Meranti Islands

The Meranti Islands are an archipelago in Riau Province comprising several landmasses including Tebing Tinggi, Rangsang, Padang, and Merbau scattered across the Strait of Malacca. The region includes nine administrative districts with major settlements and coastal communities spread throughout the island chain.

The region was established as an independent regency when it separated from Bengkalis Regency in 2008. Selat Panjang on Tebing Tinggi Island became the administrative center for this newly formed territory.

Fishing forms the foundation of daily life here, with communities organized across nine administrative districts maintaining their own local customs. The sea shapes how people live and work, influencing traditions passed down through generations.

Getting around the islands requires using water transport along established routes connecting the main settlements and coastal communities. Visitors should plan around tidal patterns, as these affect water routes and daily activity schedules throughout the region.

Tidal cycles here directly shape daily routines and work patterns for island inhabitants, influencing everything from fishing schedules to community activities. This natural rhythm is so fundamental that it determines how settlements operate throughout the year.

Location: Riau

Capital city: Selat Panjang

Elevation above the sea: 14 m

Shares border with: Bengkalis, Siak, Pelalawan

Website: http://merantikab.go.id

GPS coordinates: 0.97488,102.69539

Latest update: December 17, 2025 09:16