Serangan Island
Important Temple on “Turtle Island”

Serangan is a small island lying just off Bali’s southern coast near Sanur. It has an area of only 180 acres and a population of about 2500 and its known principally for its turtles and its important Sakenan Temple.

Serangan is too dry for wet rice farming, but its residents grow corn, maize, peanuts and beans. Some islander earn a living making shell trinkets to sell to the tourist who come here in ever increasing numbers. But the trade in another distinctive item is even more crucial to the local economy.

The sea turtles which give Serangan its popular name are not found swimming pictur-esquely under ocean cliffs- here they are caught and sold as food. People in the Denpasar area are found of turtle meat, especially on festival days. Serangan residents make a living capturing and wholesaling the creatures, also buying them from Muslim fishermen from islands to the east. Serangan Island