Friday, September 18, 2026 Search My Trip EnglishChinese
World news · travel · culture
Taiwan The Taiwan Times
Taiwan's window to the world

Ambai Islands

Indonesia

Ambai (Indonesian: kepulauan Ambai) are the archipelago or the chain of islands off the southern coast of Yapen Island, in Cenderawasih Bay and Papua Province in Western New Guinea, northeastern Indonesia.

The archipelago has five main islands, including Ambai and Saweru. There are seven medium-size islands and more than 15 smaller islands. The land area of the islands is 32.51 square kilometres (12.55 square miles). They comprise two administrative districts (distrik) of Yapen Islands Regency; to the west, Nusawani District encompasses Saweru Island and smaller islands to its south; the administrative centre is in the village of Perea. To the east, Ambai Islands District covers the rest of the archipelago; its administrative centre is in the village of Ambai. Locations of major islands in the Cenderawasih Bay:

1.928851°S 136.348598°E / -1.928851; 136.348598 Ambai Island 1.913230°S 136.287851°E / -1.913230; 136.287851 Saweru Island 1.00°S 136.00°E / -1.00; 136.00 Biak 0.75446°S 135.6050°E / -0.75446; 135.6050 Supiori Island 1.73089°S 136.00°E / -1.73089; 136.00 Yapen

The Ambai Islands include part of Cenderawasih Bay Marine Park which is the largest marine national park in Indonesia with an area of 1,453.5 km2. Because of its breadth, the park is divided into sections. Among them are "Padaido Islands Marine Park" in the east of Biak, the "Ambai Islands Marine" Park in southern Yapen, the "Harleem Islands Marine Park" in northeast Nabire, and lastly the "Cenderawasih Bay Marine Park" in the north of Wondama Bay.

Generally, the Ambai Islands region has its own characteristics and includes part of the biodiversity on the Yapen islands, including forests and hills, as well as trees species such as boat trees (pohon kayu perahu), trees to make traditional wooden drums and traditional guitars including ukulele and string bass, ironwood, bitangur, palm, katapang, coconut trees. Some of the bird species in the islands include the bird of paradise, parrots, kakatua raja, kakatua, taun-taun, eagle, wood pigeon, cassowary, forest chicken and others. Some of the other fauna found includes wild pig, kuskus, snake, lizard, butterfly and others. The life within coral

Data from Wikidata (CC0). Summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).

Other archipelagos in Indonesia