Lighthouses of Indonesia: Riau Islands

Indonesia has been independent since 1945, after having been the Dutch East Indies for more than 350 years. It is a huge country, stretching along both sides of the Equator for more than 46 degrees of longitude (roughly 5100 km or 3200 miles). Comprised of some 17,000 islands (more than 6000 inhabited islands), it has hundreds of major aids to navigation. Unfortunately, we have no idea how many of these aids can be considered lighthouses. Information about them is scarce, and photos are even scarcer. Official light lists contain dozens of entries for "framework towers" and "white beacons," providing little guidance for the lighthouse fan. We need more more information and photos; if you know about lighthouses in Indonesia, please share that knowledge. Indonesia's Riau Islands Province includes four groups of small islands located between Sumatra and Kalimantan (Borneo). The Riau group is south of Singapore and off the east coast of Sumatra; the Lingga group is farther south, straddling the Equator in the Karimata Strait; the Anambas group is in the South China Sea off the east coast of West Malaysia; and the Natuna group is also in the South China Sea northwest of Sarawak in East Malaysia. In all there are more than 3000 islands in the province. The Indonesian word for a lighthouse is mercusuar. The phrase menara suar, which includes the Arabic word menara, is sometimes used instead. Tanjung and ujung are words for capes, pulau is an island, selat is a strait, and teluk is a harbor. Aids to navigation in Indonesia are operated and maintained by the Indonesian Directorate of Marine Navigation (Indomarinav). ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from volume F of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 112. General Sources Garis Depan Nusantara - Kepulauan Riau This site, no longer online, was the source for many of the photos on this page. The Indonesian name means "frontier archipelago," and the site concentrated on remote islands where Indonesian sovereignty might be in question. Indonesian Lighthouses Historic postcard views from the collection of Michel Forand.

Pulau Tokong Nanas Light, Anambas Islands anonymous Creative Commons photo posted by Garis Depan Nusantara

Singapore Strait Lighthouses (see also Singapore)

Note: Across the Singapore Strait from Singapore, the Riau Islands proper are a loose group lying off the east coast of Sumatra. These islands form the core of the Riau Islands Province, which also includes the Lingga, Anambas, and Natuna Islands. The majority of the population of the province lives in the Riau group.

Pulau Iyu Kecil (The Brothers) (2)

Date unknown (station established 1906). Active; focal plane 41 m (135 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 13 m (43 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white. Deny Ruly has a photo, a view from the sea is available, and Bing has a satellite view. NGA lists a skeletal tower at this location. Vessels eastbound in the Malacca Strait pass between this important light and Malaysia's Tanjung Piai Light shortly before turning into the Singapore Strait. Located on an island at the western entrance to the Singapore Strait, about 8 km (5 mi) north of the northern tip of Pulau Karimun. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS IDO-072; Admiralty F1674; NGA 22584.

Pulau Cula

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 16 m (52 ft) round tower with gallery, mounted on a round concrete pier. Lighthouse painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on a reef about 13 km (8 mi) west of Singapore's Raffles Lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1693.9; NGA 21495.

Pulau Nipah (Nipa Reef) (2) Date unknown (station established 1912). Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); white flash every 3 s. 16 m (52 ft) round tower with gallery, mounted on an octagonal concrete pier. Lighthouse painted white. Feybe Lumanauw has a closeup photo, there's an aerial view of the island, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. The original light had a focal plane of 11 m (36 ft). In the Straits traffic separation scheme, westbound vessels pass just to the north of this light. Located on a dangerous reef about 10 km (6 mi) west of Singapore's famous Raffles Lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1692; NGA 21492. Pulau Pelampong Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (56 ft); white flash every 4 s. 15 m (49 ft) "white beacon." No photo available, and Google has only an indistinct satellite view. Located at the north end of a reef about 5 km (3 mi) east southeast of Nipa Reef. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1693.95; NGA 21487. Takong Kecil (Pulau Takong Kecil) (2) Date unknown (station established 1910). Active; focal plane 48 m (157 ft); two flashes every 10 s, white or red depending on direction. 30 m (98 ft) tapered octagonal aluminum tower. Entire lighthouse is white. Jürgen Klinksiek's photo is at right, a 2012 view is available, Wikipedia has a distant view, and Google has a satellite view. The present lighthouse was apparently built sometime shortly after World War II. It was rebuilt in 1998 and its height may have been increased at that time. Eastbound vessels in the strait pass just to the south of the lighthouse. Located on a small island in the strait about 7 km (4.5 mi) southwest of Singapore's famous Raffles Lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Admiralty F1694; NGA 21480.

Takong Kecil Light, Singapore Strait, July 1999 photo copyright Jürgen Klinksiek; used by permission

Helen Mar Reef

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); white flash every 6 s. 16 m (52 ft) concrete tower with gallery. Upper half of the tower painted black, lower half yellow. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on a reef about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) northwest of Pemping Besar. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1694.7; NGA 21476.

Buffalo Reef Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); quick-flashing white light. 16 m (52 ft) concrete tower with gallery. Upper half of the tower painted black, lower half yellow. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on a reef about 12 km (7.5 mi) northeast of Pulau Takong Kecil. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1695.6; NGA 21464. Pulau Nongsa Date unknown. Active; focal plane 40 m (131 ft); white flash every 8 s. Approx. 37 m (121 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery, painted white. Ade Freeman Syah has a photo, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Pulau Nongsa is an islet on the south side of the Singapore Strait about 30 km (19 mi) southeast of Singapore city. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS IDO-049; Admiralty F1697.99; NGA 21462. Batu Berhanti Date unknown (station established 1910). Active; focal plane 16.5 m (54 ft);white flash every 8 s. 16.5 m (54 ft) square pyramidal concrete tower, mounted on a square concrete pier. Jürgen Klinksiek's photo is at right, a view from the sea is available, and Google has a satellite view. The original light had a focal plane of 12 m (39 ft). Located on a shoal in the center of Singapore Strait, about 10 km (6 mi) south of downtown Singapore. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Admiralty F1696; NGA 21400. Tanjung Berakit Date unknown. Active; focal plane 68 m (223 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 30 m (98 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. A photo is available, but the tower is not seen in Google's distant satellite view. This lighthouse marks the south side of the eastern entrance to Singapore Strait from the South China Sea. Located on the northern tip of Pulau Bintan, near the village of Berakit. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1812; NGA 21176.

Batu Berhanti Light, Singapore Strait, 2002 photo copyright Jürgen Klinksiek; used by permission

Southern Riau Archipelago Lighthouses

Merapas

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 121 m (397 ft); three white flashes every 5 s. 40 m (131 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available, and the island is only a blur in Google's satellite view. Located on an isolated island in the South China Sea about 25 km (15 mi) east of Pulau Bintan and 55 km (35 mi) southeast of Tanjung Berakit. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS IDO-168; Admiralty F1809; NGA 22694.

Pulau Mantang

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 62 m (203 ft); white flash every 3 s. 20 m (66 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available, and Google has only a distant satellite view of the location. Located at the southwestern tip of Pulau Mantang, a smaller island off the south coast of Pulau Bintan. Site status unknown. ARLHS IDO-219; Admiralty F1806; NGA 22672.

Jangkat

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 37 m (121 ft); white flash every 5 s. 30 m (98 ft) "white pyramidal tower," according to NGA. This might describe a tower similar to the Takong Kecil Light. No photo available, but Google has a distant satellite view. Located on an islet about 25 km (15 mi) east of Tanjung Rambut. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1694.6; NGA 22592.

Tanjung Rambut

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 41 m (135 ft); three white flashes every 22 s. 40 m (131 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available, but Bing has a satellite view. This lighthouse is located near the city of Tanjungbalai on Great Karimun, an island at the southwestern end of Singapore Strait. Located on the southeastern tip of the island; there should be a good view from fast ferries connecting Tanjungbalai with Singapore. Site status unknown. ARLHS IDO-323; Admiralty F1417.5; NGA 22588.

Pulau Terkulai

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 23 m (75 ft); white light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 20 m (66 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available, and Google has only a distant satellite view of the island. Located at the west end of Pulau Terkulai, about 12 km (7.5 mi) west southwest of Tanjung Rambut. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS IDO-253; Admiralty F1786; NGA 22652.

Rukan Selatan (South Brother Island) 1911. Active; focal plane 70 m (230 ft); white flash every 5 s. 22 m (72 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No current photo available, and the island is only a blur in Google's satellite view. Forand has a historic postcard view. This light guides vessels northbound toward Singapore as they approach the Riau Islands. Located on a small island at the southern edge of the Riau group, about 20 km (13 mi) east of Tanjungkilang. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS IDO-266; Admiralty F1428; NGA 22612. Lingga Islands Lighthouse Note: The Lingga Islands straddle the Equator south of the Riau group and east of Riau and Jambi Provinces of Sumatra. Pulau Kentar (2) Date unknown (station established 1919). Active; focal plane 122 m (400 ft); two long (2 s) white flashes every 10 s. 32 m (105 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available, and Google's satellite view has no detail in this area. This light stands only 3.5 km (2.2 mi) north of the Equator. Located on a small island on the eastern edge of the Linga group, in the Karimata Strait. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS IDO-207; Admiralty F1438; NGA 22696. Pulau Lingga 1897. Active; focal plane 56 m (184 ft); white flash every 19 s. 10 m (33 ft) iron skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on Tanjung Djang, the southeastern tip of Pulau Lingga, the largest island of the group. Site status unknown. ARLHS IDO-215; Admiralty K0954; NGA 22708. * Dabo Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); white flash every 3 s. 12 m (39 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with gallery, mounted on a concrete platform supported by piles. Lighthouse painted white. A photo is at right, but Google's satellite view has no detail in the town. Dabo is the principal port of Pulau Singkep, the second largest island of the Lingga group. Located adjacent to the jetty at Dabo, on the east coast of Singkep. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty K0958; NGA 22712. Pulau Muci (Mutji) Date unknown (station established 1914). Active; focal plane 67 m (220 m); continuous white light. 21 m (69 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available, and the island is only a blur in Google's satellite view.Located on a small island about 10 km (6 mi) west of Tanjung Sebayur on the west coast of Singkep. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty K0980; NGA 22724.

Dabo Light, Dabo, October 2012 Panoramio photo copyright dewindry.wisnu; used by permission

Anambas Islands Lighthouses

Note: The Anambas Islands are an archipelago in the South China Sea about 250-350 km (160-220 mi) northeast of the Malayan coast.

Malang Biru (Tokong Malangbiru)

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); white flash every 4 s. The original (?) lighthouse here is a tapered octagonal cancrete or masonry tower with gallery. The upper half was painted white and the lower half black. A photo is available. In the photo, the lighthouse appears abandoned, but there is no sign of a more recent light. NGA describes the current light only as a "white beacon." Malang Biru is an isolated rock about 65 km (40 mi) south southwest of the main Anambas group and 175 km (110 mi) northeast of Singapore Strait. Scuba diving tours to the island are available from Singapore. Located on the highest point of the island. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1831; NGA 21097.5.

Pulau Mangkai

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 196 m (343 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 40 m (131 ft) iron skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available, and Google has only a distant satellite view of the island. Pulau Mangkai is the westernmost island of the Anambas group and is an important landmark for vessels bound to or from Singapore. However, there have been reports of pirate activity in the vicinity. The mountainous island is about 6 km (3.5 mi) in length. Located on the highest point of the island. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1832; NGA 21096.

Tanjung Pedas Date unknown. Active; focal plane 82 m (269 ft); white flash every 4 s. 40 m (131 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available, and Google has only a very distant satellite view of the cape. This lighthouses guides vessels to Terempa, the principal town of the islands. Located at the northwestern tip of Siantan, one of the major islands of the Anambas group. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1835; NGA 21117. * Terempa Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); continuous red light (?). 13 m (43 ft) round white concrete tower, flared at the top and bottom, mounted on a square platform supported by piles. F. den Boer has a view from the water, and another view from the water is available, but Google's satellite view has no detail in the area. In the photo the tower appears to have a white light. Located on the waterfront of Terempa, the principal town of the islands. Located on he north side of Siantan. Site open, tower closed. NGA 21120. Pulau Tokong Nanas 2006. Active; focal plane 40 m (131 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 30 m (98 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery, mounted on a square concrete equipment shelter. Lighthouse painted white. A photo is at the top of this page, but the islet is only a blur in Google's satellite view. Located on a rocky reef about 25 km (15 mi) northwest of Tanjung Pedas. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1835.5. Pulau Tokong Belayer 2006. Active; focal plane 40 m (131 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 30 m (98 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery, mounted on a square concrete equipment shelter. Lighthouse painted white. A photo is at right, but the island is only a blur in Google's satellite view. Located on a rocky reef at the northern tip of the Anambas archipelago. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1835.8.

Pulau Tokong Belayer Light, Anambas Islands anonymous Creative Commons photo posted by Garis Depan Nusantara

Natuna Islands Lighthouses

Sekatung (Sekatoeng) Date unknown. Active; focal plane 98 m (322 ft); white light occulting once every 3 s. 30 m (98 ft) skeletal tower with gallery, painted white. Several 1-story keeper's houses or other station buildings. A photo is at right, and another 2008 photo is available, but Google has only a distant satellite view of the island. This light marks the northernmost point of the Natuna group; it is Indonesia's northernmost light in the South China Sea. Located on a small island about 120 km (75 mi) north of Natuna Besar (Great Natuna). Site status unknown. Admiralty F1836.5; NGA 21112. Semium Date unknown. Active; focal plane 160 m (525 ft); white flash every 5 s. Described by NGA as a "white lighthouse"; no other information available. Google has only a very distant satellite view of the island. Located atop a small high island about 80 km (50 mi) northwest of the northern point of Natuna Besar. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1836.6; NGA 21114. Pulau Sebetul 2006. Active; focal plane 34 m (112 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 30 m (98 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery, mounted on a square concrete equipment shelter. Lighthouse painted white. No photo available. Located on a rocky reef off the southwestern tip of Pulau Semium. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1836.55. Pulau Tokong Boro (Tokongboro) 2006. Active; focal plane 34 m (112 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 30 m (98 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery, mounted on a square concrete equipment shelter. Lighthouse painted white. A photo is below right. Located on a rocky reef about 55 km (35 mi) west of Natuna Besar. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty F1836.9.

Sekatung Light, Natuna Islands, September 2008 Creative Commons photo by Deni Sambas posted by Garis Depan Nusantara

Pulau Senua (Senoa) 2006. Active; focal plane about 46 m (151 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 30 m (98 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery, painted white, rising from a large square station building. Opin Latuputty has a photo, but the lighthouse does not appear in Google's satellite view. Located on an island about 7 km (4 mi) north northeast of Tanjung Senubing, off the east coast of Natuna Besar. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1836.65. Tanjung Senubing (Senoebing) Date unknown. Active; focal plane 106 m (348 ft); white flash every 10 s. 20 m (66 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available, although Bayuseta Jati has a view from the gallery, and Google's satellite view has no detail at the light station. Located on the easternmost point of Natuna Besar. Site open, and apparently the tower can be climbed. Admiralty F1836.7; NGA 21108. Selat Lampa (Lampa Strait) Date unknown. Active; focal plane 31 m (102 ft); green flash every 9 s. 30 m (98 ft) skeletal tower, painted green. No photo available, and Google's satellite view has no detail in the area. Lampa, at the southern end of Natuna Besar (Great Natuna), is the principal port of the Natuna Islands. Located on the west side of the harbor entrance. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1837.75; NGA 21104.7. Pulau Midai Date unknown. Active; focal plane 158 m (518 ft); white flash every 20 s. 30 m (98 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available, and Google has only a distant satellite view of the island. Pulau Midai is an isolated high island in the South Natuna group about 130 km (80 mi) southwest of Natuna Besar. Located on the highest point of the island. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1838; NGA 21100. Pulau Subi Kecil (Subi-kechil) Date unknown (station established 1910). Active; focal plane 83 m (272 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 22 m (72 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available; Google has a very distant satellite view of the location. Pulau Subi Kecil is a small island in the South Natuna group, just north of Sub Besar and about 130 km (80 mi) southeast of Natuna Besar. Located on the highest point of the island. Site status unknown. ARLHS IDO-182; Admiralty F1844; NGA 25108. Pulau Kepala 2006. Active; focal plane 51 m (167 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 40 m (131 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery, mounted on a 2-story concrete keeper's house. Entire lighthouse painted white. The station is staffed by 3 keepers. The island is only a blur in Google's satellite view. Located on Pulau Kepala (Coconut Island), a small island in the South Natuna group, about 160 km (100 mi) southeast of Natuna Besar. Site status unknown. Admiralty F1846.

Tokong Boro Light, Natuna Islands, September 2008 anonymous Creative Commons photo posted by Garis Depan Nusantara

Pulau Merundung

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 37 m (121 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 30 m (98 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available, and the light is not visible in Google's distant satellite view. Located on a small island about 30 km (19 mi) northwest of the Kalimantan coast and about 60 km (38 mi) west of Tanjung Datu, Sarawak. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS IDO-012; Admiralty F1850; NGA 25100.

Pulau Murih (Muri Island)

Date unknown (station established 1901). Active; focal plane 102 m (335 ft); white flash every 6 s. 20 m (66 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available, and the island shows only as a blur in Google's satellite view. Located on the westernmost of two small islands about 70 km (45 mi) northwest of the Kalimantan coast and about 50 km (30 mi) southwest of Pulau Merundung. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS IDO-228; Admiralty F1854; NGA 25096.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: North: Singapore | East: Kalimantan (Borneo) | South: Bangka-Belitung Islands | West: Southern Sumatra

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Posted April 13, 2006. Checked and revised November 15, 2012. Lighthouses: 38. Site copyright 2012 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.