Kakaban
Native name: Pulau Kakaban (Indonesian) | |
|---|---|
Interactive map of Kakaban Island | |
| Geography | |
| Location | South East Asia |
| Coordinates | 2°08′42″N 118°32′09″E / 2.14500°N 118.53583°E |
| Archipelago | Derawan |
| Administration | |
Indonesia | |
| Regency | Maratua |
| Demographics | |
| Population | Uninhabited |
Kakaban island (also known as Samama island) is a member of the Derawan archipelago, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. The island has an area of 774.2 hectares (1,913 acres) and is quite steep. Its limestone cliffs are covered with dense jungle right down to the water's edge. The wall drops to 180 metres (590 ft), and currents can be strong with upwelling, downcurrent, and reversing directions.
Its most distinctive feature is the huge brackish water lake in the middle of the island; in the local dialect Kakaban means "hug" as the island "hugs" the lake from the surrounding seawater. This marine lake houses an ecosystem isolated from the surrounding sea, and a number of endemic species are found here.