Tarakan

Tarakan is a city on an island.

It is in North Kalimantan. This island is part of Borneo.

Long ago, people found oil there.

The oil helped the city grow. It became a very busy place.

Many people live on the island now. Most people follow the religion of Islam. You can see many big mosques there.

There are many ways to travel. You can take a ferry or a plane.

The airport helps people fly to other lands.

Tarakan is a special place to see. It has a very long history.

Tarakan is a city on an island.

It sits in North Kalimantan on the island of Borneo. The city covers the whole island and some small islands nearby.

Long ago, people found oil there. In the 1920s, the island made a lot of oil. It was a very important place during the Pacific War.

Many different people live in Tarakan. Most people follow Islam. You can see the big Al-Ma'arif Grand Mosque there. Many other groups live there too, like the Bugis and Javanese.

The city has many useful parts. There is a large hospital called Tarakan Regional Hospital.

Students can study at Borneo Tarakan University.

It is easy to travel to Tarakan. You can take a ferry from the Juwata terminal.

You can also fly to the Juwata International Airport.

This airport helps people reach many other cities.

Tarakan is a city located on an island in northern Borneo.

It is the only city in the Indonesian province of North Kalimantan. The city covers the entire island and some small islands nearby.

Most of the ground is made of latosol soil. About 27.5% of the land is made of podzol soil. It is a busy urban area with many people living close together. This city is a very important part of the province.

Long ago, people found oil in the ground here. Dutch explorers first saw oil seeping out in 1863. By 1905, a company began to collect the oil. In the 1920s, the island produced over five million barrels of oil every year. This was one-third of all the oil made in the Dutch East Indies. The oil from Tarakan was special because it had a paraffin base. It was a light, sour crude oil that was very useful.

Because of this oil, Tarakan became a target during the Pacific War. Japanese troops landed on the island in January 1942. The island was a strategic air-base for them. During this time, life was very hard for the people living there. There were not enough food supplies for everyone. Many people suffered from malnutrition during the occupation. Later, in 1945, Australian troops arrived to end the occupation.

Today, Tarakan is a large and diverse place. The population was 242,786 in the 2020 Census. By mid-2024, the official estimate was 255,310 people. Most people, about 85%, are Muslim.

You can visit the Al-Ma'arif Grand Mosque, which was built in 1961. Other groups like the Bugis and Javanese also live here. The city is home to many different cultures and religions. It is a place where many different people meet.

The city has everything people need to live and learn. There are many schools for children and young people.

Borneo Tarakan University is the only public university in the province. For health, the Tarakan Regional Hospital is the biggest hospital.

You can travel to the city by boat or plane. The Juwata ferry terminal connects the island to other places. You can also fly using the Juwata International Airport.

Tarakan is an island city located in northern Borneo. It is the only city within the Indonesian province of North Kalimantan. The city boundaries cover the entire island. This area also includes a few small islands near the Tarakan Barat District.

As a major urban center, it is the largest city in the province by population. The local geography is defined by its soil types. About 57.63% of the land consists of latosol soil. Another 27.5% is composed of podzol soil.

The name Tarakan comes from the Tidung language. It means "meeting place" and "to eat." Historically, this area served as a spot for sailors and traders. They would meet here to rest and trade their catch. Legend says the native Tidung people established a kingdom here around 1076 CE. They eventually settled on the eastern coast by 1571 CE.

Tarakan became globally significant due to its petroleum resources. Dutch explorers first noticed oil seepages in 1863. In 1905, a company called Koninklijke Nederlandsche Petroleum Maatschappij received an oil concession. Production began the following year. It started with a yield of over 57,928 barrels annually. By the 1920s, production rose to over five million barrels per year. This was one-third of all oil produced in the Dutch East Indies.

The oil in Tarakan was unique. It was a light, sour crude oil with a paraffin base. Most oil has an asphalt base instead. This specific type of oil had an unusually low pour point. By 1940, the island hosted an oil refinery. This facility had four petroleum loading piers. It was one of the five largest processing centers in the East Indies.

This oil made Tarakan a target during the Pacific War. Japan needed petroleum to sustain its industry. Japanese troops landed on Tarakan on January 11, 1942. The island became a strategic air-base for Japanese forces. The occupation caused great hardship for local inhabitants. Large numbers of troops led to food shortages. Many civilians suffered from malnutrition.

The war also impacted the military use of the oil. In 1944, Japanese aircraft carriers used unrefined Tarakan crude oil. They did this because they lacked enough refined fuel. This unrefined oil damaged boiler tubes in the ships. It also created explosive atmospheres in the vessels. This contributed to the loss of the carriers Taihō, Shōkaku, and Hiyō. The occupation ended after the second Battle of Tarakan in 1945.

Today, Tarakan is a diverse and growing city. The population was 193,370 in the 2010 Census. It grew to 242,786 by the 2020 Census. The mid-2024 estimate is 255,310 people. The population is multi-ethnic. The Bugis make up 37.45% of the residents. The Javanese represent 11.08%. The Tidung people account for 10.89%. Most residents, about 85%, are Muslim.

The city has developed strong infrastructure for its people. There are four main hospitals. The Tarakan Regional Hospital is the largest. It is the only international-class hospital in the province.

For education, there are many schools and five higher education institutions. Borneo Tarakan University is the only public university in the province. Travel is easy via the Juwata International Airport.

Ferries also connect the island to other parts of Borneo.