Sorong

Sorong is the largest city and the capital of the Indonesian province of Southwest Papua. The city is located on the western tip of the island of New Guinea with its only land borders being with Sorong Regency. It is the gateway to Indonesia's Raja Ampat Islands, species rich coral reef islands in an area considered the heart of the world's coral reef biodiversity.[2] It also is the logistics hub for Indonesia's thriving eastern oil and gas frontier. Sorong has experienced exponential growth since 2010, and further growth is anticipated as Sorong becomes linked by road to other frontier towns in Papua's Bird's Head Peninsula. The city had a population of 190,625 at the 2010 Census and 284,410 at the 2020 Census;[3] the latest official estimate (as at mid 2021) is 289,767.[4] It is served by Domine Eduard Osok Airport.[5]

This article is about the city. For the regency, see Sorong Regency.

Sorong
City
City of Sorong
Kota Sorong
Coat of arms of Sorong
Coat of arms
Motto(s): 
Setara – Bersahabat – Dinamis
(Equal – Friendly – Dynamic)
OpenStreetMap
Sorong is located in Bird's Head Peninsula
Sorong
Sorong
Sorong is located in Western New Guinea
Sorong
Sorong
Sorong (Western New Guinea)
Sorong is located in Indonesia
Sorong
Sorong
Sorong (Indonesia)
Coordinates: 0°52′S 131°15′E
Country Indonesia
ProvinceSouthwest Papua
Government
 • MayorLambert Jitmau
 • Vice MayorPahimah Iskandar
Area
 • Total1,105.0 km2 (426.6 sq mi)
Population
 (mid 2021 estimate)
 • Total289,767
 • Density260/km2 (680/sq mi)
 [1]
Time zoneUTC+9 (Indonesia Eastern Time)
Postcodes
98414
Area code(+62) 951
Websitesorongkota.go.id
Port of Sorong

Etymology

The origin of Sorong's name comes from the word Soren, which means "deep and wavy ocean" in the Biak language. The name was first used by the Biak-Numfor people who sailed to different islands before they finally decided to settle down in Raja Ampat Islands. When the Biak-Numfor people came to the place called "Daratan Maladum", they decided to call it Soren. After centuries of contact with Chinese merchants, European missionaries, and people from Maluku and Sangihe-Talaud, the name underwent further change into Sorong.[6]

Administrative districts

At the 2010 Census, the city comprised six districts (distrik), but the number has subsequently been increased to ten by the splitting of existing districts. These are tabulated below with their populations at the 2010 Census[7] and 2020 Census,[8] together with the official estimates for mid-2021.[9] The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages (rural desa and urban kelurahan, 41 in total) in each district, and its post code.

DistrictsArea
in km2		Population
2010
Census		Population
2020
Census		Population
mid 2021
Estimate		Administrative
centre		Number
of
villages		Post
code
Sorong Barat
(West Sorong)		127.7435,30638,57839,307Klawasi498412
Maladummes (a)126.40(b)11,41213,387Tanjung Kasuari498411
Sorong Kepulauan (c)
(Sorong Islands)		200.119,71113,26111,628Doom Timur498413
Sorong Timur
(East Sorong)		69.3926,80440,37441,982Klamana498418
Sorong Utara
(North Sorong)		127.2145,00137,02938,109Malanu498410
Sorong (distrik)48.8131,26419,08318,925Remu498416
Sorong Manoi135.9742,53955,48256,145Malawei598415
Klaurung88.83(b)15,14515,791Klablim498417
Malaimsimsa102.50(b)32,60033,059Klabulu498419
Sorong Kota
(Sorong town)		78.04(b)21,44621,434Kampung Baru498414
Totals1,105.00190,625284,410289,76741

Note: (a) A coastal strip along the northern edge of the city. (b) the populations as at 2010 of the four new districts established after 2010 are included in the figures for the districts from which they were split off. (c) Sorong Kepulauan District comprises 25 islands off the west coast of Sorong but within the city limits, including Doom, Soop, Raam and Umbre Islands.

Climate

Sorong experiences a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen Af), as there is no real dry season throughout the year. The wettest month is June, with a total rainfall of 373 millimetres (14.7 in), while the driest month is February, with a total rainfall of 180 millimetres (7.1 in). The excessive rainfall is caused by the monsoon. The temperature variation remains constant throughout the year. The temperature difference between the hottest month and the coolest month is 1.2 °C (2.2 °F). The hottest month is November, with an average temperature of 27.8 °C (82.0 °F), while the coolest month is July, with an average temperature of 26.6 °C (79.9 °F).

Climate data for Sorong, West Papua
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 30.6
(87.1)		 30.5
(86.9)		 30.5
(86.9)		 30.7
(87.3)		 30.6
(87.1)		 30.0
(86.0)		 29.4
(84.9)		 29.5
(85.1)		 29.9
(85.8)		 30.7
(87.3)		 31.0
(87.8)		 30.8
(87.4)		 30.4
(86.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) 27.5
(81.5)		 27.4
(81.3)		 27.5
(81.5)		 27.6
(81.7)		 27.5
(81.5)		 27.1
(80.8)		 26.6
(79.9)		 26.7
(80.1)		 26.9
(80.4)		 27.5
(81.5)		 27.8
(82.0)		 27.6
(81.7)		 27.3
(81.1)
Average low °C (°F) 24.4
(75.9)		 24.4
(75.9)		 24.6
(76.3)		 24.5
(76.1)		 24.5
(76.1)		 24.3
(75.7)		 23.9
(75.0)		 23.9
(75.0)		 24.0
(75.2)		 24.3
(75.7)		 24.6
(76.3)		 24.5
(76.1)		 24.3
(75.7)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 194
(7.6)		 180
(7.1)		 198
(7.8)		 243
(9.6)		 368
(14.5)		 373
(14.7)		 321
(12.6)		 277
(10.9)		 234
(9.2)		 207
(8.1)		 186
(7.3)		 188
(7.4)		 2,969
(116.8)
Average relative humidity (%) 81 81 82 82 85 84 85 86 85 82 82 83 83
Source 1: Climate-Data.org (average temps & precipitation)[10]
Source 2: Weatherbase (humidity)[11]

Container port

A container port is to be built in Sorong with an annual container-handling capacity of 500,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) and cost Rp.800 billion (US$93.6 million). Construction began in early 2012 and was expected to be complete in mid-2013,[12] but was delayed.

The phrase "Sorong to Samarai" sometimes be voiced from Papuan independence activists in reference to Papuan unification, with Sorong being on the westernmost extremity of the Papuan island, and Samarai being one of the easternmost point located in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. In 2016, the ARIA Music Awards-nominated Papua New Guinean-Australian musician Airileke released a single title "Sorong Samarai".[13]

Cooperation and friendship

In addition to its sister cities, Sorong cooperates with:

References
  1. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2022.
  2. "Raja Ampat, Indonesia".
  3. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.
  4. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2022.
  5. ".:: Directorate General Of Civil Aviation - Ministry Of Transportation Republic Of Indonesia ::". 3 February 2014. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014.
  6. "Etymology of Sorong".
  7. Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
  8. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2022.
  9. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2022.
  10. "Climate: Sorong". Climate-Data.org. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  11. "SORONG, INDONESIA". Weatherbase. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  12. Post, The Jakarta. "Container port to be built in Sorong".
  13. "Sorong Samarai - Expressing unity, calling for change".
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