Sintang Regency is a regency of West Kalimantan province of Indonesia. It covers an area of 21,638.2 km2, and had a population of 364,759 at the 2010 Census[2] and 421,306 at the 2020 Census;[3] the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 438,022 (comprising 226,018 males and 212,004 females).[1]

Sintang Regency
Kabupaten Sintang
Sintang cathedral
Sintang cathedral
Coat of arms of Sintang Regency
Location within West Kalimantan
Location within West Kalimantan
Sintang Regency is located in Kalimantan
Sintang Regency
Sintang Regency
Location in Kalimantan and Indonesia
Sintang Regency is located in Indonesia
Sintang Regency
Sintang Regency
Sintang Regency (Indonesia)
Coordinates: 0°04′05″N 111°29′53″E / 0.06806°N 111.49806°E / 0.06806; 111.49806
CountryIndonesia
ProvinceWest Kalimantan
Regency seatSintang
Government
 • RegentJarot Winarno
 • Vice RegentMelkianus
Area
 • Total
21,638.2 km2 (8,354.6 sq mi)
Population
 (mid 2023 estimate)[1]
 • Total
438,022
 • Density20/km2 (52/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+7 (IWST)
Area code(+62) 565
HDI (2021)Increase 0.669 (Medium)
Websitesintang.go.id

Sintang Regency is one of the few Indonesian regencies having a land border with another country (in this case, with Malaysia). It is also the third largest regency in the province by land area after Kapuas Hulu Regency and Ketapang Regency. The regency was formerly the site of the Sintang Kingdom, a Hindu kingdom that later converted to Islam and which was a regional power in the interior of Borneo Island. The regency seat is located at the large town of Sintang, which is among the biggest settlements in Borneo's interior alongside Putussibau and Puruk Cahu.

The natural beauty of Sintang

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Sintang Regency boasts breathtaking natural panoramas, making it one of the top tourist destinations in West Kalimantan. Here are some of the must-visit natural attractions in Sintang:[4]

Bukit Kelam (Kelam Hill)

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One of the largest monoliths in the world, Bukit Kelam is an iconic tourist attraction in Sintang Regency. It offers spectacular views for hikers and nature enthusiasts. From its peak, visitors can enjoy a stunning vista of lush green forests and the beautiful Kapuas River.

Kapuas Beach

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Although not a seaside beach, Kapuas Beach, located along the Kapuas River, provides a serene atmosphere with expansive views of the river. This spot is a favorite destination for relaxation while enjoying the view of Bukit Kelam in the distance.

Nanga Melawi

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This area, where the Melawi and Kapuas Rivers meet, offers mesmerizing scenery. It is a popular spot for photography or simply enjoying the tranquil natural surroundings.


Local culture and traditions

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Sintang is home to rich traditions and cultures passed down by the Dayak and Malay communities. Some unique traditions worth highlighting include:

Ngamik Bini

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In Dayak culture, "Ngamik Bini" is a tradition of welcoming the bride by the groom's family. This meaningful ceremony involves a series of traditional processes that symbolize respect and acceptance.

Gawai Dayak

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This is a harvest festival celebrated by the Dayak community. The event features various traditional arts such as traditional dances and music played with the Sape, a distinctive Dayak musical instrument.

Handwoven crafts

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Dayak artisans produce beautiful handwoven items such as mats, bags, and hats made from natural materials like rattan. These crafts not only have high aesthetic value but also hold significant economic potential.

Sintang is a perfect blend of natural beauty and cultural richness, offering visitors a chance to immerse themselves in its scenic landscapes and vibrant traditions.

History

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Somewhere between 45,000 and 39,000 B.C. the Sintang area was first inhabited by humans. The area changed hands several times from the Majapahit to the Bruneian Sultanate, but when the Dutch arrived at Borneo in 1776 the area was quickly occupied by the Dutch

The area was occupied by the Empire of Japan in 1941 as a result of WW2, and then was liberated in 1945. This was followed by Indonesian Independence.

Geography

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Climate

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Sintang, the seat of the regency has a tropical rainforest climate (Af) with heavy to very heavy rainfall year-round.

Climate data for Sintang (Susilo Airport, 1991–2020 normals)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 31.3
(88.3)
31.5
(88.7)
31.9
(89.4)
32.1
(89.8)
32.3
(90.1)
32.1
(89.8)
32.0
(89.6)
32.2
(90.0)
32.1
(89.8)
31.8
(89.2)
31.6
(88.9)
31.4
(88.5)
31.9
(89.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) 25.7
(78.3)
25.9
(78.6)
26.2
(79.2)
26.3
(79.3)
26.6
(79.9)
26.3
(79.3)
26.1
(79.0)
26.2
(79.2)
26.2
(79.2)
26.0
(78.8)
25.9
(78.6)
25.8
(78.4)
26.1
(79.0)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 22.2
(72.0)
22.3
(72.1)
22.4
(72.3)
22.6
(72.7)
22.8
(73.0)
22.4
(72.3)
21.9
(71.4)
21.9
(71.4)
22.0
(71.6)
22.2
(72.0)
22.3
(72.1)
22.2
(72.0)
22.3
(72.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 282.0
(11.10)
236.9
(9.33)
268.0
(10.55)
269.4
(10.61)
223.1
(8.78)
195.5
(7.70)
189.5
(7.46)
168.4
(6.63)
209.0
(8.23)
255.6
(10.06)
307.6
(12.11)
302.8
(11.92)
2,907.8
(114.48)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 17.8 14.6 16.0 16.7 13.9 11.8 10.7 10.1 11.7 16.6 19.2 19.0 178.1
Source: World Meteorological Organization[5]

Administrative districts

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Following the separation of the former southern part (eleven districts) to form the separate Melawi Regency on 18 December 2003, the residual Sintang Regency consists of fourteen districts (kecamatan), tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Census[2] and 2020 Census,[3] together with their official estimates as at mid 2023.[1] The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages in each district (totalling 390 rural desa and 16 urban kelurahan - the latter all in Sintang District), and its post code.

Kode
Wilayah
Name of
District
(kecamatan)
Area
in km2
Pop'n
2010
Census
Pop'n
2020
Census
Pop'n
mid 2023
Estimate
Admin
centre
No.
of
villages
Post
code
61.05.14 Serawai 2,261.37 21,922 22,771 22,935 Nanga Serawai 38 78683
61.05.15 Ambalau 5,991.97 12,867 13,259 13,324 Nanga Kemangai 33 78684
61.05.09 Kayan Hulu 1,790.01 21,854 22,758 22,939 Nanga Tebidah 31 78694
61.05.03 Sepauk 1,502.71 46,407 53,251 55,208 Nanga Sepauk 39 78662
61.05.02 Tempunak 873.89 26,860 30,163 31,076 Nanga Tempunak 26 78661
61.05.20 Sungai Tebelian 597.64 29,144 34,679 36,334 Sungai Ukoi 26 78655
61.05.01 Sintang 355.65 59,410 77,319 83,144 Sintang (town) 29 (a) 78611
- 78619
61.05.07 Dedai 599.53 27,573 30,127 30,793 Penyak Lalang
(Nanga Dedai)
31 78691
61.05.08 Kayan Hilir 1,050.46 24,423 27,562 28,437 Nanga Mau 43 78693
61.05.19 Kelam Permai 642.11 15,276 18,433 19,391 Kebong 17 78656
61.05.21 Binjai Hulu 377.48 11,332 13,910 14,706 Binjai Hulu 11 78663
61.05.04 Ketungau Hilir 1,630.88 20,567 24,100 25,138 Nanga Ketungau 24 78652
61.05.05 Katungau Tengah
(Central Ketungau)
1,970.41 27,421 30,413 31,221 Nanga Merakai 29 78653
61.05.06 Ketungau Hulu 1,993.89 19,703 22,561 23,376 Senaning 29 78654
Totals 21,638.20 364,759 421,306 438,022 Sintang 406

Note: (a) comprising 16 urban kelurahan (Akcaya, Alai, Batu Lalau, Kapuas Kanan Hilir, Kapuas Kanan Hulu, Kapuas Kiri Hilir, Kapuas Kiri Hulu, Kedabang, Ladang, Mekar Jaya, Mengkurai, Menyumbung Tengah, Rawa Mambok, Sengkuang, Tanjung Puri and Ulak Jaya) and 13 desa.

Economy

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Demographics

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Infrastructure

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Education

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There are 193 kindergartens, 456 elementary schools, 142 junior high schools, and 44 senior high schools. In addition, there are 18 vocational high schools. The regency has a total of 10 universities and higher education institutions as of 2020, most of which are located in the town of Sintang.[6] One of the most notable in the regency is Kapuas Sintang University, located in Sintang district.[7] The university is private and located close to the Kapuas River. It was previously known as Panca Bhakti Teaching and Education College before becoming a university.[8] Muhammadiyah University in Pontianak also has a campus branch in Sintang, which is also private. Other colleges in the regency include Christian theological schools such as Sintang Khatulistiwa Theological College, Injili Setia Sintang Theological College, Kapuas Raya Christian College, and Immanuel Sintang Kalbar Theological College. In addition, there is a public academy owned by the West Kalimantan provincial government and one private Islamic college, Ma'arif Sintang Islamic College.[7]

The regency government also runs a regional library, located in the town of Sintang.[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024, Kabupaten Sintang Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.6105)
  2. ^ a b Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
  3. ^ a b Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.
  4. ^ kreatorsintang (23 November 2024). "Potret Kabupaten Sintang: Keindahan, Budaya, dan Potensinya". SINTANG NEWS (in Indonesian). Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  5. ^ "World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020". World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  6. ^ "Badan Pusat Statistik Kabupaten Sintang". sintangkab.bps.go.id. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  7. ^ a b "PDDikti - Pangkalan Data Pendidikan Tinggi". pddikti.kemdikbud.go.id. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  8. ^ "Universitas Kapuas Sintang". campus.quipper.com. Archived from the original on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  9. ^ RRI 2022, LPP. "Tarik Minat Baca, Perpustakaan Daerah dan Kearsipan Sintang Berikan Layanan Khusus". rri.co.id. Retrieved 28 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

0°04′05″N 111°29′53″E / 0.06806°N 111.49806°E / 0.06806; 111.49806