Kanowit
Pekan Kanowit | |
|---|---|
Town and district capital | |
| Other transcription(s) | |
| • Chinese | 加拿逸 |
 | |
 Seal | |
  Kanowit | |
| Coordinates: 2°06′0″N 112°09′0″E / 2.10000°N 112.15000°E | |
| Country |  Malaysia |
| State |  Sarawak |
| Division | Sibu |
| District | Kanowit |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 28,985 |
| Website | http://www.kanowitdc.sarawak.gov.my/ |
Kanowit (Malay: Pekan Kanowit) is a town and the capital of Kanowit District, Sibu Division, Sarawak, Malaysia, comprising 2,253.5 square kilometres. As of 2010, Kanowit's population is 28,985. It is built on the mouth of Kanowit River at the bank of Rajang River, approximately 174 kilometers from the coast of South China Sea. It takes 45 minutes to reach the town by land transport and an hour by boat from Sibu. The main ethnic groups are Iban, Chinese, Malay, and Melanau.
The town takes its name from the Kanowit, a Melanau ethnic group called Rajang by the Ibans (ISO 639-3: kxn). The language is still spoken by the Kanowit people living in the area.
The village where the Kanowit people live is known as Kampung Bedil, a short trip by boat up the Rajang River from Kanowit town.