The Kayan River is a river of

Borneo Borneo (; id, Kalimantan) is the third-largest island in the world and the largest in Asia. At the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia, in relation to major Indonesian islands, it is located north of Java, west of Sulawesi, and ea ...

island, flowing in the North Kalimantan province of

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...

, about 1600 km northeast of the capital Jakarta. Tributaries include the Bahau River.

Hydrology

The Kayan River rises on Mount Ukeng, passing Tanjung Selor city and discharges into the Sulawesi Sea, with a total length about and a basin size of , forming a wide area at the upstream and narrower in the center until downstream.

Uses

Transportation

For ages the Kayan River served as a main transportation route for the inhabitants of

Malinau The town of Malinau is one of the districts of Malinau Regency in North Kalimantan Province of Indonesia and is also the administrative capital of the Regency. The latest official estimate of population (as at mid 2021) was 27,140.Badan Pusat Stat ...

and Bulungan Regency to reach the inland region of

Malinau Regency Malinau Regency is a regency of North Kalimantan Province in Indonesia. The administrative centre is the town of Malinau. The regency is home to the Kayan Mentarang National Park. It covers an area of 40,088.38 km2, and had a population of ...

using traditional boats or out of the Bulungan Regency using speed boats, while at the downstream there are some river ports for passengers and goods, such as Port of Kayan and Port of Pesawan.

Fishery and agriculture

The people along the Kayan River utilize the water for agriculture and fishery, either by traditional fishing or netting, especially in the upstream area, whereas about 30,000 hectare land of the Delta Kayan is used as Food Estate area, for fish ponds and farmlands.

Hydroelectricity

The Kayan River is used to produce hydroelectricity using some power plants, such as the Diesel-powered one in village of Long Nawang, Kayan Hulu subdistrict. The river can produce around 900 Megwatts (MW). There is also a dam for Hydroelectric Power Plant in the village of Desa Long Peso, Peso subdistrict, Bulungan Regency.

Villages along the Kayan River

Antutan

Antutan village (Bahasa Indonesia – ''Desa Antutan'') is one of the many villages situated along the Kayan River. The population of the village compromises of Dayak sub-tribes: the Kenyah and the Kayan, also the Tidung and the Bulungan. There are several main sources of income in this village, such as paddy plantation, farming, fishing and crafts selling. Majority of the villagers heavily depended on the paddy rice plantation to make a living. However, some are also public servants, for example, teachers, nurses, armies and police.

References

{{Rivers of Kalimantan Rivers of North Kalimantan Rivers of Indonesia