Kepulauan

Kepulauan is a term in Indonesian and Malay that denotes a group of islands, forming what is commonly called an archipelago. It is formed from the noun pulau (island) with the affixes ke- and -an to indicate a collective or plural sense, and it is used in both descriptive geography and place names.

Geography and formation: A kepulauan consists of two or more islands, varying in size and topography, typically separated by seas and straits. Archipelago formation results from tectonic activity, volcanic processes, and historical changes in sea level. Indonesia, the world's largest archipelagic state, comprises roughly 17,000 islands, of which about 7,000 are inhabited, spanning the Pacific and Indian Oceans and several marginal seas.

Examples and significance: Notable kepulauan include Kepulauan Maluku (the Moluccas), Kepulauan Sunda (the Sunda Islands), Kepulauan Riau, and Kepulauan Bangka Belitung. These regions host diverse ecosystems, from coral reefs to mangroves, and are home to a wide variety of languages and cultures. The archipelagic layout influences transportation, trade, fishing, and regional economies, while also presenting challenges related to disaster risk, climate change, and maritime governance.

Administration and law: Indonesia is widely described as an archipelagic state under international law, with specific baselines and sea-lane arrangements recognized in UNCLOS. Governance of kepulauan involves coordinating island-level administration, resource management, and disaster preparedness across dispersed territories.

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