Tarakan is a small island off the north-eastern coast of Borneo. Prior to the Second World War it was part of the Dutch East Indies and an important oil-producing center. In 1941 it was occupied by the Japanese. Three years later, the recapture of Tarakan was to be the first in a series of operations in and around Borneo codenamed OBOE. Tarakan's significance lay in its oil infrastructure and in its airfield, which was to be used to support the other OBOE as part of a general advance towards Java. The operation was entrusted to brigade group based on the 9th Division's 26th Brigade which went ashore on the morning of 1 May. The landing was affected with little real difficulty but initiated a bitter campaign against Tarakan's Japanese defenders who had withdrawn inland. The fighting continued until the end of the war in August, by which time neither the island’s airfield or oil facilities had been returned to an operational condition. From www.awm.gov.au
Right now, Tarakan becomes the fastest growing city in Indonesia. Tarakan has a vision to be the new Singapore because Tarakan become a center of trading for the northern side of East kalimantan province.Based on aquatic products, the city rise to be one of the biggest exporter of Black Tiger Shrimp from Indonesia. Another products are plywood, Furniture, fish, crabs, and many more.
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Tarakan also only 3 hours away from Tawao, Sabah, Malaysia. Since long time ago, there were relationship between Tarakan citizen with Tawao citizen, especially in trading activities. This means Tarakan can be a transit city for Indonesia exporters from another area.Tarakan has a Mangrove forest, lies in the center of town. There is also Bekantan (Probiscous Monkey) live in the area. It's open for public and you can visit it everyday.
