Lighthouses of Indonesia: Sumba and Savu

The Republic of Indonesia has been independent since 1945, after having been the Dutch East Indies for more than 350 years. It is a huge country, stretching along both sides of the Equator for more than 46 degrees of longitude (roughly 5100 km or 3200 miles). Comprised of some 17,000 islands (more than 6000 inhabited islands), it has hundreds of major aids to navigation.

The island arc that begins in the west with the major islands of Sumatra and Java continues eastward through a chain of smaller islands known in English as the Lesser Sunda Islands and in Indonesian as the Nusa Tenggara ("Southeastern Islands"). From west to east, the major Lesser Sunda Islands are Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Sumba, Flores, and Timor.

Indonesia is divided into 38 provinces (provinsi) and the provinces are subdivided into county units called regencies (kabupaten). This page includes lighthouses of the islands of Sumba and Savu in East Nusa Tenggara (Nusa Tenggara Timur) Province. Thiese islands lie south of Flores and west of Timor.

More than 700 languages are spoken in Indonesia. The official national language, Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia), was standardized from a form of Malay that served as a lingua franca across the archipelago. In Indonesian a lighthouse is a mercusuar or a menara suar. Tanjung is a cape, ujung is a headland or point of land, bukit is a hill, sungai is a river, kuala or muara is an estuary or river mouth, pulau is an island, karang is a reef, batu is a rock, laut is a sea, selat is a strait, teluk is a bay, pelabuhan is a harbor, and labuhan is a port. It's also worth knowing that the word for an island is nusa in Balinese and gili in the Sasak language spoken on Lombok and in western Sumbawa.

Aids to navigation in Indonesia are operated and maintained by the Directorate of Marine Navigation within the Directorate General of Sea Transportation.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from volume Q of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 112.

General Sources
Online List of Lights - Indonesia - Lesser Sunda Islands
Photos by various photographers posted by Alexander Trabas.
World of Lighthouses - Indonesia
Photos by various photographers available from Lightphotos.net.
Lighthouses in Indonesia
Photos by various photographers available from Wikimedia.

Tanjung Undu Light, East Sumba, April 2019
Google Maps photo by Jonet Joko

Sumba Lighthouses

Sumba is an island about 240 km (150 mi) long and roughly 55 km (35 mi) wide, lying southeast of Sumbawa and southwest of Flores. The Sumba Strait separates Sumba from Flores. The island has a population of about 820,000, but it is one of Indonesia's least developed major islands.

East Sumba Regency Lighthouses
The East Sumba Regency occupies nearly 2/3 of the island but has less than 1/3 of the island's population. Waingapu is the capital and largest town in the regency.
#Tanjung Sasar (1)
Date unknown. Inactive since 2020 and later removed. Approx. 40 m (131 ft) square skeletal tower with lantern and gallery. Lantern painted red. YKBH Sarnelli's 2020 photo of both the old and new lighthouses is at right. Jonet Joko has a 2019 photo and a view from the gallery of the original lighthouse.
Tanjung Sasar (2)
2020 (station establishment date unknown). Active; focal plane 85 m (279 ft); three white flashes every 22 s. Approx. 40 m (131 ft) octagonal white concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lantern painted red. Several coast guard station buildings. YKBH Sarnelli's photo of both the old and new lighthouses is at right, Tekad Putro Wibowo has a 2022 photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the northern tip of the island. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q1318; NGA 25653.
Waingapu Approach West
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); green flash every 5.2 s. 15 m (49 ft) green tower on a triangular platform supported by piles. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. NGA has confused this light with different light on the east side of the entrance. Located on the west side of the approach to Waingapu. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q1319.1.
Waingapu Harbor West Outer
2017. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); green flash every 5.2 s (?). 12 m (39 ft) square skeletal tower, painted green (?) and mounted on a square platform supported by piles. Aris Purwanto has a distant street view from the Waingapu waterfront, Fredrick William has a distant view from the ferry terminal, the light is at lower right in an aerial view, and Google has a satellite view. The Waingapu Harbor Outer and Inner lights guide vessels in the narrow entrance to Waingapu. C-Map charts this as an east cardinal light, painted yellow with one black horzontal band and showing nine quick white flashes every 15 s. Located at the edge of a shoal about 800 m (1/2 mi) north of the wharves of Waingapu. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q1319.2; NGA 25658.1.

Old and new Tanjung Sasar Light, Sumba, August 2020
Google Maps photo by YKBH Sarnelli
Waingapu Harbor West Inner (2)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); green flash every 6 s. 12 m (39 ft) post, painted green and mounted on a triangular platform supported by piles. This light replaced a square skeletal tower seen in Aris Purwanto's distant 2017 street view from the Waingapu waterfront. Google has a satellite view. Located at the edge of a shoal opposite the wharves of Waingapu. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q1319.15.
* Waingapu (2)
2016. Active; focal plane approx. 20 m (66 ft); white flash every 7 s. Approx. 20 m (66 ft) octagonal tower with lantern and galley, painted white. Sobirin Aamiin's drone view is at right, Budi Setiawan has a September 2016 photo of the new lighthouse, Lery Butar Butar has a closeup, Sasmudi Blora has a 2017 photo, Fani Serangmo has a 2023 closeup, and Google has a satellite view. Achmad Rabin Taim has a distant view of the original lighthouse, a skeletal tower. Waingapu is the terminal for ferries from Bima on Sumbawa and Ende on Flores. NGA mangles the name as "Maingapoe" and lists a 9 m (30 ft) skeletal tower. Located on the waterfront near the ferry quay. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q1320.2; NGA 25660.
Waingapu Harbor East Inner
2017 (?). Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); red flash every 6 s. 12 m (39 ft) skeletal mast, painted red and mounted on a square platform supported by piles. This light is at the right edge of Fredrick William's distant view from the ferry terminal, the light is at lower center in an aerial view, and Google has a satellite view. This listed location for this light appears incorrect. Located at the edge of a shoal opposite the wharves of Waingapu. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q1319.4; NGA 25658.2.
Waingapu Approach East (Waingapu Reef)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); three red flashes, in a 2+1 pattern, every 15 s. 15 m (49 ft) red tower on a square platform supported by piles. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. Located on the east side of the approach to Waingapu. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q1319; NGA 25658.
Tanjung Undu
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 42 m (138 ft); three white flashes every 20 s. Approx. 40 m (131 ft) tapered square skeletal tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white, lantern red. Jonet Joko's photo is at the top of this page. Google's satellite view of the station shows four coast guard buildings as well as the tower. NGA misspells the name as Umdu. Located on the eastern tip of Sumba. Probably accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty Q1317; NGA 25653.5.
Tanjung Ngaru Mangigit
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 45 m (148 ft); white flash every 4.5 s. Approx. 36 m (118 ft) tapered square pyramidal skeletal tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. This is a staffed station with several coast guard buildings. Jonet Joko has a 2019 photo, a 2023 closeup is available, and Google has a good satellite view. Located on a prominent cape near the southeastern tip of Sumba. Site status unknown, probably open; tower closed. Admiralty Q1317.5.

Waingapu Light, Waingapu, September 2017
Google Maps drone view by Sobirin Aamiin
Pulau Mangudu (2)
2019 (station establishment date unknown). Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); one long white flash every 5 s. 20 m (66 ft) octagonal tower with lantern and galley, painted white. Entire lighthouse is white. Vicky Sunartio's 2023 photo is at right, Jhonni Kana has a view from the sea, and Google has a satellite view. A sibling of the new Waingapu lighthouse. A small coast guard station is about 150 m (0.1 mi) to the northeast. This lighthouse replaced a round hourglass-shaped fiberglass tower mounted on a square concrete pad. Located on the north side of a small island about 10 km (6 mi) off the south coast of Sumba. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty Q1321; NGA 25656.

Southwest Sumba Regency Lighthouses
Tanjung Karaso (1)
Date unknown. Inactive since 2022-23. 15 m (49 ft) skeletal tower with gallery, painted white. Jonet Joko has a 2019 photo and Kristian Beijello has a 2021 view; the tower is centered but hard to spot in Google's fuzzy satellite view. Located at the western tip of Sumba. Site open, tower closed.
Tanjung Karaso (2)
2022-23. Active; focal plane about 30 m (98 ft); white light, 2 s on, 6 s off. Approx. 25 m (82 ft) octagonal white concrete tower with lantern and gallery. A 2024 photo is available and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located about 225 m (740 ft) south of the original lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q1321.5; NGA 25653.2.
* Waikelo
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); white flash every 2 s. Approx. 12 m (39 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery, painted white. A photo is available, Sasmudi Blora has a more distant photo, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on the waterfront at Waikelo, a new port on the northwest coast of Sumba. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q1318.7; NGA 25653.1.

Pulau Mangudu Light, Sumba, January 2023
Google Maps photo by Vicky Sunartio

Sabu Raijua Regency Lighthouses

Savu (Sawu, Sabu) is an island at the northern edge of the Timor Sea, halfway between Sumba and Timor. The island has a population of about 80,000 and has become a popular destination for adventure tourism. Raijua is a small island off the western tip of Savu; it has a population of about 9000.

Dana Lighthouse
Pulau Dana
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 42 m (138 ft); white light, 1 s on, 1 s off. 20 m (66 ft) square white skeletal tower. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. The island has cultural significance and access is controlled by officials on Raijua. Located on Pulau Dana, a small, uninhabited island about 30 km (19 mi) west southwest of Pulau Raijua. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Admiralty Q1354.5.

Raijua Lighthouses
Tanjung Wuimahi (Ujumahi, Kolorae) (2)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 67 m (220 ft); two white flashes, separated by 5 s, every 16 s. Approx. 20 m (66 ft) square white skeletal tower. Om Zoya has the 2022 photo seen at right and Google has an indistinct satellite view. A second photo shows the older lighthouse as well, but that tower is not shown on the satellite view. NGA lists the light as "Ria Jua." Located at the west end of Pulau Raijua. Site status unknown. Admiralty Q1354; NGA 25678.
* Pulau Raijua (Namo) (2)
Around 2021. Active; focal plane 14 m (43 ft); white flash every 1.5 s. Approx. 20 m octagonal white concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Gus Adib has a view from the pier, a more distant view is available, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse replaced a square skeletal tower painted white. That tower is partially hidden by trees in Koen Vanhollebeke's photo and Jumnan Kuswandana also has a view. Located a short distance east of the pier in Boedae, the only settlement on Raijua, near the eastern end of the island. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q1353; NGA 25677.

Savu Lighthouses
* Seba
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 43 m (141 ft); white flash every 6 s. 40 m (131 ft) square skeletal tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Jonet Joko has a 2019 closeup photo and Google has a satellite view of the station. Located on the northern side of Savu in Kota Boddo. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS IDO-359; Admiralty Q1352; NGA 25676.
Seba North (?)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); white flash every 3 s. 12 m (39 ft) square white skeletal tower on a square platform supported by piles. No photo available and the light is not seen in Google's indistinct satellite view. Located on an offshore reef about 1.2 km (3/4 mi) north of Seba harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q1351.5.
Tanjung Layley
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); white light, 1 s on, 1 s off. 12 m (39 ft) white tower (probably skeletal) on a square platform supported by piles. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. Located off a headland about 10 km (6 mi) north of Seba. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q1351.

Tanjung Wuimahi Light, Raijua, February 2022
Google Maps photo by Om Zoya
* Kali Menia (Tanjung Menia) (2)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 33 m (108 ft); three white flashes every 10 s. Approx. 20 m (66 ft) square skeletal tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Several station buildings. Jonet Joko has a 2019 closeup photo and Google has a satellite view. NGA describes a 10 m (33 ft) white stone pyramid at this location. Located on a bluff near the northern tip of Savu. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q1350; NGA 25672.
* Pelabuhan Biu
2021-22?. Active; focal plane about 32 m (105 ft); white light, pattern unknown. Approx. 28 m (92 ft) octagonal white concrete tower with lantern and gallery; lantern painted red. Several station buildings. Baim Ly has a 2023 photo, a Facebook video and a sunset 2024 view are available, and Google has a satellite view. There's no sign of the tower in an October 2020 aerial view of the port. Located north of the foot of the pier at Biu, a port on the eastern tip of Savu. Site open, tower closed. Not listed by the Admiralty.
#Biu North
Date unknown. Apparently destroyed but still listed with focal plane 12 m (39 ft); three green flashes every 10 s. 12 m (39 ft) square skeletal tower painted green and mounted on a square platform supported by piles. Nyoman Wisnu has a distant view but the light is not shown in Google's satellite view. This light was apparently lost to a storm or poor construction; it's likely it will be replaced. Located north of the end of the pier at Biu. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q1352.3.
Biu South
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); three red flashes, in a 2+1 pattern, every 15 s. 12 m (39 ft) square skeletal tower and mounted on a square platform supported by piles. Nedya Hestika has a photo and Google has an indistinct satellite view. The tower is supposed to be painted red but it appears white in Hestika's photo. The photo also shows the piles leaning dangerously. Located south of the end of the pier at Biu. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty Q1352.4.
Tanjung Liegeta (1)
2004. Replaced in 2023. 40 m (131 ft) tapered square skeletal tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Several coast guard station buildings. No closeup photo available. Naomi Ga Lede has a 2022 sunset view, Marscha Imanuel has a distant view,and the tower is dimly visible to the right of center in Djuhen LayKanni's aerial photo and Google's satellite view of the station shows both the old and new towers. Located on a promontory on the east coast of Savu. Site status unknown.
Tanjung Liegeta (2)
2023.Active; focal plane 115 m (377 ft); white flash every 7 s. 40 m (131 ft) tapered square skeletal tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Several coast guard station buildings. No current photo available but Google's satellite view of the station shows both the old and new towers. The image at right is from the tender for the construction of the new lighthouse. Located on a promontory on the east coast of Savu. Site status unknown. Admiralty Q1352.5; NGA 25676.2.

Tanjung Liegeta Light, Savu
image from tender-indonesia.com

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: North: Flores | East: Rote and West Timor

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Posted January 10, 2009. Checked and revised November 26, 2024. Lighthouses: 26. Site copyright 2023 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.