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Aerial traps of the pitcher plant Nepenthes sp. Misool

Misool (Indonesian: Pulau Misool; Matbat: Batan Mee; Dutch: Misool-eiland), formerly spelled Mysol or Misol,[1] is one of the four major islands in the Raja Ampat Islands in Southwest Papua, Indonesia. Its land area is 2,034 km2, although with surrounding smaller islands, including Kofiau Island and the Boo Islands to the northwest of Misool and the Sembilan Islands (which lie equidistant between Misool, Kofiau and Salawati) to the north, this rises to over 2,440 km2. The highest point is 561 m[2] and the main towns are Waigama, located on the island’s northwest coast, and Lilinta on the island’s southeast coast.

The inhabitants speak the Ma’ya, Biga,[3] and Matbat languages,[4] as well as Indonesian and a variety of the Malay-based creole, namely Papuan Malay.

Other main islands of this group off the western end of Southwest Papua are Salawati, Batanta, and Waigeo, and there are numerous smaller islands such as Kofiau.[5]

Etymology

The name Misool is from the Ma’ya language which meant “port” or “harbour”, relating to when the first king from Waigeo arrived on the island. The original inhabitants (Matbat) called the island by the name Batan Mee.[6]

History

Islam first arrived in the Raja Ampat Islands in the 15th century due to political and economic contacts with the Bacan Sultanate.[7] During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Sultanate of Tidore had close economic ties with the island of Misool, which was ruled by king in Lilinta descended from Gurabesi of Waigeo, while Tidore appointed another king in Waigama.[7][8][6] During this period, Islam became firmly established and local chiefs had begun adopting Islam.[8]

Misool was a part of the Dutch colonial empire under the Netherlands East Indies administration. The Japanese occupied the island in 1942, became the base of Imperial Japanese Navy until 1945.[9]

Administration

The southern part of the Raja Ampat Islands is divided into the following administrative districts (distrik).[10] This includes Kofiau Island, the Boo Islands and the Sembilan Islands (Kepulauan Sembilan), all of which are considered part of the southern section of Raja Ampat.

Kode
Kemendagri		 Name of
District
(distrik)		 Land
area
in km2		 Pop’n
Census
2010		 Pop’n
Census
2020		 Pop’n
Estimate
mid 2025		 Admin
centre		 No.
of
villages		 No.
of
islands		 Post
code		 Villages
92.05.13 Misool Selatan
(South Misool)		 91.16 3,026 3,504 4,079 Dabatan 5 295 98485 Dabatan, Fafanlap, Harapan Jaya, Usaha Jaya, Yellu
92.05.16 Misool Barat
(West Misool)		 336.84 1,291 1,498 2,072 Lilinta 5 79 98484 Biga, Gamta, Kapatcol, Lilinta, Magey
92.05.01 Misool (or
Misool Utara)		 1,235.68 1,761 2,017 2,788 Salafen 5 38 98483 Aduwei, Atkari, Salafen, Solal, Waigama
92.05.10 Kofiau (a) 206.23 2,520 2,599 2,975 Mikiran 5 29 98482 Awat, Deer, DibalaI, Mikiran, Tolobi
92.05.06 Misool Timur
(East Misool)		 553.66 2,651 2,835 3,146 Folley 6 136 98486 Audam, Folley, Limalas Barat, Limalas Timur, Tomolol,
Usaha Jaya
92.05.17 Kepulauan Sembilan
(Sembilan Islands)		 17.21 1,458 1,458 1,660 Weijim Barat 4 16 98481 Pulau Tikus, Satukurano, Wejim Barat, Wejim Timur
Total Raja Ampat Selatan 2,440.78 12,707 13,911 16,720 30 593

Notes: (a) including the Boo Islands.

Ecology

Terrestrial

Main article: Vogelkop–Aru lowland rain forests

Misool is part of the Vogelkop–Aru lowland rain forests ecoregion, which includes the other Raja Ampat Islands and the Bird’s Head Peninsula on mainland New Guinea. Plant communities include alluvial, or lowland alluvial rain forest and lowland hill rain forest. Native animals include marsupials, murid rodents, bats, and many birds, including several endemic species.[11] Some native animals include:

Marine

Coral reef ecosystem of Kalig Reef in Misool

Misool and the Raja Ampat Islands are part of the Coral Triangle, and islands’ coral reefs and coastal waters are some of the most biodiverse on Earth. Native fish include the Misool rainbowfish (Melanotaenia misoolensis) and Misool yellowfin rainbowfish (Melanotaenia flavipinnis).[12][13] A section of Raja Ampat Marine Recreation Park covers the coastal waters southeast of the island. The park was designated in 2009.[14]

Misool Island Nature Reserve

Misool Island Nature Reserve was established in 1982. It covers the southern portion of the island, with an area of 840 km2.[15]

References

  1. ^ Google Books search for Misol Indonesia
  2. ^ ISLAND DIRECTORY. UN SYSTEM-WIDE EARTHWATCH Web Site.
  3. ^ Ethnologue – Biga
  4. ^ Ethnologue – Matbat
  5. ^ “Traditional kingdoms of Maluku, early 15th century, and the spheres of influence of Ternate and Tidore, early 16th century”. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2011-02-10.
  6. ^ a b Mansoben, Johszua Robert (1995). Sistem Politik Tradisional Di Irian Jaya. Jakarta: LIPI – RUL 1995. pp. 232–246. ISBN 979-8258-06-1.
  7. ^ a b Wanggai, Toni V. M. (2008). Rekonstruki sejarah umat Islam di tanna Papua [Reconstruction of the History of lslam in Papua]. Syariff Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  8. ^ a b Slama, Martin (2015), “Papua as an Islamic Frontier: Preaching in ‘the Jungle’ and the Multiplicity of Spatio-Temporal Hierarchisations”, From ‘Stone-Age’ to ‘Real-Time’: Exploring Papuan Temporalities, Mobilities and Religiosities, ANU Press, pp. 243–270, ISBN 978-1-925022-43-8
  9. ^ No. 92 of the Japanese Monographs — “Southwest Area Naval Operations, Apr. 1942 – Apr. 1944”, 10 September 1947.
  10. ^ Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Raja Ampat Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.9108)
  11. ^ “Vogelkop-Aru lowland rain forests”. Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
  12. ^ Allen, G.R., Hadiaty, R.K. & Unmack, P.J. (2014): Melanotaenia flavipinnis, a new species of Rainbowfish (Melanotaeniidae) from Misool Island, West Papua Province, Indonesia, aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology, 20 (1): 35-52.
  13. ^ Allen, G. 1996. Melanotaenia misoolensis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 4 August 2007.
  14. ^ = “KKPD KABUPATEN KEPULAUAN RAJA AMPAT”. Protected Planet. Accessed 8 August 2021. [1]
  15. ^ a b “Pulau Misool”. Protected Planet. Accessed 8 August 2021