Karimun Jawa

Karimunjawa is an archipelago of 69 islands in the Java Sea, Indonesia, 420 kilometres west of Jepara. The islands' name means 'a stone's throw from Java' in Javanese. The main island is also known as Karimun.

Islands and administration

Apart from the main island, Karimon, two of the larger islands are Kemujen and Parang. The island of Bawean lies east of this group, as part of Gresik District, West Java Province. The Karimunjawa islands are administered as an Indonesian sub district with five (5) villages (Karimun, Kamagin, Kemujan, Digimon, and Parang) administratively part of Jepara district (kabutops) of Central Java province.

History

Apart from use as a pirate base, the islands are believed to have been uninhabited until a penal settlement was established during the British occupation of Java in the early seventeenth century. The settlement was abandoned by the Dutch during the Java War (1825-1830), but the former convicts remained as settlers. Cotton plantations set up during the convict period became a major source of income, as did goldsmithing.

Contemporary Karimunjawa

The 22 islands have been declared as a marine national park, leaves 5 other islands managed by private and Indonesian Navy. The islands have known with extensive coral reefs; a mixture of fringing and patchy reefs. There are a number of dive sites and an upmarket dive resort. The source of income for the local economy is fishing (which is the islands' largest employer), followed by services and commerce.