Halmahera
| Halmahera | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Waters | Halmahera Lake , Molucca Sea | |
| Archipelago | Moluccas | |
| Geographical location | 0 ° 36 ' N , 127 ° 52' E | |
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| length | 366 km | |
| width | 159 km | |
| surface | 18,040 km² | |
| Highest elevation |
Gamkonora 1635 m |
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| Residents | 180,000 10 inhabitants / km² |
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| main place | Sofifi | |
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Halmahera (outdated Gilolo ) is an Indonesian island. With an area of 18,040 km², it is the largest island in the Moluccas archipelago and part of the Maluku Utara province . The city of Sofifi on the west coast is the capital of the province.
population
Halmahera is populated by different peoples who speak East Malayo-Polynesian (in the south) and West Papua languages (in the north of the island). The population used to be referred to by the collective term Alfuren . A total of around 180,000 people live on the island, the population density is around 10 people per square kilometer, there are no larger cities. Around 80% of the population are Muslims and 20% are Christians.
history
The sparsely populated island has long been under the influence of Ternate and Tidore , small islands off the west coast of Halmahera. Important sultanates had developed on both islands before the Dutch East India Company colonized the archipelago. During World War II , the island was occupied by the Japanese , who set up a military base on Kau Bay.
In 1999 and 2000, the island was the scene of bloody conflicts between Muslims and Christians that had spread from the island of Ambon . These conflicts claimed thousands of lives.
The island comprises 10 administrative districts (kabupaten): Halmahera Timur, Halmahera Selatan, Halmahera Barat, Halmahera Utara, Halmahera Tengah, Kepulauan Sula, Kepulauan Morotai, Kota Ternate, Kota Tidore and Pulau Talibau.
economy
The island's economy is dominated by agriculture, with rice , coffee , cocoa and sugar cane being cultivated . The Australian mining company Newcrest Mining operates a gold mine in Toguraci , which was the subject of violent protests by the local population before it was opened in 2003.
Volcanism
At 1635 m , Gunung Gamkonora is the highest point on Halmahera. It is an active stratovolcano that last erupted on July 10, 2007. There are also the following volcanoes on Halmahera: Dukono , Ibu , Jailolo , Tarakan , Tigalalu , Tobaru and Todoko-Ranu .
Wildlife
The following animal species are native to the island: Pacific boa , short-headed glider , long-tongue bat , Moluccan sailing lizard and the Moluccan cuscus . The Halmahera amethyst python , the Halmahera rat , the drum rail and the Halmahera parrot are endemic .
