ABSTRACT
The Province of the Bangka and Belitung Islands (Kepulauan Bangka Belitung) consists primarily of Bangka and Belitung, together with some smaller, neighbouring islands off the east coast of Sumatra (Sumatera), adjacent to South Sumatra (Sumatera Selatan) province, of which the islands formed a part until 9 February 2001. The narrow Bangka Strait separates Bangka from Sumatra, while the Gaspar Strait separates Bangka and the smaller island of Belitung. To the north and north-east of the province lie the Natuna and South China Seas; directly to the south and south-east is the Java Sea. Directly east, beyond the Karimata Strait, which links the Java and Natuna Seas, is West Kalimantan (Kalimantan Barat), part of Indonesian Borneo.
