Masalembu Islands

This article is about the archipelago in the Java Sea. For its largest island, see Masalembu Island.

Masalembu Island

The Masalembu Islands (Indonesian: Kepulauan Masalembu) are the islands that lie in the Java Sea to the north of Madura, about halfway between Madura and Borneo. They administratively form Masalembu District (kecamatan) of Sumenep Regency of Madura, in the Indonesian province of East Java. The Madurese language is spoken on the islands. The three main islands are Masalembu Island, Masakambing Island, and Karamian Island. The land area of the district is 40.85 square km, and it had a population of 20,687 people in the 2000 census, increasing to 21,705 in the 2010 Census and to 25,809 in the 2020 Census.

Main Islands

Masalembu Island

Masalembu Island is close to the equator, exhibiting a habitat supportive of rich biodiversity, with coral reefs, mangroves, algae forests, and upwelling areas with the capacity to sustain fisheries and other highly valuable economic activities.

Masakambing Island

Masakambing Island is about 10 miles north of Masalembu Island. It occupies an area of around 3.18 km² and has one village, Masakambing Village, with a population of 1,268 inhabitants in 2000.

Keramaian Island

The island is approximately 29 miles to the north of Masalembu Island, has an area of about 9.79 km^2, and is occupied by one village, namely the Village of Kersatria, with a population in 2000 of 3,287 inhabitants.