Lingga Regency

"Lingga Islands" redirects here. For the islands in Scotland, seeList of islands called Linga.

Lingga Regency Kabupaten Lingga
Regency
From top to bottom: Port of Jago on the northern coast of Singkep, close to the island ofLinggaand Stilt houses in Cempa.
Coat of arms
Location withinRiau Islands
Lingga Regency Location inSumatraandIndonesia Lingga Regency Lingga Regency (Indonesia)
Coordinates:0°16′S104°29′E
Country	Indonesia
Province	Riau Islands
Regency seat	Daik
Government
• Regent	Alias Wello
• Vice Regent	Muhammad Nizar
Area
• Total	2,120.69 km2(818.80 sq mi)
Population (2023 estimate)
• Total	101,030
• Density	48/km2(120/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+7(Indonesia Western Time)
Area code	(+62) 776
Website	linggakab.go.id

TheLingga Regency(Indonesian:Kabupaten Lingga) is a group of islands inIndonesia,located south ofSingapore,along both sides of theequator,off the eastern coast ofRiauProvince onSumatraisland. They are south of the populatedRiau Archipelago,known for the industrial island ofBatamand the tourist-frequented island ofBintan,although the Lingga Islands themselves are rarely visited due to the infrequent local transportation. Theequatorgoes through the northern tip ofLingga Island,the main island in the archipelago.

Administratively they form aRegencyof theRiau Islands Provincewith a land area of 2,120.69 km²and a population of 86,244 people at the 2010 censusand 98,633 at the 2020 census;the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 101,030 (comprising 52,260 males and 48,770 females).Theregency seatlies atDaikon Lingga Island.

The population are mainlyMalay,BugisandChinese(predominantlyHakka,TeochewandHokkien).

Name

Lingga derives its name from the profile ofMount Daikwhich is shaped like the Hindulingam,often interpreted as a phallic symbol. This mountain has three sharp teeth at its peak; one of them seems to have broken off at its base, and it was immortalised by Malay poets as the symbol of durability. The poem is

Pulau Pandan jauh ke tengah,
Gunung Daik bercabang tiga,
Hancur badan dikandung tanah,
Budi yang baik dikenang juga.

Nearby are the remains of the fort of Benteng Bukit Cening, overlooking the sea. The cannons are still lined up, as if they were awaiting another enemy attack.

Islands

By size and population the most important islands in the archipelago areLinggaandSingkep,then Sebangka and Bakung.

• Lingga with smaller Pulau Alut.
• Pulau Selayar of Riau Islands between Lingga and Singkep.
• Singkep with Pulau Posek to the west, Pulau Serak to the southwest, and Pulau Lalang to the south.
• Sebangka and Bakung to the northwest of Lingga, with town of Limas, and the islets Senayang, Kapas, Kentar and Mowang.
• Pulau Lobam and Cempah to the west of Sebangka.
• Temiang and Mesawak in the north.

Administrative districts

At the time of the 2010 census, the regency was divided into fivedistricts(kecamatan), but four additional districts were created in 2012 (Singkep Selatan and Singkep Pesisir from parts of Singkep District, and Selayar and Lingga Timur from parts of Lingga District), another in 2018 (Kepulauan Posek - from part of Singkep Selatan District) and three more in 2019 (Bakung Serumpun, Temiang Pesisir and Katang Bidare - all out of Senayang District).

The thirteen districts are tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 censusand the 2020 census,together with the official estimates as at mid 2023.The table also includes the location of the district administrative centres, the number of villages in each district (totaling 75 ruraldesaand 9 urbankelurahan), and their post codes. Altogether the archipelago contains 509 islands.

Name of District (kecamatan)	Area in km2	Pop'n census 2010	Pop'n census 2020	Pop'n estimate mid 2023	Admin centre	No. of villages	Post code
Singkep Barat(a) (West Singkep)	406.25	14,552	13,802	14,250	Raya	12(b)	29875
Kepulauan Posek (Posek Islands)	43.13	(c)	3,046	3,070	Posek	3	29876
Singkep(d)	127.51	26,647	23,201	23,620	Dabo	6(e)	29871
Singkep Selatan (South Singkep)	155.38	(f)	2,447	2,580	Resang	4(g)	29878
Singkep Pesisir (Coastal Singkep)	95.10	(f)	4,785	4,960	Lanjut	6	29870
Lingga(h)	379.66	16,651	12,171	12,600	Daik	11(i)	29872
Selayar (island)	41.85	(j)	3,422	3,440	Penuba	4	29877
Lingga Timur (East Lingga)	128.83	(j)	3,819	5,000	Sungai Pinang	6	29872
Lingga Utara(k) (North Lingga)	361.32	9,701	10,843	9,980	Pancur	12(b)	29874
Senayang(l)	179.86	18,693	6,034	6,020	Senayang	5(b)	29873
Bakung Serumpun	140.91	(m)	7,466	7,700	Rejai	6	29873
Temiang Pesisir (Temiang Coastal)	104.51	(m)	3,594	3,710	Tajur Biru	3	29873
Katang Bidare	39,58	(m)	4,003	4,100	Benan	5	29873
Totals	2,203.89	86,244	98,633	101,030	Lingga	84

Notes: (a) Singkep Barat District comprises 47 islands. (b) including onekelurahan(the district centre).
(c) The 2010 population of the new Kepulauan Posek District is included with the figure for Singkep Barat District, from which it was cut out in 2018.
(d) Singkep District comprises 32 islands. (e) comprising 3kelurahan(Dabo, Dabo Lama and Sungailumpur) and 3desa.
(f) The 2010 populations of the new Singkep Selatan District and Singkep Pesisir District are included with the figure for Singkep District, from which they were cut out in 2012.
(g) including onekelurahan(Berlian). (h) Lingga District comprises 71 islands. (i) including 2kelurahan- Daik and Daik Sepincan.
(j) The 2010 populations of the new Selayar District and Lingga Timur District are included with the figure for Lingga District, from which they were cut out in 2012.
(k) Lingga Utara District comprises 12 islands. (l) Senayang District (including the three new districts cut from it in 2019) comprises 324 islands.
(m) The 2010 populations of the new Bakung Serumpun District, Tamiang Pesisir District and Katang Bidare District are included with the figure for Senayang District, from which they were cut out in 2019.

Demographics

Religion

Religion in Lingga Islands Regency (2017)
religion			percent
Islam			91.40%
Buddhism			5.89%
Protestantism			1.68%
Roman Catholicism			0.95%
Confucianism			0.03%
Hinduism			0.02%

Islam is the dominant religion in the Lingga Islands regency, with 91.40% of the total population identifying themselves as Muslim. Other religions are Buddhism, which forms 5.89% of the total population, Christianity, which forms 2.63% of the total population, Hinduism, which forms 0.02% of the total population and Confucianism, which forms 0.03% of the total population.

Transport

Ferry services to the islands from outside the archipelago come from the provincial capital to the north,Tanjung PinangonBintan,including fromSingapore.These days the main industry is fishing. There are a number of fine beaches with some coral around the Archipelago but there is very little tourism on account of the poor transport links with the outside world.

• Singkep has two ports, Dabo nearDabosingkepand Jago nearSungaibuluh.Service to the port ofMuntokonBangka IslandofSumatera Selatanceased operating regularly with the demise of thetinmining industry. However, a high-speed ferry continues to connect Tanjung Pinang to Singkep, from where local boats may be chartered to Lingga.
• For Lingga,Daikis the major town and port. It can be reached in a day from Singapore transferring at Tanjung Pinang.

Many islands that are part of the Lingga archipelago, including the island of Lingga itself towards the right, with its 1163-metre fog-obscured peak.

Lingga Roads

Lingga Roads is an anchorage in the Lingga Islands, south of Lingga Island and northeast of Singkep.DuringWorld War II,Lingga Roads was used as a fleet anchorage by major units of theImperial Japanese Navy,in order that these ships be near a source of fuel. It was from Lingga Roads that the main Japanese southern striking force deployed for theBattle of Leyte Gulf.

External links

• Lingga Regencytravel guide from Wikivoyage
• Singkep Community Website
• Descriptions of all the major Riau Islands