Kapuas River stretches from the province of South Kalimantan, West Kalimantan Up. Extends for 1143 km and is the longest river in Indonesia. Among the cultures that exist along the River Kapuas, this river flows through the city of Pontianak. Although the piece but the flow is the lifeblood Kapoeas of Pontianak. Kapoeas Pontianak is the center of trade routes and transportation. His daily variety of transportation modes cornucopia of water in this river. Motor boats, traditional boats and ships back and forth crops adorn the river. For anyone who first visited Kapoeas Pontianak, the scenery to and fro the ships will definitely make the admiration that it turns out that ships float on a river.
The length of this river is striking the eye, so too wide. Recorded an average width Kapoeas Pontianak is 400-700 meters. When compared with the road on land, in any hemisphere where there are no roads as wide as that. Overall Kapuas River are navigable by large-sized ferry boat’s length of 800 km or up to Kapuas Hulu Regency, West Kalimantan. The distance is nearly equal to the distance between the city of Surabaya and Jakarta.
Kapuas Pontianak with two branching tributaries namely Kapuas Small and Porcupine River, splitting into 3 parts Pontianak. Namely the South and West Pontianak, Pontianak East, and North Pontianak. There are two bridges that stretched over Pontianak Kapuas River and its tributaries. The first is along the 410-meter Kapuas Bridge was built in 1983, linking the South with the East Pontianak. While the 319-meter bridge connects Hedgehogs Pontianak along with the North East. In addition to the above division, there is also a division of the commonly used by residents. The first is the area of the city, region consisting of plantations and small cities as well, the last is the old town area. With this distribution can be shown flashes of history and development of residents in the vicinity of the river.
In the area of the city, tourists can see the hustle and bustle of the activity version of the citizens of the city of Pontianak. In this region there are also new buildings are constructed with more consideration than the functional aspects of the authenticity of the original architecture of Pontianak. But unfortunately, the utilization of Pontianak Kapuas River in the region fade away as the growing continental region. In the second region, the rest of the life of Pontianak is still visible, but the area is mainly dominated by oil palm plantations. This is where many ships found the plantation and other crops such as wood, coal and sand. Meanwhile, the old city area is a traditional society prototype of Kapuas. Residents in this area, most still rely on their economy with fishing along the River Kapuas. Method and equipment used are still traditional. Above the wooden boat, a resident of this fish finder able to download about 300 species of fish that inhabit the Kapuas. One fish that are excellent are catfish.
As with other cultures along the Kapuas, this river also plays a role in the history of the city of Pontianak. In the year 1192 H October 23, 1771 (14 Radjab 1185 H), founder of the city of Pontianak Alkadrie Abdurrahman Sharif was first set up the hall and three houses at the junction between Kapoeas, Small Kapuas River and Porcupine River. Hall and the house that is the forerunner of Pontianak Sultanate. According to the story, the establishment of Abdurrahman Sharif hall and the house was started when he was plagued by a kind of ghost kuntilanak. To expel the ghost interference Sharif Abdur-Rahman went down Kapoeas Pontianak and finally opened fire cannon. Location where the cannon ball falling empire’s territory was established. Cannon shot slid past the intersection of three Kapoeas, Small Kapuas River and Porcupine River and then falls in an area now known as Shelf Village In East or Bugis Pontianak Pontianak. Track record like that is what makes history of Kapoeas is symbolized in Pontianak in the emblem.
From the city of Pontianak, tourists can start the trip toward Kapus Pontianak via Jalan Gajah Mada. After that, travelers using land transport modes in the form of oplet (designation of public transport in Bahasa Melayu) majoring in Lower Cape. This transport route could be identified from car paint that is white with dark green line. In this way the point of dismissal of tourists is the Palace Kadriyan. Transportation fare is around Rp. 2000-3000 (January 2008).
