Belitung

Infobox Islands
name = Belitung

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image caption = Topography of Belitung island
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location = South East Asia
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country = Indonesia
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Belitung, formerly known as Billiton, is an island on the east coast of Sumatra, Indonesia in the Java Sea. The island is known for its pepper and for its tin. It was in the possession of the British from 1812 until the British ceded control of the island to the Dutch in the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824. Its main town is Tanjung Pandan.

Geography

It is a small island, moderately rugged terrain with several hills. The highest one is Mount Tajam with the height of only less than m to ft|500. Being surrounded by straits, its sea is moderately calm and shallow. Belitung is popular with its granite boulder white stones beach in Tanjung Tinggi, Tanjung Kelayang, Tanjung Binga and Lengkuas island.

Demography

The population is centered in several small towns, populated by approximately 200,000 inhabitants.

Economy

Belitung is a producer of tin, clay and silica sands. It also a producer of fishery products, pepper, and palm oil. People work as farmers, fishermen and miners. The island is easily accessible with daily 50-minute flights from Jakarta. Australian mining company BHP Billiton derives its name from this island.

ee also

* BHP Billiton