FUN FACTS
knowledge isn't always boring
FOUND ACCIDENTALLY
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A Dutch diver named Max Ammer
visited this area in 1990. His original
purpose was to trace the existence of
ships and planes used in World War II
that were suspected to be sinking in
that island (which is now called Raja
Ampat). While diving, Max Ammer is
fascinated with the diversity of biota in
the venue.
INHABITED BY
12 TRIBES
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There are at least 12 indigenous tribes
that currently inhabit the Raja Ampat archipelago such as, Wawiyai, kawe, batanta, fiat, domu, waili, matbat, misool, biak. Characteristic of the
tribes inhabiting Raja Ampat are similar with those who inhabit Papua, dark complexion with curly hair. Their main source of livelihood is to cultivate a variety of natural resources derived from the sea.
AS A PART OF CORAL TRIANGLE WHICH CONTAINS THE RICHEST MARINE BIODIVERSITY ON EARTH
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The Coral Triangle is a geographical term so named as it refers to a roughly triangular area of the tropical marine waters of Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste that contain at least 500 species of reef-building corals in each ecoregion.
RICHEST CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEMS IN THE WORLD
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The Coral Triangle is the heart of the world's coral reef biodiversity, making Raja Ampat quite possibly the richest coral reef ecosystems in the world.
And diversity of Raja Ampat is considerably greater than any other area sampled in the Coral Triangle
More than 1,300 species of coral reef fish and 600 species of hard coral within the Bird’s Head Seascape—75% of the total for the entire world
HAS 75% OF ALL HARD CORAL SPECIES THAT EXIST IN THE WORLD (537 HARD CORAL SPECIES)
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Hard corals grow in colonies and are the architects of coral reefs. Hard corals are hermatypes, or reef-building corals, and need tiny algae called zooxanthellae (pronounced zo-zan-THEL-ee) to survive. Raja Ampat Archipelago has the most numbers of zooxanthellae living.
This is the reason why the diversity of coral reefs in Raja Ampat is the richest of the world
HAS AT LEAST
THREE PONDS CONTAINING
UNPOISONED JELLYFISH, ALL IN MISOOL AREA
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Indonesia at least have 7 ponds with unpoisoned jellyfish, the others are 3 ponds in Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, one in Togean Island, Central Sulawesi and one in Rote Island, East Nusa Tenggara and at least two ponds at Derawan Islands, one in Kakaban Island and the other in Maratua Island with Haji Buang Pond.
HAS A 700 MOLLUSK SPECIES, INCLUDING
7 GIANT CLAM SPECIES
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Raja Ampat has more than 699 species of mollusk. Compare with the entire Caribbean region who just have no more than 70 species of coral.
The giant clam (Tridacna gigas) is a clam that is the largest living bivalve mollusk. Tridacna gigas is one of the most endangered clam species.
There's also tons of nudibranch, which is without a doubt the most colorful of all the mollusks. This is why the Raja Ampat is the top rank of the most favorite underwater photography destinations.
COMPRISING OVER
1,500 SMALL ISLANDS,
CAYS, AND SHOALS
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​Comprising over 1,500 small islands, cays, and shoals surrounding the four main islands of Misool, Salawati, Batanta, and Waigeo, and the smaller island of Kofiau.
Many of the small island, cays and shoals are unnamed.
HAS FIVE SPECIES OF RARE AND ENDANGERED
SEA TURTLES
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The hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is a critically endangered sea turtle.
These sea turtles mainly stay close to shorelines as this is where sponge-bearing coral reefs can be found, as well as beaches that provide nesting sites. And the most significant nesting beaches are in Mexico, the Seychelles, Indonesia, and Australia
You can found eight turtles in a single dive!
HAS A 13 MARINE MAMMAL SPECIES INCLUDING THE DUGONG
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The dugong is a large marine mammal. The average size they grow to is around 3metres in length and one this size can be expected to weigh 420kg! They also have a long life scan and can reach 70 years old.
Dugongs tend to stay in the same area all their life, but even knowing there is one in a bay doesn’t guarantee a sighting. Most dugongs will tend to ignore divers and continue with their grazing on sea grass so theres no need to chase or harass them.
MORE THAN 1/8 OF MANTIS SHRIMP SPECIES WORLDWIDE
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Raja Ampat has 57 species of 400 species Mantis Shrimp worldwide
Humans possess three types of color-receptive cones in their eyes. Mantis shrimp have 16 types of color-receptive cones making them one of the most advanced visual systems ever discovered
THE BEST, IN TERMS
OF UNDERWATER BIODIVERSITY
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According to Conservation International, marine surveys suggest that the marine life diversity in the Raja Ampat area is the highest recorded on Earth.
Diversity is considerably greater than any other area sampled in the Coral Triangle composed of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and East Timor
THE BEST PLACE FOR DIVING
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There are many popular diving spots in Raja Ampat, such as Manta Point, Mike’s Point, Sardine Reef and Shark Point. Semasing point has its own advantages. For example, at Manta point, Manta fish can be easily found with a diameter of 9 meter pacing around you. In the vicinity of Kaboei Bay Rock islands there is one bay beneath which is a coral reef tunnel.
DESIGNATED AS THE BEST DESTINATION FOR ADVENTURES
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Indonesia received the award of The Best Destination Adventure category for Raja Ampat at Matka Nordic Travel Fair 2015, Helsinki, Finland, on 15-18 January 2015. The awards were awarded by the Finnish tourism magazine Mondo Travel Magazine (MTM) at the largest tourism exhibition in Northern Europe and The Baltic. Underwater natural beauty and natural island groupings in Raja Ampat, as one of the tourist destinations in Indonesia, rated by MTM is the best in the world.