Merauke is a large town and an administrative district which is also the administrative centre of Merauke Regency, Papua province, Indonesia. However, it is intended by the Indonesian Government that Merauke will become an city independent from the Regency, and will then become the capital of the proposed South Papua Province. It is considered to be one of the easternmost cities in Indonesia. The town was originally called Ermasoe. It is next to the Maro River where the Port of Merauke is located.