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Ambon, Maluku

geography Maturity 11-13

Ambon is a big city.

Ambon and Lease Islands (Uliasers) en.png
Ambon and Lease Islands (Uliasers) en.png
It is in Indonesia. The city is very pretty. It is a place for music. Many people live there. It is a warm place. Do you like music?

39 words

Ambon is a big city in Indonesia.

Ambon and Lease Islands (Uliasers) en.png
Ambon and Lease Islands (Uliasers) en.png
Its name means "pretty."

The land has many hills. Most of the ground slopes up. It is a warm place. It stays warm all year.

Ambon Stad2.jpg
Ambon Stad2.jpg

Rain falls often in this city. There is no dry season. This helps the land stay green.

Benteng Victoria.jpg
Benteng Victoria.jpg

Ambon is a city for music. Many different people live there. It is a special place to hear songs.

77 words

Ambon is a large city in Indonesia.

Ambon and Lease Islands (Uliasers) en.png
Ambon and Lease Islands (Uliasers) en.png
It is the capital of the Maluku province. The name Ambon means "beautiful" in the local language. Most of the land is hilly or has steep slopes. Only a small part of the city is flat.
Ambon Stad2.jpg
Ambon Stad2.jpg

The weather stays warm all year long. It is near the equator. There is no real dry season here. It rains often, which keeps the land wet. June is the wettest month. November is the driest month.

Benteng Victoria.jpg
Benteng Victoria.jpg

Ambon is known as a city of music. In 2019, UNESCO named it a City of Music. Many different groups of people live here. They come from many parts of Indonesia and other lands. Many people also follow different religions. Some are Christians and some are Muslims.

Amboina. 17th century print, most likely English..jpg
Amboina. 17th century print, most likely English..jpg

History has changed the city many times. Portugal ruled Ambon in the 1500s. Later, the Dutch took control. The city was even used as a base during World War II. Today, it is a busy place with over 350,000 people.

183 words

Ambon is a large and busy city in Indonesia.

Ambon and Lease Islands (Uliasers) en.png
Ambon and Lease Islands (Uliasers) en.png
It serves as the capital of the Maluku province. In the local Ambonese language, the name Ambon means "beautiful" or "pretty." The city covers a land area of 171.81 square kilometers. Most of this land is very hilly or has steep slopes. Only about 17% of the area is flat or has shallow slopes.
Ambon Stad2.jpg
Ambon Stad2.jpg

The weather in Ambon stays warm all year long. This is because the city sits near the equator. It has a tropical rainforest climate, which means there is no real dry season. Rain falls often throughout the year. June is the wettest month with 334 mm of rain. November is the driest month with 65 mm of rain. The temperature stays mostly constant. December is the hottest month, while July is the coolest.

Benteng Victoria.jpg
Benteng Victoria.jpg

Ambon has a very long and complex history. Portugal first colonized the area in 1526. They named it Nossa Senhora de Anunciada. The Dutch drove the Portuguese out in 1605. The island stayed under Dutch control for a long time. It was even a major naval base during World War II.

Amboina. 17th century print, most likely English..jpg
Amboina. 17th century print, most likely English..jpg
In 1942, Japanese forces attacked and took control of the city. Ambon finally became part of independent Indonesia in 1945.

Today, Ambon is a very diverse place to live. The population was about 331,254 in 2010. By mid-2024, the official estimate was 357,289 people. Many different ethnic groups live together in the city. These include the Alifuru, Javanese, Balinese, and many others. People also come from foreign backgrounds, such as Chinese or Dutch descent. The city is divided into five main districts. These are Nusaniwe, Sirimau, Teluk Ambon Baguala, Teluk Ambon, and Leitimur Selatan.

Coat of Arms of Ambon (1930).svg
Coat of Arms of Ambon (1930).svg

Many things make Ambon special to the world. It is famous for its love of music. In 2019, UNESCO named it a City of Music in Southeast Asia. This is a very big honor for the city. The city also has many different religious groups. You will find many Christians and many Muslims living there. Even though there was social unrest between 1999 and 2002, it remains a major center for the Maluku region.

Ambon refugees, 1999.jpg
Ambon refugees, 1999.jpg

380 words

Ambon is the capital city of the Maluku province in Indonesia.

Ambon and Lease Islands (Uliasers) en.png
Ambon and Lease Islands (Uliasers) en.png
The name Ambon comes from the Ambonese language. It translates to "beautiful" or "pretty." The city covers a total land area of 171.81 square kilometers. Most of this land is characterized by hilly or steeply sloping terrain. Only 17% of the area is considered flat or shallow-sloped. This geography shapes how the city is built and how people move through it.

The climate in Ambon is a tropical rainforest climate, known scientifically as Af.

Ambon Stad2.jpg
Ambon Stad2.jpg
Because the city is located near the equator, temperatures remain constant throughout the year. There is no true dry season in Ambon. Instead, precipitation occurs frequently. June is the wettest month, receiving 334 mm of rain. November is the driest month, with 65 mm of precipitation. The temperature fluctuates very little between the hottest month in December and the coolest month in July.

Ambon has a complex history involving many different global powers. Portugal first colonized the area in 1526. They originally named the settlement Nossa Senhora de Anunciada. The Dutch drove the Portuguese out of the region in 1605. Ambon remained under Dutch control for most of the following centuries. The island served as a major Dutch naval base and held great strategic importance.

Amboina. 17th century print, most likely English..jpg
Amboina. 17th century print, most likely English..jpg
During World War II, Japanese forces attacked and captured the city in February 1942. This followed a period where Dutch and Australian forces had reinforced the area.

The city's administration is divided into five distinct districts. These are Nusaniwe, Sirimau, Teluk Ambon Baguala, Teluk Ambon, and Leitimur Selatan.

Coat of Arms of Ambon (1930).svg
Coat of Arms of Ambon (1930).svg
Each district contains various types of settlements. Some are urban kelurahan, which are city wards. Others are negeri, which are traditional villages. In the Maluku region, these states are often led by traditional kings and queens. This structure shows how modern government and ancient traditions exist together in Ambon.

Ambon is home to a very diverse population of many different ethnic groups. The population has grown steadily over the years. The 2010 Census recorded 331,254 people. By 2020, the population reached 347,288. The official estimate for mid-2024 was 357,289 residents.

Ambon refugees, 1999.jpg
Ambon refugees, 1999.jpg
The people include the Alifuru, who are the original Moluccans. Other groups include Javanese, Balinese, Bugis, and Papuan. There are also people of foreign descent, such as Chinese, Arabian, and Dutch. This mix of people creates a rich cultural landscape.

The city has also experienced periods of significant social and political conflict. Between 1999 and 2002, Ambon was the center of sectarian conflict. This unrest was motivated by racial and religious intolerance. Earlier, in 1958, the city was affected by the Permesta rebellion. During this time, CIA-supported aircraft bombed targets in and around Ambon. These raids targeted military posts, fuel dumps, and commercial interests like the Royal Dutch Shell complex. Such events have left deep marks on the city's history.

Today, Ambon is internationally recognized for its cultural contributions. It is famously known as Indonesia's music city. In 2019, UNESCO officially recognized Ambon as a City of Music. This was the first such recognition for a city in Southeast Asia.

Benteng Victoria.jpg
Benteng Victoria.jpg
The city also serves as a center for religious activity. It has many Christian communities and many Muslim communities. This religious diversity is a defining characteristic of the Maluku Islands. Ambon remains a vital hub for the entire region.

572 words
🖼️ Images & Media (7)
File:Ambon and Lease Islands (Uliasers) en.png
Ambon and Lease Islands (Uliasers) en.png
File:Amboina. 17th century print, most likely English..jpg
Amboina. 17th century print, most likely...
File:Coat of Arms of Ambon (1930).svg
Coat of Arms of Ambon (1930).svg
File:Ambon refugees, 1999.jpg
Ambon refugees, 1999.jpg
File:Ambon Stad2.jpg
Ambon Stad2.jpg
File:The_Cathedral_of_Ambon.jpg
The_Cathedral_of_Ambon.jpg
File:Benteng_Victoria.jpg
Benteng_Victoria.jpg
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