Thoughts - How Many Islands Within An Island?
Pulau Romang Group ID
When is an island an island? Silly question? Not really.
My current database of island names consists of approximately 86,000 unique names. It is a very complete list. I have it loaded into Marplot and am able to locate quickly and accurately, islands throughout the world. However, quite often, my island names database lacks the names of small off-shore islands. They are often referred to as islets, rocks, cays, sand bars, reefs or motus. Technically, they are islands - naturally formed areas of land, surrounded by water, which are above water at high tide. (definition taken from the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea - Part VIII).
--As my maps are not yet complete, I will use Landsat ETM+ imagery for this discussion.--
How many islands are within the Pulau Romang Group of islands, Indonesia? I count nine main islands - Romang, Nyata, Mitan, Laut, Tellang, Limtutu, Kital, Maopora and Dyuha. Around Pulau Romang are an additional eight small off-shore islands. In the Pulau Tellang Group are four more off-shore islands. Pulau Maopora has eight more. That totals up to an additional 20 off-shore islands.
Every island has stories to tell, even the small, seemingly insignificant dots that are just off-shore. Consequently, when I map at a scale that permits me to digitize these off-shore entities, I map them. I feel they need to be recognized so that they have an opportunity to tell their stories. Unfortunately, their stories are seldom known, except to locals. That's a shame.
So, how many islands are there within the Pulau Romang Group? Is it nine or is it 29? Either way, I always show them on my EVS island maps. I can't say the same for other mapping efforts, but on mine you will see the very small off-shore islands in all of their glory eager to share their stories.
Enjoy!
