 Komodo lies between the substantially larger neighboring islands Sumbawa to the west and Flores to the east. |
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| Geography | |
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| Location | South East Asia |
| Coordinates | 8°33′S 119°27′E / 8.55°S 119.45°ECoordinates: 8°33′S 119°27′E / 8.55°S 119.45°E |
| Archipelago | Lesser Sunda Islands |
| Area | 390 km² |
| Country | |
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Indonesia
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| Province | East Nusa Tenggara |
| Demographics | |
| Population | c. 2000 |
| Ethnic groups | Bugis, others |
Komodo is one of the 17,508 islands that make up the Republic of Indonesia. The island has a surface area of 390 km² and over 2000 inhabitants. The inhabitants of the island are descendants of former convicts who were exiled to the island and who have mixed themselves with the Bugis from Sulawesi. The population are primarily adherents of Islam but there are also Christian and Hindu minorities.
Komodo is part of the Lesser Sunda chain of islands and forms part of the Komodo National Park. Particularly notable here is the native Komodo dragon. In addition, the island is a popular destination for diving. Administratively, it is part of the East Nusa Tenggara province.
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Location
Komodo lies between the substantially larger neighboring islands Sumbawa to the west and Flores to the east.
Fauna
The island is famous not only for its heritage of convicts but also for the unique fauna which roam it. The Komodo dragon, the world's largest living lizard, takes its name from the island. A type of monitor lizard, it inhabits Komodo and some of the smaller surrounding islands.
First contact
The first reported human visitor to the Island was Dutch Officer Van Steyn van Hensbroek in 1910.
See also
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