Bengkalis Regency

Bengkalis Regency
Regency
Flag Seal
Motto: Negeri Junjungan
Location of Bengkalis Regency in Riau province
Coordinates: 1°29′23″N 102°4′47″E / 1.48972°N 102.07972°ECoordinates: 1°29′23″N 102°4′47″E / 1.48972°N 102.07972°E
Country	Indonesia
Province	Riau
Capital	Bengkalis
Government
• Regent ad interim	H. Ahmad Syah Harrofie
Area
• Total	11,932.26 km^2 (4,607.07 sq mi)
Population (2010)
• Total	498,384
• Density	42/km^2 (110/sq mi)
Time zone	WIB (UTC+7)
Website	www.bengkalis.go.id

Bengkalis Regency is a regency of Indonesia in the Riau province. The regency, which includes the whole of Bengkalis and Rupat Islands in the Strait of Malacca, has been established since 1956. The regency is divided into 13 districts (or kecamatan) which are in turn subdivided into 24 villages (or kelurahan).

Bengkalis Regency produces natural resources, particularly petroleum, rubber, and coconut. The regency is home to the Bukit Batu Biosphere Reserve.

Geography

Bengkalis Regency comprises the whole of Bengkalis Island and Rupat Island which are located in the Straits of Malacca, together with a wide swathe of the eastern coastal area of Sumatra Island as well as other islands within the archipelago to its north-east. The area covers 11,932.26 Km2 and it borders on the Malacca Straits to the North, on Siak Regency to the south, on the Meranti Islands Regency to the Southeast, and on Dumai municipality, Rokan Hilir Regency and Rokan Hulu Regency to the West.

The Bengkalis Strait separates Bengkalis Island from Sumatra as well as from Padang Island and Tebing Tinggi Island.

Population

Following the splitting of the Regency to create a new Meranti Islands Regency, the residual area of Bengkalis Regency had a population of 498,384 at the 2010 Census.