- published: 11 Dec 2014
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Coordinates: 1°15′48.74″S 116°49′40.38″E / 1.2635389°S 116.8278833°E / -1.2635389; 116.8278833
Balikpapan is a seaport city on the eastern coast of the island of Borneo, in the East Kalimantan province, a resource-rich region well known for its timber, mining, and petroleum export products. Two harbors, Semayang and Kariangau (a ferry harbour), and the Sepinggan International Airport are the main transportation ports to the city. The city has a population of 639,031, making it the second-largest city in East Kalimantan, after the capital Samarinda.
Prior to the oil boom of the early 1900s, Balikpapan was an isolated Bugis fishing village. Balikpapan's name (lit. balik is behind and papan is a plank) comes from a folk story where a local king threw his newborn daughter into the sea to protect her from his enemies. The baby was tied beneath some planks, which were discovered by a fisherman.[citation needed]
In 1897, a small refinery company began the first oil drilling. Construction of roads, wharves, warehouses, offices, barracks, and bungalows started when a Dutch oil company arrived in the area. On 24 January 1942, a Japanese invasion convoy arrived at Balikpapan and was attacked by four United States Navy destroyers which sank three Japanese transports. The Japanese landed and after a sharp but short fight the Japanese army defeated the Dutch garrison. The defenders had partially destroyed the oil refinery and other facilities. After this the Japanese massacred many of the Europeans they had captured. Several campaigns followed until the 1945 Battle of Balikpapan, which concluded the Allied Forces' Borneo campaign, after which they took control of Borneo island.
Coordinates: 1°14.622′S 116°46.38′E / 1.2437°S 116.773°E / -1.2437; 116.773 Balikpapan Gulf (Indonesian : Teluk Balikpapan), is a small gulf in Indonesia, near Borneo Island close to the city of Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. The Indonesian company Pertamina has its largest oil refinery on the eastern edge of the gulf.
Balikpapan gulf located on the western of Makassar Strait, or about southwestern from Pacific Ocean. Balikpapan gulf are bordering several areas.
Balikpapan gulf is the mouth of several river such as Wain River before merge into Makassar strait
Several public port were located in Balikpapan Gulf area, such as :
Private port also located in this area, such as :