Buru

Buru is a big island.

It sits in Indonesia. It is between two seas.

Most of the land has thick forests. Many animals live in the trees. A wild pig lives there too.

People live in many towns. They grow food like rice and beans. They also grow cloves.

The island has high mountains. It also has a big lake.

Buru is a very special place.

Buru is a large island in Indonesia.

It sits in the Maluku Islands. The island is between two seas. The Seram Sea is to the north. The Banda Sea is to the south.

Most of the island is covered in thick forests. Many plants and animals live there. Some animals live only on Buru. This includes the Buru babirusa. It is a type of wild pig.

The land is mostly made of mountains. The highest point is Mount Kapalatmada. There is also a big lake called Lake Rana. The Apo River is the longest river. It flows into Kayeli Bay.

Many people live on the island. They grow crops like rice and coffee. They also grow cloves.

In the past, the Dutch lived on Buru. They built a fort at Kayeli Bay.

Today, Buru is part of Indonesia. People use the Indonesian language to talk to each other.

Buru is a very large island in Indonesia. It is the third largest island in the Maluku Islands.

The island sits between two different seas. The Seram Sea is to the north. The Banda Sea is to the south and west. The island is shaped like an oval. It is long from east to west. Most of the land is very mountainous. The highest point is the peak of Mount Kapalatmada. Much of the island is covered in thick, green forests.

Nature on Buru is very special because of where the island sits. It is at a meeting point between the animal zones of Asia and Australia. This means many living things found here are unique.

There are 178 kinds of birds on the island. Ten of these birds live only on Buru or nearby islands. One such bird is the Buru racket-tail. There are also 25 kinds of mammals. One famous animal is the Buru babirusa. This is a wild pig with very long, thick hair.

The forests are full of huge trees and thick vines. Many of these trees can grow very tall.

Water is an important part of the island's shape. The Apo River is the longest river on Buru. It winds in many loops as it flows to Kayeli Bay. There is also a large freshwater lake called Lake Rana. It sits in the middle of the island. The island has a very large bay called Kayeli Bay. This bay is on the eastern coast. It is about 50 km long along the coast. The largest town, Namlea, sits at the mouth of this bay.

Buru has a long and changing history. People first mentioned the island around the year 1365. Later, the Dutch East India Company lived there from 1658 to 1942. They built a fort at Kayeli Bay.

The Dutch moved many villages to work on clove plantations. Japanese forces occupied the island from 1942 to 1945. In 1950, Buru became part of the independent nation of Indonesia. In the 1960s and 1970s, the island was used as a place for political prisoners. One famous writer, Pramoedya Ananta Toer, wrote many books while he was there.

Today, many people call Buru home. About 215,000 people live on the island. Many people are indigenous, like the Buru and Lisela people. Others moved there from Java or nearby islands. Most people work by growing things from the earth. They grow rice, maize, and sweet potatoes. They also grow coffee, cocoa, and spices like cloves and nutmeg.

People also catch fish and raise animals. While people speak many local languages, they use Indonesian to talk to each other.

Buru is the third largest island within the Maluku Islands of Indonesia. It is an oval-shaped landmass that sits between the Seram Sea to the north and the Banda Sea to the south and west. The island is part of the Maluku province and is divided into two administrative areas. These are the Buru Regency and the South Buru Regency. The largest towns on the island are Namlea and Namrole. Both of these towns serve as administrative centers and have their own airports.

The geography of Buru is defined by its rugged and mountainous terrain. Most of the island is very high, especially in the central and western regions. Out of the total 9,505 square kilometers, a large portion sits well above sea level. For example, 382 square kilometers are located at heights above 1,500 meters. The highest point on the island is the peak of Mount Kapalatmada. The coastline is mostly smooth, but it features a large indentation called Kayeli Bay. This bay is located on the eastern coast and is about 50 km long.

Water plays a vital role in the island's ecosystem and physical structure. The Apo River is the longest river on Buru. It flows toward the northeast and empties into Kayeli Bay. The riverbed is very winding, with many loops throughout its length. There are also two other permanent rivers named Geren and Nibe. In the center of the island, you can find Lake Rana. This is the only significant lake on Buru. It is a freshwater lake with a nearly rectangular shape.

The climate on Buru is described as equatorial monsoonal. This means the island is generally wet and follows a seasonal pattern. The rainy season lasts from October to April. Rainfall is highest during the months of December, January, and February. Because the island is so mountainous, there are several different climatic zones. While the average annual temperature is about 26 °C, the amount of rain changes with the height of the land. In the mountains, above 500 meters, the annual precipitation can reach 3,000 to 4,000 mm.

Buru is a very important place for biological research. It sits at the boundary between the biogeographic zones of Asia and Australia. This unique position means its flora and fauna are quite special. There are 178 recorded species of birds on the island. Ten of these, such as the Buru racket-tail, are endemic. Endemic means they are found only on Buru or a few very nearby islands.

The island also hosts 25 mammal species. One notable animal is the Buru babirusa, a wild pig with long, thick hair. Some bird species, like the black-lored parrot, are considered vulnerable or endangered.

The history of Buru involves many different groups of people. The island was first mentioned around the year 1365. Between 1658 and 1942, it was a colony of the Dutch East India Company and later the Crown of the Netherlands. The Dutch built a fort at Kayeli Bay and moved villages to work on clove plantations.

Japanese forces occupied the island from 1942 to 1945. In 1950, Buru became part of independent Indonesia. During the 1960s and 1970s, the island held many political prisoners. The famous writer Pramoedya Ananta Toer wrote his Buru Quartet novels while he was held there.

Today, the population of Buru is approximately 215,277 people. The people are a mix of indigenous groups and immigrants. Indigenous groups include the Buru, Lisela, Ambelau, Kayeli, Masarete, Rana, and Wai Apu. The population is split nearly evenly between Christianity and Sunni Islam. Most people work in agriculture. They grow crops like rice, maize, cocoa, coffee, and spices. Cloves and nutmeg are very important crops on the island.

People also rely on fishing and animal farming for their livelihoods.