Mapia Islands, Remote atoll in Supiori Regency, Indonesia.
The Mapia Islands are an atoll made up of five coral islands in the Pacific Ocean, belonging to the province of Papua, Indonesia. The two largest islands are called Bras and Pegun, and all five formations sit very low above sea level with sandy, reef-fringed shores.
The atoll was once under Spanish control and known as Guedes before passing through different hands and receiving its current name. Long before European contact, the islands were home to a local community with its own distinct language.
The local name for these islands is Piken, which simply means sand island and describes exactly what a visitor sees upon arrival. The low sandy terrain and the surrounding reef define the look of the place in a way that no other name could capture better.
The atoll can only be reached by boat, and connections are infrequent, so travelers should plan for extra time and possible delays. Facilities on the islands are basic, and it is wise to bring your own supplies for the duration of the stay.
The language once spoken on this atoll died out by the end of the 20th century, with only one elderly speaker still alive around the year 2000. When that last speaker passed away, every trace of the oral tradition tied to this isolated community disappeared with them.
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