Babar Islands
The Indonesian Babar Islands ( Kepulauan Babar indon. ) belong to the Southern Moluccas.
Geography
Overview
The largest island of the group is Babar. To the west of it is the second largest island Wetan, south and north of the Number Three Masela the three small islands Dai, Dawera and Daweloor. West of the Babar Islands are the Sermata Islands, east of the Tanimbarese Islands. Together, they are part of the outer Banda arc, which also includes further Timor heard in the West. To the south are the Timor Sea and the Arafura Sea, north of the Banda Sea.
While Babar a height of 833 m is reached, is thin forested with mountain forests and has year-round sources of fresh water, the other islands of the group are usually only flat islands of limestone. Alone Dai consists of granite. The tiny islands are barren, so that the population has to feed there as opposed to those on Babar not from farming, but fishing and crafts. Rainwater must be collected ( September to December ) here in cisterns for the dry season.
Administrative divisions
Through the middle of the main island of Babar goes in a straight line, the boundary between the sub-district ( Kecamatan ) Pulau - Pulau Babar Babar in the west and Timur (East Babar ) in the east. At Pulau - Pulau Babar includes the islands Wetan and Dai to Babar Timur the islands Masela, Dawera and Daweloor. Both Subdistrikte belong to the government district ( kabupaten ) of South Moluccas ( Maluku Province ). Main place of Pulau - Pulau Babar is Tepa on the west coast of Babar Babar and Timur Letwurung on the east coast.
Population
The initial population is in contrast to the Malays in the west of Indonesia Melanesian origin. Most are Protestants and include the Gereja Protestants Maluku (GPM ), which has its origin in the Dutch Reformed Church. The GPM has 56 places of worship in the Babar Islands. There is also a Catholic Church, a Seventh- day Adventist Church and the Pentecostal movement. In Tepa is also located a mosque.
Transport
The Babar Islands are only accessible by boat.