Sorong is a chartered coastal city in the eastern
Indonesian province of
West Papua. Its only land borders are with
Sorong Regency. It is the gateway to Indonesia's
Raja Ampat Islands, species rich
coral reef islands in an area considered the heart of the world's coral reef
biodiversity. It also is the logistics hub for Indonesia's thriving eastern oil and gas frontier. Sorong has experienced exponential growth in the last five years, and further growth is anticipated as Sorong becomes linked by road to other frontier towns in Papua's
Bird's Head Peninsula. The city has a population of 190,625 at the 2010 Census; the latest official estimate (as at January 2014) is 219,958. It is served by the
Sorong Airport.