Tarakan, North Kalimantan
Tarakan, North Kalimantan Tarakan, located on Tarakan Island is one of the major cities in northern Borneo, just across the border from Sabah, Malaysia. Once a major oil producing region during the colonial period, Tarakan had great strategic importance during the Pacific War and was among the 1st Japanese targets early in the war. The name Tarakan comes from the Tidung language: Tarak and ngakan (to eat); thus Tarakan was originally a meeting place for sailors and traders in the Tidung area to eat, rest and trade their catch. According to legends, native Tidungs established their kingdom in Tarakan around 1076 CE. After moving their capital for several times during centuries, in 1571 CE they settled their kingdom on the eastern coast of Tarakan, apparently already under influence of Islam. Dutch colonial interests 1st explored the island in 1863 when oil seepages were discovered. In 1905 an oil concession was granted to Koninklijke Nederlandsche Petroleum Maatschappij, a predecessor...