Hi everyone, Shalom Aleichem!
Good afternoon GanSist everyone! 
Welcome back to the Nusantara Series, a series that invites us to get to know Indonesia’s riches through culture, culinary, history, local wisdom, tourist destinations, and the beauty of the archipelago’s seas. In the previous series we discussed bulung, a typical Balinese seaweed dish that shows how rich Indonesia’s marine resources are. This time, we will again explore the maritime charm of the archipelago, specifically heading to the Bangka Belitung Islands Province to visit one of the small islands whose name is well known abroad, namely Lengkuas Island.
Lengkuas Island is located to the north of Belitung Island and is included in the Belitung Regency area. Even though the area is not very large, this island has an extraordinary attraction. The turquoise sea water, the giant granite rock clusters that are characteristic of Belitung, the lighthouse that is more than a century old, and the underwater ecosystem that is still relatively well preserved make Lengkuas Island one of Indonesia’s marine tourism spots.
Interestingly, Lengkuas Island is not only beautiful to look at. This island also has historical, geological and ecological values that make it interesting to study. It is not surprising that many tourists are willing to travel by boat from Tanjung Kelayang Beach to enjoy the beauty of this small island.
So, what are the reasons why Lengkuas Island deserves to be included in the list of dream tourist destinations?
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1. Has very clear sea water
The first reason that immediately attracts tourists is the clarity of the sea water.
Lengkuas Island is surrounded by shallow seas with gradations of light blue to dark blue which are very pleasing to the eye. In clear weather, the bottom of the waters can even be seen from the boat. This condition is influenced by low sedimentation, relatively clean waters, and stretches of white sand that reflect sunlight.
This water clarity makes various tourist activities such as swimming, playing in the water and snorkeling much more enjoyable. Tourists can observe small fish swimming between granite rocks and coral reefs without having to dive too deep.
Apart from providing a beautiful visual experience, clear waters are also an important indicator that the quality of the coastal environment is still relatively maintained.
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2. Granite Rock Cluster Millions of Years Old
Lengkuas Island is not only famous for its sea, but also for the giant granite rocks that surround it.
These granite rocks were formed through a geological process that lasted a very long time, then experienced uplift and weathering, resulting in unique shapes which are now icons of Belitung Island. Geologists estimate that the granite rocks in the Bangka Belitung area came from magmatic activity in the Mesozoic era, so they are tens to hundreds of millions of years old.
The rounded, stacked, and seemingly naturally arranged shapes of the stones are often tourists’ favorite photography objects. The combination of light colored granite with the blue sea creates a very distinctive landscape that is difficult to find in many other places in Indonesia.
This unique geology also makes Belitung an area that has important value for geotourism development.
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3. Has a historic lighthouse that still stands strong
One of the most famous characteristics of Lengkuas Island is its lighthouse.
The lighthouse was built in 1882 during the Dutch colonial rule. Until now, this building still stands strong and still functions as a navigation marker for ships crossing the waters around Belitung.
The lighthouse is about 50 meters high and consists of several floors which can be climbed via a spiral iron staircase on the inside. From the peak, tourists can enjoy a 360 degree panorama showing the expanse of blue sea, a group of small islands, and granite rocks scattered on various sides.
Apart from being a tourist attraction, this lighthouse also reminds us that the shipping routes around Belitung have played an important role since the time of the tin and spice trade.
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4. Heaven for Snorkeling and Underwater Life Lovers
Lengkuas Island is one of the best snorkeling locations in Belitung.
The waters are inhabited by various types of coral fish, starfish, molluscs and coral reefs which are still quite good in several locations. Indonesia itself is in the Coral Triangle area, which is the area with the highest level of marine biodiversity in the world. The waters of Bangka Belitung are part of a tropical marine ecosystem which is rich in various types of organisms.
Seeing underwater life directly provides a different experience than just enjoying the view from land. Tourists can understand how important coral reefs are as a place of shelter, foraging and camping
breeding environment for many marine species.
Therefore, snorkeling activities on Lengkuas Island are also a means of education about the importance of protecting marine ecosystems.
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5. Unforgettable Panorama of Sunrise and Sunset
This is the reason according to the title of the thread, guaranteed to make the trip feel very satisfying.
Lengkuas Island offers an extraordinary panoramic view of the sun, both at sunrise and before sunset. The sunlight reflecting on the sea surface combines with the silhouette of the lighthouse and granite rocks to create a very attractive view.
Many photographers choose to come in the morning or evening because the quality of natural light at that time produces more dramatic sky colors. Even without a professional camera, the views on Lengkuas Island are enough to produce beautiful photos.
More than just a photo spot, enjoying the sunrise or sunset also provides an opportunity to enjoy the calm beach atmosphere. Not a few tourists claim that this experience was the most memorable part of their visit to Belitung.
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6. Easy to Visit as Part of the Belitung Small Islands Tour
The final reason is that access is relatively easy.
Lengkuas Island can be reached by boat from Tanjung Kelayang Beach and takes around 20 to 30 minutes, depending on weather and wave conditions. During one trip, tourists are usually also invited to visit several other small islands such as Pasir Island, Batu Berlayar Island, or Kepayang Island.
Draft island hoppingThis makes the trip more interesting because visitors can enjoy the different character of each island. There are islands that are famous for their white sand, some have unique granite rocks, and some are suitable for snorkeling.
Thus, a trip to Lengkuas Island often provides a much more complete tourist experience than just visiting one location.
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CLOSURE
Lengkuas Island is proof that Indonesia has a world-class marine tourism destination. Clear sea water, unique ancient granite rocks, historic lighthouses, underwater riches, stunning panoramic views of the sun, and the ease of exploring the surrounding islands make this small island worthy of being on the list of must-visit destinations.
Through the Nusantara Series, we again discover that the beauty of Indonesia lies not only in its vast territory, but also in the natural diversity that each region has. Lengkuas Island shows how history, geology and ecology can combine in one destination that offers a tourist experience as well as learning.
Hopefully more tourists will enjoy the beauty of Lengkuas Island while maintaining cleanliness, not destroying coral reefs, and respecting the surrounding environment. Natural beauty is a heritage that cannot be renewed in a short time. Maintaining it means ensuring that future generations can still enjoy the same charm we see today.
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SOURCE
Geospatial Information Agency. (2022). Atlas of the Indonesian Archipelago. Cibinong: Geospatial Information Agency.
Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia. (2023). The charm of Lengkuas Island, Belitung. Jakarta: Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy.
Belitung Regency Government. (2023). Lengkuas Island Tourist Destination Profile. Tanjung Pandan: Belitung Regency Tourism Office.
United Kingdom Hydrographic Office. (2021). Admiralty List of Lights and Fog Signals. Taunton: There you are.
Veron, J. E. N., Devantier, L. M., Turak, E., Green, A. L., Kininmonth, S., Stafford-Smith, M., & Peterson, N. (2009). Delineating the Coral Triangle. Galaxea, Journal of Coral Reef Studies, 11(2)91-100.
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