Yos Sudarso Island

An island* filled with marshland and rainforests, Yos Sudarso (Kimaam) island in eastern INDONESIA boasts its close proximity to two oceans: Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean. Historically known as Frederik Hendrik and Kolepom, the island is currently named in memory of Indonesian naval officer Yos Sudarso. The leaf-shaped island is located northeast of the Arafura Sea, an extremely eastern extension of the Indian Ocean. Pearls are harvested from clams living in the Arafura Sea. On land, residents on Yos Sudarso and the larger New Guinea island to the northeast harvest mostly coconuts for export and local consumption. The Muli river and strait separates Yos Sudarso from New Guinea as well as the smaller Komoran island to the southeast. Tanjung Vals (Cape Vals) serves as Yos Sudarso's southwestern point. Communities on the island include Kaba, Kimaam (Kimaan), Kladar, Pembre, Wan, and Yomuka.      * Pulau is the Indonesian word for "island".