IO – The Bangka Belitung Islands (Babel) hold an
extraordinary maritime charm that sounds throughout Indonesia and is even known
around the world. Although it was historically the largest tin producer in
Indonesia, the Babel Islands is changing its image to become one of the finest tourist
destinations in the Indonesian archipelago.
Besides being blessed with beautiful natural
scenery, the islands also store rich agricultural produce. Here, besides
agriculture, tin mining is a primary sector of the community’s economic
structure.
The islands, located between the big islands of
Sumatra and Kalimantan, are also known for their high level of tolerance. This
can be seen from the many places of worship along the road. Thus domestic and
foreign tourists do not hesitate to visit them and feel safe.
Historical Record of Mining in Babel
Tin mining in Belitung has been around for a
long time, as proven by the discovery of mining objects that were traditional
in the 1950s. To store, maintain, and document these relics, a museum called
the Indonesian Tin Museum was built.
The Indonesian Tin Museum was inaugurated in
1958. It occupies a building that was formerly used as a residence for the
employees of the Bangka Tin Mining company. The museum is located in the center
of the City of Pangkalpinang, on Jalan Jenderal Ahmad Yani No. 17. It has been
renovated twice, in 1997 and 2010.
In 1948, a meeting was held in this building
between the founders of Indonesia and representatives of the United Nations, to
discuss the transfer of Dutch sovereignty to the Republic of Indonesia.
Entering the museum area, visitors will be
welcomed by a classic Bangka drill. This tool is a relic of the Dutch era which
was used in past tin mining. This drill was made by AJ Akeringa, a geologist of
the Bangka Tin Mining company in 1885. This creation became a new development
for the world of tin mining because it was able to replace the Chinese drill
that had been used since the 18th century.
In another part, we can see several other
classic objects which were used in mining. These include a classic locomotive
that was used as a power plant for mining, a container for mining products, and
a mine spray monitor.
Besides, reliefs tell the history of tin mining
from time to time, adorning the front of the museum. There are several mining
tools used in the past around the museum. These tools provide information to
visitors about the development of tin mining in Indonesia.
Entering the museum room, visitors will see
various dioramas. There are three types of dioramas. The first contains an
explanation of the early history of tin mining on Bangka Island. The second
informs us of the mining tools that were used. The third explains the process
of tin mining with modern equipment and the practical use of its end products.
Within the museum area, there is another
building called the Pewter Craft Center. Here, visitors can see products made
from 97% tin which includes plaques, Phinisi boats, transport trucks, key
chains, and brooches. According to the museum guard, all the tin handicrafts
were made manually by craftsmen in Bangka Island.
Visitors can also buy these souvenirs, or order
craft designs as desired.
Visit the Indonesian Tin Museum is an
alternative vacation with the family. In addition to getting detailed
information about the ins and outs and the long history of the tin world in
Indonesia, visitors can also reflect on the meaning of independence.
Post-Mining Tourism
Tin mining in the Babel Islands decades ago hollowed
out existing land. Even so, not all of the pits damaged the land. Considering this
phenomenon, the Provincial Government of Bangka Belitung Islands has
transformed a former mining area into a tourism area.
This was revealed by Fadjri Djagahitam, Head of
the Department of Tourism Marketing of the Bangka Belitung Islands Provincial
Government. “Later on, we will try to rehabilitate former mining sites,
both on land and offshore. Next, we will make them into tourist attractions, because
former mining countries turned to tourism have proved to be successful,”
said Fadjri.
Fadjri continued, the government would prepare
its personnel for the next 10-20 years, so that Bangka Belitung tourism is more
developed and not stuck with offering ex-mining sites only.
It is hoped that agro-tourism will increase the
number of tourists. The land to be transformed for it is no longer productive.
Mining in such an area has been fully exploited since colonial times.
The following are post-mining tourist
destinations in the Bangka Belitung Islands Province.
• Kaolin Lake
Kaolin Lake is a lake that has a clean white earthen
color and bright blue water. This lake does not originate from mountain craters
such as the Ciwidey White Crater Lake or the High King White Crater, but is rather
formed from a former Kaolin mining site that has been abandoned, and nature has
perfected with its beauty. There is little knowledge about Kaolin, an
industrial material used for such as cosmetics, paper, food and toothpaste.
Kaolin is popular because it is smooth, white, strong, smooth and has low
electrical and thermal conductivity.
The scenery is breathtaking as far as the eye can
see. Piles of tailings, hills around the lake, look like Mount Bromo in mini
but are white. Land under the lake that is covered by water like the curve of a
passing animal, when the water is receding the land will look like white sugar.
In the middle of the lake, land seems to connect with the ends of the lake.
• Open Pit
Not only does Lake Kaolin share its beauty, to
find a different sensation and no less beautiful, try to look at East Belitung
Regency. There you will find a former mining site called Open Pit.
Open Pit is located in Bukit Ki Karak, Senyubuk,
Kelapa Sampit Village, about 60 kilometers from Tanjung Pandan or around 30
kilometers from Manggar, the capital of East Belitung. Before discovering the
beauty of Open Pit, you have to track for 30 minutes. Because of its location
on the hills during tracking you are buffered by gusts of wind and cool air.
Open Pit is a large turquoise lake surrounded by
rock with a beautiful texture that is the main attraction of this place. The
landscape here is a favorite of landscape photographers.
Tanjung Kelayang: main access to the Babel
maritime paradise
The combination of calm seawater with charming
giant granite rocks becomes a magnet for tourists to imagine Babylon. Very few
beaches in Indonesia have such character. Reportedly granite rocks scattered
along the coasts of Bangka Belitung are part of the great rocks of western
Indonesia called “batolite”. And their uniqueness can be seen in Tanjung
Kelayang, Belitung.
When visiting Tanjung Kelayang, our eyes will be
spoiled by the view of the green seawater, fine beach sand like flour, not to
mention the Kelayang birds that fly over the ocean.
That said, the name of the Kelayang bird is an
inspiration, in giving the name of Tanjung Kelayang Beach. Granite scattered on
the beach is also a tourist attraction. Seawater abrasion has formed a pile of
granite into a giant turtle and the head of an eagle. Not only that, but you can
also explore islands that are not so far away, like Lengkuas Island which has a
lighthouse as its icon.
The phenomenal Tanjung Tinggi beach
Tanjung Tinggi is a beach flanked by two
peninsulas, namely Tanjung Kelayang and Tanjung Pendam. The name Tanjung Tinggi
is taken from the word Tanjung which means the peninsula and high, which means
a beach that has high rocks. Tanjung Tinggi beach is one of the tourist
attractions on the island of Belitung. It is located not far from Tanjung
Kelayang Beach and is about 31 km from the city of Tanjung Pandan.
After the sensational Laskar Pelangi film,
Tanjung Tinggi Beach immediately seized the attention of domestic and foreign
tourists. White sand and exotic granite piles make this beach even more
beautiful. Interestingly, the granite stones here are very diverse: some are
large and some are small.
This beach is shaped like a protractor with a
diameter of about 100 m with a composition of granite boulders on either side.
Along the coast, we will see impressive and unique panoramic views of the
beaches. The sand is white and the water is clear; you can swim because of the
small waves and the slow flow of seawater, but what is more interesting is the
slight difference between high tides and low tides.
When the sun begins to set the high Tanjung
beach will radiate the charm of the extraordinary beauty. With the beauty of
the beach that has its characteristics that make the high Tanjung beach well
known by tourists outside the region and abroad. Tanjung Tinggi Beach was once
used as the location for the climax of the films Laskar Pelangi and Sang Pemimpi,
so it is not uncommon for foreign tourists to call this Tanjung Tinggi beach
the Laskar Pelangi beach. If you like photography, you can shoot the stones as
a model and the background of the beach and sunset. (Pramitha Hendra)
Enchantment of Bangka Belitung – post-mining
