information about Raja Ampat, known as the "Last Heaven on Earth"

 information about Raja Ampat, known as the "Last Heaven on Earth"

The largest gold mine in the world is located in Papua, which is referred to as Indonesia's "golden land." Not only that, but Raja Ampat in Papua is "gold" for those who appreciate the beauty of the ocean. Waisai serves as the district capital for Raja Ampat, which is part of West Papua Province.

There are 610 islands in this district, with Salawati, Batanta, Waigeo, and Misool being the four largest. Only 35 of the total number of islands are populated; the remainder are deserted and haven't even been given names. Misool is the island that draws the most tourists out of the four. This place is known as the Last Heaven on Earth because of its natural splendor.

Do you know all the interesting facts about Raja Ampat? Look at a few of them.

1. The mythology that inspired the name

The Four Kings are known as Raja Ampat. It has an intriguing tale that describes the presence of four rulers in this region. Six dragon eggs were allegedly unearthed by a husband and wife. Five humans—four males and one female—hatched from five of the six dragon eggs.

The four men who later ruled the Raja Ampat islands killed the woman. The names of the largest islands in this area—Salawati, Batanta, Waigeo, and Misool—reflect the name.

2. The world's most stunning dive locations

Raja Ampat is a sanctuary of undersea riches for scuba divers. Divers find it challenging to ignore the existence of healthy coral reefs. Raja Ampat is known as the paradise of coral reefs for this reason.

The dive spots are located in the East, South, Misol, and Wayag Islands, the Kofiau Islands, and the Dampier Strait, which divides Waeigo Island from Batanta Island. The proportion of live coral cover is up to 90%, and the underwater conditions are still excellent. There is a saying that states you must have visited Raja Ampat in order to become a diver.

3. WWII shipwrecks exist.

Max Ammer, a diver from the Netherlands, paid a visit to this region in the early 1990s. His initial goal was to identify any World War II ships and aircraft that were said to have sunk in the Raja Ampat region. Max Ammer was awestruck by the Raja Ampat marine life's beauty and diversity when scuba diving.

However, at Cross Wreck, one of Raja Ampat's well-known dive sites, the remains of a Japanese Navy vessel that sank during World War II were discovered. Divers can explore the ship and discover fish such as lion fish, mantis shrimp, leaf fish, and devil fish that reside in different wrecks.

4. The world's largest and most complete coral reef

Raja Ampat is already well-known for its beautiful seas around the world. The majority of the world's coral reef types are found here and thrive there, accounting for about 75% of the total. A portion of this area is reportedly covered by 1,000 different varieties of coral reefs.

Raja Ampat's 4.6 million hectares of land and water are home to thousands of different species of fish, 540 different types of coral, and other marine life. It makes sense why Raja Ampat is called "heaven" given these figures.

5. View the world's most stunning birds

Furthermore, Raja Ampat is renowned for its biodiversity. Both on land and in the sea, a variety of rare and unusual plants and animals add life to the environment. The ecology on land is home to animals including cuscus, maleo, bird of paradise, parrots, cockatoos, and others.

Do you want to view the "most beautiful bird in the world" in its natural habitat? Just visit Sawinggrai Village, one of the Raja Ampat communities.