Yapen

Yapen (also Japen, Jobi)[1] is an island of Papua, Indonesia. The Yapen Strait separates Yapen and the Biak Islands to the north. It is in Cenderawasih Bay off the north-western coast of the island of New Guinea. To the west is Mios Num Island across the Mios Num Strait, and to the east Kurudu Island. Off the southeast coast of Yapen are the Amboi Islands and to the southwest are the Kuran Islands. It is populated with communities of Yobi, Randowaya, Serui, and Ansus. Its highest point is 1,496 metres (4,908 feet).

Yapen
Landscape of Yapen
Yapen
Geography
LocationMelanesia; Oceania
Coordinates1°50′S 136°10′E
Area2,278 km2 (880 sq mi)
Highest elevation1,496 m (4,908 ft)
Administration
Province Papua
RegencyYapen Islands
Additional information
Time zone
Yapen and the Schouten Islands

First recorded sighting by Europeans is by Spanish navigator Álvaro de Saavedra who landed on 24 June 1528 when trying to return from Tidore to New Spain. It was then charted as Paine within the Islas de Oro (Golden Islands in Spanish), as they called Yapen and the present day Schoutens. In 1545 it was visited by Íñigo Órtiz de Retes on board of galleon San Juan.[2]

Ecology

The island has been designated the 'Japen rain forests' ecoregion by the World Wildlife Federation for its unique bird life and flora. Two protected areas cover a third of the island, whose population is growing with subsequent clearance of forest for planting and firewood.[3]

See also
  • Yapen languages

References
  1. "History of expeditions in Papua Indonesia". The Papua Insects Foundation. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
  2. Coello, Francisco "Conflicto hispano-alemán" Boletín de Sociedad Geográfica de Madrid, t.XIX. 2º semestre 1885, Madrid, p.234,239,309,310,315,319
  3. http://worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/aa0108
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