Belitung Islands formerly known as Billiton is an island off the east coast of Sumatra,
Indonesia, flanked by the Straits of Gaspar and Karimata Strait. The island is famous for its white pepper
which in local language called sahang, quarrying and mineral types such as tin-C (Stannuum)
quartz sand, white clay, and granite. And lately become an alternative tourism destination.
The island was formerly owned by the United Kingdom (1812), before finally switched to the Dutch, together Bengkulu,
with Singapore and New Amsterdam (now part of New York). Its main town is Tanjung Pandan.
Belitung Island is divided into 2 districts namely Belitung province, capital is Tanjung Pandan, Belitung and East, its capital Manggar.
The bulk of the population, especially those living in coastal areas, is very familiar with the rich marine life with the results of marine fish.
A variety of processed foods made from fish to its daily food. Marine wealth be one source of livelihoods of Pacific Islands. Natural resources are not less important to people's lives Belitung is tin. Tin mining business has been started since the time of the Dutch East Indies.
Belitung Island residents are mainly ethnic Malay and Hokkien and Hakka Chinese descent.
Geographically the island of Belitung is located at 107 ° 31.5 '- 108 ° 18' east longitude and 2 ° 31.5 '-3 ° 6.5' south latitude.
Overall size of the island of Belitung reach 4800 km ² or 480,010 ha.Pulau bounded by the Pacific Islands north of the South China Sea,
the east by Karimata strait, the south by the Java Sea and the western border with Gaspar straits.
Around the island there are small islands such as Pulau Mendanau, Kalimambang, Gresik, Seliu and others.
