Lepar Island Explained

Lepar
Native Name:Pulau Lepar
Coordinates:-2.95°N 155°W
Area Km2:169.3
Country:Indonesia
Country Admin Divisions Title:Province
Country Admin Divisions:Bangka Belitung Islands
Country Admin Divisions Title 1:Regency
Country Admin Divisions 1:South Bangka
Country Admin Divisions Title 2:District
Country Admin Divisions 2:Lepar Pongok
Population:6,603
Density Km2:39

Lepar (Indonesian: Pulau Lepar) is an island in Indonesia, located off the southeastern coast of Bangka. Administratively part of South Bangka in Bangka Belitung province, it is the third-largest island in the province after its much larger namesakes Bangka and Belitung, with an area of 169 square km. Lepar sits in the Gaspar Strait which separates the two larger islands. It stretches about 22 km east–west and 17 km north–south, with the towns of Tanjunglabu, Tanjungsangkar and Penutuk being the main population centers. It is governed as its own district of Lepar Pongok, which used to include a nearby, medium-sized island of Pongok until 2012 when it separated as its own district of Pongok Islands.[1]

Geography

The island is largely flat with no prominent elevations, with the southeastern side having the steepest slopes.[2] It is separated by Bangka by a strait known as the Lepar Strait. The island is surrounded by about a dozen tiny islands, some of which are uninhabited.[3] Four small rivers flow in the island, named Pangku, Elang, Bunut and Bayan.[2] [3]

Administrative divisions

Lepar is divided into 4 villages (desa), which also technically include the smaller islands surrounding Lepar:[3]

Village Area (km2) Population
Penutuk 44.14 2,776
Tanjung Labu 47.46 2,115
Tanjung Sangkar 51.61 2,403
Kumbung 29.10 663

These villages are further subdivided into multiple orchards (dusun), totaling 12 throughout the district, including settlements of Lepar.[3]

Economy and facilities

Agriculture and fisheries dominate the district's economy, employing about 2,650 and 1,150 people respectively in 2016. Agricultural commodities include palm oil, rubber and pepper. A palm oil plantation company holds usage rights to just over half the island, with a concession of 8,500 hectares.[4] Unconventional tin mining also employs 200.[3]

Public schools are present, with 5 elementary schools (SD), 3 junior high schools (SMP) and a senior high school (SMA) alongside a private Islamic school.

Notes and References

  1. News: Pemekaran Lepar Pongok. Pulau Celagen Masuk Kecamatan Baru. 2 October 2017. Radar Bangka. 10 March 2012. id.
  2. Web site: Pulau Lepar. Direktori Pulau-Pulau Kecil Indonesia. Ministry of Fishery and Seas. 2 October 2017. id.
  3. Web site: Kecamatan Lepar Pongok dalam Angka 2017. Statistics Indonesia. 2 October 2017. id.
  4. News: Satriawan. Iwan. Kebun Sawit Terhampar di Pulau Lepar. 2 October 2017. Bangka Pos. 5 June 2013. id.