Tanimbar Islands

The Indonesian archipelago Tanimbarese ( Bahasa Indonesia: Kepulauan Tanimbarese ) is one of the Moluccas.

Geography

Overview

The Tanimbarese Islands are located about half way between Timor and New Guinea. Neighbor to the west are the Babar Islands, northeast are the Aru Islands and the Kei Islands. At the same time, they form the eastern end of the Lesser Sunda Islands. The Tanimbarinseln demarcate the Banda Sea to the north by the Arafura Sea to the south. Administratively, the archipelago forms the government district ( kabupaten ) Maluku Tenggara Barat province of Maluku.

Main island of the archipelago is Yamdena (North Timor sound; 2981 km ²), to group the south west and north of numerous islands. To the south lie Şelaru (South Timor sound; 775 km ²), Anggarmasa, Mark and Asutubun, west Wuliaru ( Waliaru, Wariaru; 220 km ²), Selu (230 km ²), sera, Watuwawan, Tandula, Keswu, Nuswotar ( Wotar ) and Nitu and Larat north (515 km ²), Fordate, Laibobar, Mitah, Namoon, Makasar, the Lima Islands, Maru, Wayangan and Molu. There are also other small islands. The Egeronstraße separates Yamdena and Şelaru, located between Yamdena and Wuliaru the Yamdenastraße. In total, the land area is 5430 km ².

The highest peak of the island group is located on Laibobar and is 391 m high.

Geology

The Tanimbarese Islands are made up of tertiary strata, and especially in the West have numerous coral reefs.

Fauna and Flora

On the Tanimbarese Islands strong influences of the Australian animal and plant world are already watching. Some species are restricted to the Tanimbarese Islands. So only comes here such as the very rare Tanimbarese Barn Owl before, for the present date no observations in the field and described scientifically only by means of bellows.

Population

The largest city Saumlaki, with about 10,000 inhabitants, is situated on the main island Yamdena. Saumlaki also has a small, but little frequented airport and a developed port, which is primarily served by the state-owned shipping company Pelni.

The traditional population could be divided into four ethnic groups: Yamdena on the east coast of the island of the same name, Seluwasan on the west coast, Fordata on the north coast and the offshore islands in the north and west, and Şelaru on the homonymous island.

Due to unrest in Ambon many Christians fled to Saumlaki. Therefore, the population is composed of there almost 100% Protestants.