Komodo (island)
| Komodo | ||
|---|---|---|
| Waters | Lake Flores , Lake Sawu | |
| Archipelago | Lesser Sunda Islands | |
| Geographical location | 8 ° 36 ′ S , 119 ° 25 ′ E | |
|
||
| surface | 390 km² | |
| Highest elevation | Gunung Arab 823 m |
|
| Residents | 2000 5.1 inhabitants / km² |
|
| main place | Komodo | |
Komodo is one of the Lesser Sunda Islands with an area of 390 km² and about 2000 inhabitants . It belongs to the Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara . The island was best known for the Komodo dragon , the largest currently living species of lizard.
geography
Komodo lies in the chain of the Lesser Sunda Islands between the larger neighboring islands of Sumbawa in the west and Flores in the east. In the south the Sumbastraße and the Sawusee with the island Sumba extend , in the north the Floressee .
Together with smaller offshore islands, Komodo is part of the Komodo National Park , which includes the islands of Padar and Rinca on the other side of the Lintah Strait . The Komodo dragon that lives here is known . The waters around the island are a popular diving spot .
The mountains, which are mostly bare and often rugged due to the dry climate, culminate in the north in Gunung Satalibo (758 meters), in the middle in Gunung Arab (823 meters), in the south in Gunung Komodo (655 meters) and on the southern peninsula in Gunung Langkoi (518 meters).
population
The approximately 2000 inhabitants of the island live in the only village on the island, Kampung Komodo . Accommodation was built on Loh Liang Bay for some rangers and tourist guides.
Almost all of Komodo's residents are Islamic and are descendants of former prisoners who were abandoned on the island and mixed with the Bugis from Sulawesi . However, there are also a few Christians and Hindus.
tourism
Komodo does not have its own airport. The nearest airport - about 1.5 hours by flight from Bali - is in Labuan Bajo on the island of Flores, which can be reached by ship from Sumbawa after a journey of several hours. Ships carrying tourists dock at Loh Liang Bay on the east coast of the island, which is several kilometers from the island's only village. The administration of the national parks is based in the bay.
Many tourists come to Komodo to see the flora and fauna on land and underwater. Hikes to observe the Komodo dragons are only allowed in the company of local guides from the nature conservation authority PKA. The Liang River, which has dried up at times, and in the Poreng Valley are particularly good observation spots . Routes of different lengths are possible on predetermined routes. However, the marked hiking trails must not be left.
The neighboring smaller island of Rinca is also visited for the Komodo dragons, but - like Komodo - cannot be reached by public transport. Various providers on Lombok and in Labuan Bajo on the island of Flores have boat tours to Komodo and / or Rinca in their program. Since a combined Komodo-Rinca tour lasts longer than a day's trip, you will usually spend the night on the ship.
Web links
- Komodo National Park , entry in the UNESCO list of world natural heritage (English)