Wetar

The tropical island Wetar ( indon. Pulau Wetar ) is the largest of the Barat Daya Islands - (Southwest Islands, as they are located southwest of Ambon ). With them, it belongs to the Lesser Sunda Islands, but politically to the Indonesian province of Maluku. There she is part of the district ( Kecamatan ) Pulau - Pulau Wetar, government district ( kabupaten ) South Moluccas.

Geography

To the south, across the street from Wetar, is East Timor (56 km). To the west, on the other side of the road from Ombai, the island of Alor. North of the Banda Sea and in the east the other islands of Kepulauan Barat Daya, Romang and Damar. In the southwest, the very small island of Liran ( Lirang ) and further from the East Timorese Atauro Island is located. Off the north west coast Wetars is the small island Reong.

Wetar is about 130 km long (east -west ) and 45 km wide ( north-south). The island has an area of 3,600 km ². It is surrounded by coral reefs, which are suitable for scuba diving. The highest point of the island is 1,412 meters above the sea.

The main towns on Wetar are Lioppa the northwest, Ilwaki in the south, Wasiri in the north, the east and Masapun Arwala in the Northeast. Roads connect the villages together.

Wetar is together with the other Kepulauan Barat Daya and the Banda Islands part of the volcanic island arc. Wetar but is not alone volcanic origin, but consists largely of oceanic crust, which was lifted by seismic activity on the surface. Here collide the Australian Plate and the Eurasian Plate. The Gunung Api Wetar, a volcano with 282 meters height, broke out in 1512 and 1699.

Wetar has some gold mines, but they were poorly managed and pollute the environment.

History

Wetar was part of the Republic of South Moluccas.

Wildlife and climate

Wetar has the same climate as Timor. Rain falls almost exclusively in the monsoon season. Therefore, losing many trees of the forest, the island mostly covered, their leaves during the dry season. Together with its neighboring islands Wetar is part of the Wallacea region, which forms the border between Asia and Australia. It is known for its unique flora and Wetar is no exception. On Wetar live 162 species of birds, three of which are endemic, four endangered. Several bear the name of the island, so the Wetar - pigeon, the Wetar - Rotflügelsittich ( Aprosmictus jonquillaceus wetterensis ) and the Wetar - Irislori ( Psitteuteles iris wetterensis ). Also with us is known of the native here zebra finch. Together with Timor and some smaller offshore islands Wetar was declared the Timor and Wetar Endemic Bird Area. Among the reptiles, the Bindenwaran with over two meters in length, the most striking representative on the island.

Culture

The population belongs mostly to the Papua peoples. Most are Muslims, but there is also a Christian minority.

Some of the Malayo - Polynesian languages ​​of Timor branch are spoken only on Wetar. Wetar ( Wetaresisch ) is also spoken on the neighboring islands of Atauro and Liran. On Wetar you speak the dialects Aputai, Ili'uun, Perai, Talur and Tugun. All these languages ​​are used only by small groups with about 1,000 speakers. The official national language Bahasa Indonesia and the regional language Ambonese Malay ( Ambonesisch ) are widely used.

The population lives mainly on agriculture, most of sago palms are grown. Turtles are hunted and their tanks exported to countries that have not yet banned the trade.