Tujuh Belas Pulau

Tujuh Belas Pulau Marine Nature Tourism Park (Taman Wisata Alam Laut Tujuh Belas Pulau), better known as the Seventeen Islands of Riung, protects a scenic cluster of small islands and surrounding reefs off the north coast of Flores in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Covering 9,900 hectares (99 km²) and established on 16 September 1996 (Ministry of Forestry Decree No. 589/Kpts-II/1996), the park lies near the town of Riung within the Lesser Sunda Islands of Wallacea. ^[1] Despite its name, the protected area encompasses more than seventeen islands and islets set in clear tropical waters. Famed for snorkelling, white-sand beaches and large colonies of flying foxes, it is one of Flores's premier marine tourism destinations.

The marine waters of the Seventeen Islands teem with coral-reef life, including colourful reef fish, invertebrates, sea turtles and occasional larger marine species typical of the biodiverse Coral Triangle region. The park's most celebrated wildlife, however, are the enormous colonies of large flying foxes (fruit bats) that roost in the mangroves and trees of certain islands, taking flight in spectacular numbers at dusk. The islands and surrounding mangroves also support water birds, monitor lizards and other coastal fauna, while the region's Wallacean setting lends its wildlife a transitional Asian-Australasian character. Reefs, seagrass and mangrove together create a layered habitat supporting rich marine and coastal biodiversity.

The park's protected values combine vibrant coral reefs underwater with mangrove forests and dry coastal vegetation on the islands. Mangroves fringe sheltered shores and provide crucial roosting habitat for the flying foxes as well as nurseries for fish and crustaceans. The islands themselves, set in the seasonally dry climate of northern Flores, carry savanna-like grassland, scrub, and drought-adapted trees rather than lush rainforest, reflecting the arid character of the Lesser Sundas. Seagrass meadows in shallow zones add further habitat. This combination of reef, seagrass, mangrove and dry island vegetation typifies the Wallacean coastal landscape the park conserves.

The Seventeen Islands lie off the north coast of Flores, a volcanic island forming part of the Sunda-Banda volcanic arc where the Indo-Australian plate subducts beneath the Eurasian plate. The islands and islets are largely composed of coral limestone and uplifted reef material set on a shallow shelf, fringed by living reefs and white-sand beaches. The nearby Flores mainland is mountainous and volcanically active, and the region as a whole is geologically dynamic and earthquake-prone. The contrast between the volcanic mainland and the low, reef-built offshore islands gives the area its distinctive scenery of clear shallow seas dotted with small limestone islands.

Riung and the Seventeen Islands experience a markedly seasonal tropical climate characteristic of the Lesser Sunda Islands, with a long dry season and a shorter wet season. Northern Flores is comparatively arid, and for much of the year the islands are hot and dry, with abundant sunshine and calm, clear seas ideal for snorkelling and boat trips. The wet season brings the bulk of the year's rainfall and rougher conditions. Sea and air temperatures remain warm throughout the year. The reliably dry, sunny weather over much of the year is part of what makes the islands such a popular and accessible marine destination.

The Riung area on the north coast of Flores is home to local communities whose livelihoods traditionally depend on fishing, farming and, increasingly, tourism centred on the Seventeen Islands. Flores lies within Wallacea, a region of rich cultural diversity, and its peoples have long navigated the seas between the islands of Nusa Tenggara. The town of Riung serves as the gateway to the park, with boat operators and guesthouses supporting visitors. Customary practices and local stewardship of marine resources remain important, and the growth of marine tourism has linked the surrounding communities ever more closely to the protection of the islands and reefs.

Taman Wisata Alam Laut Tujuh Belas Pulau was designated a marine nature tourism park on 16 September 1996 (Ministry of Forestry Decree No. 589/Kpts-II/1996) to protect the islands, reefs and surrounding waters off Riung while supporting sustainable marine recreation. ^[1] The designation recognised both the ecological value of the coral reefs, mangroves and flying-fox colonies and the area's growing appeal for snorkelling and island tourism. Managed within the BKSDA Nusa Tenggara Timur system, the park has become a centrepiece of nature tourism on Flores, balancing the development of boat tours and snorkelling with the conservation of its reefs, mangroves and the celebrated bat colonies that draw visitors.

The park's main attractions are island-hopping boat trips that visit a series of islands for snorkelling over coral reefs, swimming at white-sand beaches and viewing the spectacular flying-fox colonies that erupt from the mangroves at dusk. Popular stops include islands known for snorkelling, beaches and viewpoints, and the surrounding waters offer encounters with reef fish, turtles and vibrant corals. Many visitors also climb to viewpoints around Riung for panoramas over the scattered islands. The combination of clear waters, easy snorkelling, scenic beaches and the unforgettable evening flight of thousands of fruit bats defines the Seventeen Islands experience.

The park is accessed from the town of Riung on the north coast of Flores, roughly 70 kilometres from Bajawa, which serves as a larger regional hub with road connections across the island. Riung offers guesthouses, homestays and boat operators who run daily island-hopping and snorkelling tours, with snorkelling gear typically available for hire. Roads to Riung wind through the Flores highlands, and travel can be combined with broader exploration of the island. Visitors should bring sun protection and water for the hot, dry conditions, and should follow responsible practices to protect the reefs and the flying-fox roosts.

Conservation in the Seventeen Islands park focuses on protecting coral reefs, mangroves and the renowned flying-fox colonies from the pressures of tourism and resource use. Threats include reef damage from anchoring, trampling and destructive fishing, disturbance to bat roosts, mangrove loss, and waste generated by growing visitor numbers. Management emphasises responsible snorkelling and boating, protection of mangrove roosting sites, and the involvement of Riung's communities in stewardship of the marine environment. Sustainable, community-based tourism is seen as central to the park's future, providing livelihoods that depend on, and therefore help safeguard, the health of the islands' reefs and wildlife.