
(57.9)
15.6
(60.1)
17.2
(63.0)
20.6
(69.1)
14.4
(57.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches)279.0
(10.98)
278.0
(10.94)
329.2
(12.96)
230.4
(9.07)
170.3
(6.70)
58.7
(2.31)
35.4
(1.39)
66.3
(2.61)
21.6
(0.85)
53.0
(2.09)
96.5
(3.80)
165.5
(6.52)
1,783.9
(70.22)
Average precipitation days14.714.715.712.99.88.36.83.33.04.25.310.3109
Average relative humidity (%)84858484848281818081828383
Source 1: Meteomanz [8]
Source 2: Deutscher Wetterdienst (extremes) [9] Danish Meteorological Institute (humidity) [10]

Religion

The Cathedral of St. Francis Xavier in Merauke is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Merauke.

Education

Merauke hosts the Musamus Merauke University, a state-run public university. It was founded as an academy in 2001 and officially became university in 2006.

Merauke as the name

Merauke is used for the name of United States navy ship, USS Merauke (ID-2498).

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merauke Regency</span> Easternmost place and regency in Indonesia

Merauke Regency is a regency in the far south of the Indonesian province of South Papua. It covers an area of 45,013.35 km2, and had a population of 195,716 at the 2010 Census and 230,932 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 243,722, comprising 126,508 males and 117,214 females. The administrative centre is the town of Merauke; this was projected since 2013 to become an independent city (kota) separate from Merauke Regency, but the alteration has been deferred. It is also the provincial capital of the province of South Papua, more specifically in Salor located in Kurik District. Merauke is the largest regency in Indonesia, with an area of 45,013.35 km2, slightly larger than Estonia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sorong</span> City and capital of Southwest Papua, Indonesia

Sorong is the largest city and the capital of the Indonesian province of Southwest Papua. The city is located on the western tip of the island of New Guinea with its only land borders being with Sorong Regency. It is the gateway to Indonesia's Raja Ampat Islands, species rich coral reef islands in an area considered the heart of the world's coral reef biodiversity. It also is the logistics hub for Indonesia's thriving eastern oil and gas frontier. Sorong experienced rapid growth during the decade from 2010, and further growth is anticipated as Sorong becomes linked by road to other frontier towns in Papua's Bird's Head Peninsula. The official estimate of population as at mid 2023 was 294,978 - comprising 154,543 males and 140,435 females. The suburban area of Sorong city contains tropical rainforest and mangrove forest that has increasingly become popular as ecotourism attractions especially for birdwatching or wildlife watching.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lamongan Regency</span> Regency of Indonesia

Lamongan Regency is a regency of the East Java Province of Indonesia. It has a total land area of approximately 1,812.8 km2 (699.9 sq mi) or + 3.78% of the area of East Java Province. With a length of 47 km (29 mi) along the coastline, the sea area of Lamongan Regency is about 902.4 km2 (348.4 sq mi), if calculated to a distance of 12 miles (19 km) across the ocean surface. At the 2010 census it had a population of 1,179,059; the 2020 Census produced a total of 1,379,628 and the official estimate as at mid-2023 was 1,385,835. The regency seat is the town of Lamongan, situated on the Solo River which passes from west to east through the regency, effectively dividing it in two.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nganjuk Regency</span> Regency of Indonesia

Nganjuk Regency is a regency (kabupaten) of East Java Province, Indonesia. It borders Bojonegoro Regency in the north, Jombang Regency in the east, Kediri Regency in the south and Madiun Regency in the west. It covers an area of 1,224.33 sq. km, and had a population of 1,017,030 at the 2010 Census and 1,103,902 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as of mid-2023 was 1,144,508. The administrative centre of the regency is the town of Nganjuk. The current regent is Dr. Drs. H. Marhaen Djumadi, S.E., S.H., M.M., M.B.A.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Purwakarta</span> District in West Java, Indonesia

Purwakarta is a town and an administrative district (kecamatan) in West Java, Indonesia which serves as the regency seat of the Purwakarta Regency. It covers a land area of 24.39 km2, and had a population of 165,447 at the 2010 Census, rising to 179,233 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 183,813 - comprising 92,178 males and 91,635 females.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sorong Regency</span> Regency in Southwest Papua, Indonesia

Sorong Regency is a regency of the Southwest Papua province of Indonesia. It covers an area of 13,075.28 km2, and had a population of 70,619 at the 2010 Census, and 118,679 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as of mid-2023 was 129,963. Its administrative centre is the town of Aimas. Sorong Regency surrounds Sorong City (Kota) on the landward side; the city is administratively independent of the Regency and is not included in the above statistics; Sorong City has an airport, Sorong Airport, which also serves the Regency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rembang Regency</span> Regency of Indonesia

Rembang Regency is a regency on the extreme northeast coast of Central Java Province, on the island of Java in Indonesia. The regency covers an area of 1,036.70 km2 on Java, and it had a population of 591,359 at the 2010 Census and 645,333 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as of mid-2023 was 660,166, of whom 331,870 were males and 328,296 were females. Its administrative capital is the town of Rembang.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biak Numfor Regency</span> Regency in Papua, Indonesia

Biak Numfor Regency is one of the regencies (kabupaten) in Papua Province of Western New Guinea in northeastern Indonesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boven Digoel Regency</span> Regency in South Papua, Indonesia

Boven Digoel Regency is an inland regency (kabupaten) in the northeastern part of the Indonesian province of South Papua. It was split off from Merauke Regency on 12 November 2002. It is bordered to the south by the residual Merauke Regency, to the west by Mappi Regency, and to the north by the province of Highland Papua. At the same time, to the east lies the international border with Papua New Guinea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tolikara Regency</span> Regency in Highland Papua, Indonesia

Tolikara Regency is one of the regencies (kabupaten) in the Indonesian province of Highland Papua. It covers an area of 14,564 km2, and had a population of 114,427 at the 2010 Census and 239,543 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as at mid 2022 was 244,345. The administrative centre of Tolikara Regency is the town of Karubaga.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puncak Jaya Regency</span> Regency in Central Papua, Indonesia

Puncak Jaya Regency is one of the regencies (kabupaten) in the Indonesian province of Central Papua. It is an inland highland regency, lying directly east of Paniai Regency and west of Jayawijaya Regency and Tolikara Regency. As of 2004, it was reported that these four regencies had a population that is 93–97% ethnic Papua; however this included areas which have subsequently been formed into new regencies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paniai Regency</span> Regency in Central Papua, Indonesia

Paniai Regency is one of the regencies (kabupaten) in Central Papua Province of Indonesia. It is named after the Paniai Lakes. It covers an area of 6,525.25 km2, and had a population of 153,432 at the 2010 Census and 220,410 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as of mid-2022 was 227,254 - comprising 124,260 males and 102,994 females. The administrative centre is the town of Enarotali, in East Paniai.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nabire Regency</span> Regency in Papua, Indonesia

Nabire Regency is one of the regencies (kabupaten) in the Indonesian province of Central Papua. It covers an area of 12,075.00 km2, and had a population of 129,893 at the 2010 Census and 169,136 at the 2020 Census, comprising 87,688 males and 81,448 females. The official estimate as at mid 2023 was 174,427. The town of Nabire, which faces onto Cenderawasih Bay, is the regency seat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mappi Regency</span> Regency in South Papua, Indonesia

Mappi Regency is a regency (kabupaten) in the Indonesian province of South Papua. It was split off from Merauke Regency on 12 November 2002. It covers an area of 25,609.94 km2, and had a population of 81,658 at the 2010 Census and 108,295 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 110,291. The administrative centre is the town of Kepi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yapen Islands Regency</span> Regency in Papua, Indonesia

Yapen Islands Regency is a regency (kabupaten) in Papua Province of eastern Indonesia. It covers an area of 2,432.49 km2 (939.19 sq mi), and had a population of 82,951 at the 2010 Census and 112,676 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 115,056. It comprises an archipelago which lies in Cenderawasih Bay off the north coast of Western New Guinea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banggai Islands Regency</span> Regency in Sulawesi, Indonesia

The Banggai Archipelago is a group of islands located at the far eastern end of Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. It makes up a regency (kabupaten) of Central Sulawesi Province of Indonesia, created on 4 October 1999 by splitting the existing Banggai Regency into a residual Banggai Regency situated on the mainland of Sulawesi and a new Banggai Islands Regency then comprising the entire archipelago. On 14 December 2012 a splitting of the Banggai Islands archipelago took place with the removal of the more southerly seven districts from the 13-year-old regency to form a separate Banggai Laut Regency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Sorong Regency</span> Regency in Southwest Papua, Indonesia

South Sorong Regency is a regency of Southwest Papua province of Indonesia. It has an area of 6,570.23 km2, and had a population of 37,900 at the 2010 Census and 52,469 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 54,277. The administrative centre is the town of Kaibus in Teminabuan District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tigaraksa</span> Town and district in Banten, Indonesia

Tigeraksa is a town and an administrative district (kecamatan) located in the Tangerang Regency of Banten Province on Java (island), Indonesia. The district covers a land area of 55.30 km2 and had 119,245 inhabitants in 2010 and 155,557 inhabitants in 2020; the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 163,531. The administrative headquarters of the Regency and of the district are located at the town of Tigeraksa.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Distrik Merauke Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.9401040)
  2. A Dictionary of the Aneityumese Language: In Two Parts, I. Aneityumese and English, II. English and Aneityumese; Also, Outlines of Aneityumese Grammar, and an Introduction by John Inglis, Williams & Norgate, 1882
  3. Port of Merauke
  4. Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
  5. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.
  6. Klemen, L. "The last Dutch fortress in the East Indies - Merauke, Dutch New Guinea, 1942". The Netherlands East Indies 1941-1942.
  7. "Transcript: Speech given by President Suharto at state dinner in honour of the Australian prime minister, Mr. John Gorton" (PDF). Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 13 June 1968.
  8. "SYNOP/BUFR observations. Data by months". Meteomanz. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  9. "Klimatafel von Merauke" (PDF) (in German). Deutscher Wetterdienst. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  10. "STATION NUMMER 97980" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 April 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2020.

8°28′S140°20′E / 8.467°S 140.333°E / -8.467; 140.333