Sorong

Last updated

Sorong
City of Sorong
Kota Sorong
Sorong view-1.jpg
Skyview of Sorong
Lambang Kota Sorong.png
Motto(s): 
Setara – Bersahabat – Dinamis
(Equal – Friendly – Dynamic)
Lokasi Papua Barat Daya Kota Sorong.svg
Location in Southwest Papua
OpenStreetMap
Sorong
Indonesia Western New Guinea location map.png
Red pog.svg
Sorong
Location in Western New Guinea and Indonesia
Indonesia location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Sorong
Sorong (Indonesia)
Coordinates: 0°52′S131°15′E / 0.867°S 131.250°E / -0.867; 131.250
CountryFlag of Indonesia.svg Indonesia
Region Papua
Province Flag of Southwest Papua.svg  Southwest Papua
Government
  MayorLambert Jitmau
  Vice MayorPahimah Iskandar
Area
  Total1,105.0 km2 (426.6 sq mi)
Population
 (mid 2023 estimate)
  Total294,978
  Density270/km2 (690/sq mi)
  [1]
Time zone UTC+9 (Indonesia Eastern Time)
Postcodes
98414
Area code (+62) 951
Website sorongkota.go.id
Port of Sorong Port of Sorong.jpg
Port of Sorong

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. [2] 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. [1] 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. [3]

Contents

Etymology

The origin of Sorong's name comes from the word Soren, which means "deep and wavy ocean" in the Biak language. The name was first used by the Biak-Numfor people who sailed to different islands before they finally decided to settle down in Raja Ampat Islands. When the Biak-Numfor people came to the place called "Daratan Maladum", they decided to call it Soren. After centuries of contact with Chinese merchants, European missionaries, and people from Maluku and Sangihe-Talaud, the name underwent further change into Sorong. [4]

History

Dutch influence over the region was minimal until the 20th century, when a colonial post was established on Doom Island in 1906, serving as the Dutch administrative center of the region. [5] In the 1930s, the Dutch oil company Nederlandsch Nieuw Guinee Petroleum Maatschappij (NNGPM) had discovered oil off the coast of Sorong. [6] The newly established oil fields led to the expansion of Dutch colonial influence in Western New Guinea, and had made Sorong into a valuable military target. During World War II, Sorong was occupied by the Empire of Japan in 1942, and would serve as the center of operations for Japanese forces during the Western New Guinea campaign. The Battle of Sansapor in June 1944 would effectively end Japanese control over the Bird's Head Peninsula, and by August 1944 any remaining Japanese presence in the region was removed by the US 6th Division. [7] After the Indonesian War of Independence, the colonial administration would attempt to expand oil production with the construction of the 58 kilometer Klamono-Sorong pipeline. [8] However, oil production declined after the war, and by 1961 oil production had dropped another 33%. This decline in production contributed to the demise of the Dutch colonial administration, as the Dutch administration over the territory could no longer be defended as economically viable. Under Indonesian administration, oil production would return to pre-war levels, and by 1967 production had more than trebled from 1961 levels. [8] Today, the city still remains as one of the major oil and gas producers of Indonesian New Guinea.

In 1972, Sorong was reformed into an autonomous city, and then reformed into an administrative city in 1996. [9] Administrative cities were abolished in 1999, granting Sorong full city status, and separating Sorong City from the Sorong Regency. [10]

Administrative districts

At the 2010 Census, the city comprised six districts (distrik), but the number has subsequently been increased to ten by the splitting of existing districts. These are tabulated below with their populations at the 2010 Census [11] and 2020 Census, [12] together with the official estimates for mid-2023. [1] The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages (all classed as urban kelurahan, 41 in total) in each district, and its post code.

Kode
Kemendagri
Name of
District
(distrik)
Area
in
km2
Pop'n
2010
Census
Pop'n
2020
Census
Pop'n
mid 2023
Estimate
Admin
centre
No.
of
villages
Post
code
92.71.03Sorong Barat
(West Sorong)
127.7435,30638,57839,936Klawasi498412
92.71.10Maladum Mes (a)126.40(b)11,41212,258Tanjung Kasuari498411
92.71.04Sorong Kepulauan (c)
(Sorong Islands)
200.119,71111,80113,351Doom Timur498413
92.71.02Sorong Timur
(East Sorong)
69.3926,80440,37444,424Klamana498418
02.71.05Sorong Utara
(North Sorong)
127.2145,00137,02939,503Malanu498410
92.71.01Sorong (district)48.8131,26419,08318,216Remu498416
92.71.06Sorong Manoi135.9742,53955,48256,268Malawei598415
92.71.08Klaurung88.83(b)15,14516,801Klablim498417
92.71.09Malaimsimsa102.50(b)32,60033,269Klabulu498419
92.71.07Sorong Kota
(Sorong town)
78.04(b)21,44620,952Kampung Baru498414
Totals1,105.00190,625284,410294,97841

Note: (a) A coastal strip along the northern edge of the city. (b) the populations as at 2010 of the four new districts established after 2010 are included in the figures for the districts from which they were split off.
(c) Sorong Kepulauan District comprises 25 islands off the west coast of Sorong but within the city limits, including Doom, Soop, Raam and Umbre Islands.

Demographics

The city had a population of 190,625 at the 2010 Census [11] and 284,410 at the 2020 Census; [12] the official estimate (as at mid 2023) was 294,978 (comprising 154,543 males and 140,435 females). [1] In mid 2022, 47.34% of the city population were Protestant, 44.82% were Muslim, and 7.55% Catholic, with minorities of Buddhists and Hindus. [13]

Climate

Sorong experiences a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen Af), as there is no real dry season throughout the year. The wettest month is June, with a total rainfall of 373 millimetres (14.7 in), while the driest month is February, with a total rainfall of 180 millimetres (7.1 in). The excessive rainfall is caused by the monsoon. The temperature variation remains constant throughout the year. The temperature difference between the hottest month and the coolest month is 1.2 °C (2.2 °F). The hottest month is November, with an average temperature of 27.8 °C (82.0 °F), while the coolest month is July, with an average temperature of 26.6 °C (79.9 °F).

Climate data for Sorong, West Papua
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)30.6
(87.1)
30.5
(86.9)
30.5
(86.9)
30.7
(87.3)
30.6
(87.1)
30.0
(86.0)
29.4
(84.9)
29.5
(85.1)
29.9
(85.8)
30.7
(87.3)
31.0
(87.8)
30.8
(87.4)
30.4
(86.7)
Daily mean °C (°F)27.5
(81.5)
27.4
(81.3)
27.5
(81.5)
27.6
(81.7)
27.5
(81.5)
27.1
(80.8)
26.6
(79.9)
26.7
(80.1)
26.9
(80.4)
27.5
(81.5)
27.8
(82.0)
27.6
(81.7)
27.3
(81.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)24.4
(75.9)
24.4
(75.9)
24.6
(76.3)
24.5
(76.1)
24.5
(76.1)
24.3
(75.7)
23.9
(75.0)
23.9
(75.0)
24.0
(75.2)
24.3
(75.7)
24.6
(76.3)
24.5
(76.1)
24.3
(75.7)
Average rainfall mm (inches)194
(7.6)
180
(7.1)
198
(7.8)
243
(9.6)
368
(14.5)
373
(14.7)
321
(12.6)
277
(10.9)
234
(9.2)
207
(8.1)
186
(7.3)
188
(7.4)
2,969
(116.8)
Average relative humidity (%)81818282858485868582828383
Source 1: Climate-Data.org (average temps & precipitation) [14]
Source 2: Weatherbase (humidity) [15]

Economy

A container port was built in Sorong with an annual container-handling capacity of 500,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) at a cost of Rp.800 billion (US$93.6 million). Construction began in early 2012 and was intended to be completed in mid-2013, [16] but was delayed and was inaugurated on 20 September 2021.

The state-owned oil company Pertamina operates a dockyard in Sorong. [17] The city is served by Domine Eduard Osok Airport. [18]

The phrase "Sorong to Samarai" is commonly used throughout Papua New Guinea and Indonesian Papua to express solidarity and oneness and makes reference to both Sorong, a town in Southwest Papua, Indonesia and Samarai, a small township being one of the easternmost point located in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. It is sometimes used by Papuan independence activists in reference to Papuan unification, in opposition to the common Indonesian phrase of "Sabang to Merauke". In 2016, the ARIA Music Awards-nominated Papua New Guinean-Australian musician Airileke released a single titled "Sorong Samarai". [19]

Cooperation and friendship

In addition to its sister cities, Sorong cooperates with:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Papua (province)</span> Province of Indonesia

Papua is a province of Indonesia, comprising the northern coast of Western New Guinea together with island groups in Cenderawasih Bay to the west. It roughly follows the borders of Papuan customary region of Tabi Saireri. It is bordered by nation of Papua New Guinea to the east, the Pacific Ocean to the north, Cenderawasih Bay to the west, and the provinces of Central Papua and Highland Papua to the south. The province also shares maritime boundaries with Palau in the Pacific. Following the splitting off of twenty regencies to create the three new provinces of Central Papua, Highland Papua, and South Papua on 30 June 2022, the residual province is divided into eight regencies and one city (kota), the latter being the provincial capital of Jayapura. The province has a large potential in natural resources, such as gold, nickel, petroleum, etc. Papua, along with five other Papuan provinces, has a higher degree of autonomy level compared to other Indonesian provinces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Special Region of Yogyakarta</span> Special autonomous region of Indonesia

The Special Region of Yogyakarta is a province-level special region of Indonesia in southern Java. It is a semi-enclave that is surrounded by on the landward side by Central Java Province to the west, north, and east, but has a long coastline on the Indian Ocean to the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jayapura</span> Capital and largest city of Papua, Indonesia

Jayapura is the capital and largest city of the Indonesian province of Papua. It is situated on the northern coast of New Guinea island and covers an area of 940.0 km2 (362.9 sq mi). The city borders the Pacific Ocean and Yos Sudarso Bay to the north, the country of Papua New Guinea to the east, Keerom Regency to the south, and Jayapura Regency to the west.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Papua (province)</span> Province in Indonesia

West Papua, formerly Irian Jaya Barat, is an Indonesian province located in Indonesia Papua. It covers most of the two western peninsulas of the island of New Guinea: the eastern half of the Bird's Head Peninsula and the whole of the Bomberai Peninsula, along with nearby smaller islands. The province is bordered to the north by the Pacific Ocean, to the west by Southwest Papua Province, the Halmahera Sea and the Ceram Sea, to the south by the Banda Sea, and to the east by the province of Central Papua and the Cenderawasih Bay. Manokwari is the province's capital and largest city. With an estimated population of 569,570 in mid-2023, West Papua is the least populous province in Indonesia after South Papua, following the separation off in 2022 of the western half of the Bird's Head Peninsula to create the new province of Southwest Papua, containing 52% of what had been West Papua's population.Its population density is similar to Russia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biak</span> Indonesian island off the northern coast of Papua

Biak is the main island of Biak Archipelago located in Cenderawasih Bay near the northern coast of Papua, an Indonesian province, and is just northwest of New Guinea. Biak has many atolls, reefs, and corals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raja Ampat Islands</span> Archipelago in Southwest Papua, Indonesia

Raja Ampat, or the Four Kings, is an archipelago located off of the northwest tip of Bird's Head Peninsula, Southwest Papua province, Indonesia. It comprises over 1,500 small islands, cays, and shoals around the four main islands of Misool, Salawati, Batanta, and Waigeo, and the smaller island of Kofiau.

<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">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">Supiori Regency</span> Regency in Papua, Indonesia

Supiori Regency is a regency in the Indonesian province of Papua. The Regency has an area of 634.24 km2 including the Aruri Islands group to the south, and had a population of 15,874 at the 2010 Census and 22,547 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 24,013 - comprising 12,434 males and 11,579 females. Until 8 January 2004, this area was part of the Biak Numfor Regency, from which it was split off in accordance with the Law dated 18 December 2003.

<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">Raja Ampat Regency</span> Regency in Southwest Papua, Indonesia

Raja Ampat Regency is a regency of Southwest Papua Province of Indonesia. The regency, which was formed by separating the archipelago from Sorong Regency, based on the Law 26 of 2002, was inaugurated on 12 April 2003. It consists of a number of groups of islands situated off the north-west end of West Papua; the four main islands from south to north are Misool, Salawati, Batanta, and Waigeo. At present, the regency covers a land area of 7,559.60 km2, with a total area stated as 67,379.61 km2. It had a population of 42,508 at the 2010 Census and 64,141 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 68,501. The principal town lies at Waisai on Waigeo Island.

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

Tambrauw Regency is a regency of Southwest Papua Province, Indonesia, in the Bird's Head Peninsula of Papua Island. It was created on 29 October 2008 from what had been an eastern part of Sorong Regency, originally as part of the province of West Papua. Much of the regency is located on the Tamrau Mountains that the local government declarated Tambrauw as a "conservation regency".

This is a list of emblems or coat of arms used in Indonesia. Indonesia is divided into 38 provinces, and each province is divided into regencies (kabupaten) and cities (kota). There are 416 regencies and 98 cities. Each province, regency, and city has its own emblem.

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

Central Papua, officially the Central Papua Province is an Indonesian province located in the central region of Western New Guinea. It was formally established on 11 November 2022 from the former eight western regencies of the province of Papua. It covers an area of 61,072.91 km2 and had an officially estimated population of 1,452,810 in mid 2023. It is bordered by the Indonesian provinces of West Papua to the west, the province of Papua to the north and northeast, by Highland Papua to the east, and by South Papua to the southeast. The administrative capital is located in Wanggar District in Nabire Regency, although Timika is a larger town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Highland Papua</span> Province with special status in Indonesia

Highland Papua is a province of Indonesia, which roughly follows the borders of Papuan customary region of Lano-Pago, shortened to La Pago. It covers an area of 51,213.33 km2 (19,773.58 sq mi) and had a population of 1,448,360 according to the official estimates as at mid 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southwest Papua</span> Province with special status in Indonesia

Southwest Papua is the 38th province of Indonesia to be created, and was split off from West Papua on 8 December 2022. Despite being named southwest, it is a misnomer and this province is actually located in the northwest edge of Papua. The province comprises the Greater Sorong area which consists of Sorong City, Sorong Regency, South Sorong Regency, Maybrat Regency, Tambrauw Regency, and Raja Ampat Regency. The Bill (RUU) on the Establishment of the Southwest Papua Province was passed into law and therefore it became the 38th province in Indonesia with effect from 8 December 2022.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024, Kota Sorong Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.9271)
  2. "Raja Ampat, Indonesia".
  3. Roring, Charles. "Sorong City Sightseeing and Birdwatching Tour" . Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  4. "Etymology of Sorong".
  5. Indonesia Reports. Indonesia Publications. 1986. p. 49. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  6. McGibbon, Rodd (2004). "Plural Society in Peril: Migration, Economic Change, and the Papua Conflict". East-West Center: 8. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  7. Morison, Samuel Eliot (2001). History of United States Naval Operations in World War II: New Guinea and the Marianas, March 1944 – August 1944. University of Illinois Press. pp. 140–144. ISBN   0-252-07038-0 . Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  8. 1 2 Poulgrain, Greg (September 1999). "Delaying the 'Discovery' of Oil in West New Guinea". The Journal of Pacific History. 34 (2): 215–216. JSTOR   25161079 . Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  9. "History of Sorong City". West Papua Daily News Update. 29 September 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  10. Undang-undang Nomor 45 tahun 1999 tentang Pembentukan Daerah Propinsi Irian Jaya Tengah, Daerah Propinsi Irian Jaya Barat, Daerah Kabupaten Paniai, Daerah Kabupaten Mimika, Daerah Kabupaten Puncak Jaya, Dan Daerah Kabupaten Puncak Jaya Dan Daerah Kota Sorong (Law 45) (in Indonesian). 1999.
  11. 1 2 Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
  12. 1 2 Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.
  13. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2023, Kota Sorong Dalam Angka 2023 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.9271)
  14. "Climate: Sorong". Climate-Data.org. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  15. "SORONG, INDONESIA". Weatherbase. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  16. Post, The Jakarta. "Container port to be built in Sorong".
  17. "Dewan Komisaris Pertamina Kunjungi Dockyard Sorong". Berita Satu (in Indonesian). 27 October 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  18. ".:: Directorate General Of Civil Aviation - Ministry Of Transportation Republic Of Indonesia ::". 3 February 2014. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014.
  19. "Sorong Samarai - Expressing unity, calling for change".