Wondama Bay Regency

Geography

Geographically, the district is located between 132°35' - 134°45' East Longitude and 0°15' - 3°25' South Latitude.

The northwestern part of the Regency consists of districts located along the east coast of the Bird's Head and Bomberai Peninsulas on the west side of Cenderawasih Bay and its southward extention of Wondama Bay; from north to south these districts are Soug Jaya (with the island district of Rumberpon off its coast), Wamesa (with the island district of Roswar at some distrance from its coast), Nikiwar, Windesi and Kuri Wamesa. Most of the islands in Wondama Bay Regency are surrounded by coral reef that is teeming with rich marine life. Rasiei, the administrative capital of Wondama Bay, is a small port located on the east coast of Wondama Bay at the foot of the Wandammen or Wondiboy Peninsula which is covered by pristine tropical rainforest. The largest town is actually Wasior, further north along that coast. The coral reef and tropical rainforest have become important tourist attractions in this regency. The Department of Tourism and Culture of Wondama Bay Regency, in cooperation with the Indonesian Tourist Guide Association, has launched a website called Wondama Tourism to attract visitors to the regency.

Borders

In the far northwest of the regency, the district of Soug Jaya is bordered to the north and west by South Manokwari Regency. The rest of the mainland parts of the regency are bordered to their west by Bintuni Bay Regency and Kaimana Regency, to the south by Kaimana Regency and to the east by Central Papua Province.

Natural Reserves

Most of the Wandamen or Wondiwoi Peninsula is covered by the Wondiwoi Mountains (Pegunungan Wondiwoi) National Reserve, while most of the islands in the north of the regency (together with Anggrameos Island which lies off the east coast of the Peninsula and is part of Central Papua Province) are included in the Cenderawasih Bay National Park (formerly described as a Marine Nature Reserve until re-designated in 2002).

Administrative districts

The regency comprises thirteen districts (distrik), tabulated below with their populations at the 2010 Census and the 2020 Census, together with the official estimates as at mid 2024. The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages in each district (totaling 75 rural kampung and one urban kelurahan - the latter being Wasior I), and its post code.

Geography

Roswar and Rumberpon Districts are each formed by an island of the same name (surrounded by numerous offshore islets) situated in Cenderawasih Bay, while Roon District encompasses 29 disparate islands in the same bay off the northern end of the Wondiboy Peninsula - including Roon, Rarief, Rariau, Ripon, Pinai and Manupaseh Islands, and the Rouw Archipelago. Roon District comprises seven villages, all on Roon Island (there are no villages on the smaller islands within the district) - Menarbu (which had 208 inhabitants at the 2020 Census), Sariay (with 14 inhabitants), Niab (227), Inday (235), Syabes (509), Mena (228) and Yende (414).

References

References

1. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2025, ''Kabupaten Teluk Wondama Dalam Angka 2025'' (Katalog-BPS 1102001.9103)
2. Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
3. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.
4. Direktorat Jendral Cipta Karya Kementerian Pekerjaan Umum dan Perumahan Rakyat, Jakarta, 2021