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East Nusa Tenggara

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East Nusa Tenggara is a province located in the southern part of Indonesia.

Oost-Nusa Tenggara en onderverdeling
Oost-Nusa Tenggara en onderverdeling

It occupies the eastern portion of the Lesser Sunda Islands. The province faces the Indian Ocean to the south. To the north, it looks out over the Flores Sea. It covers a total land area of 46,378.11 square kilometers. The region is composed of approximately 653 islands. These islands vary in size and importance to the province. The largest landmasses are Flores, Sumba, and the western part of Timor. Timor shares a land border with the nation of East Timor.

The geography of the province is defined by its many islands and varied terrain. The largest island is Flores, which covers 15,482.42 square kilometers. Sumba is also very large at 10,899.41 square kilometers. The western part of Timor covers 14,079.36 square kilometers. Other substantial islands include Alor and Lembata. The highest point in the province is Mount Mutis. It is located in the South Central Timor Regency. This peak reaches an elevation of 2,427 meters above sea level. The marine environment is also significant. The province contains rich ecosystems like the Savu Sea marine-national-park.

Borassus flabellifer
Borassus flabellifer

Human history in this region stretches back a very long time. Archaeological research has focused on the Liang Bua cave. This site shows that humans inhabited the area about 190,000 years ago. Scientists found remains of early humans in the cave's archaeological layers. These included a group known as Homo floresiensis. This discovery helps us understand the deep history of human life. The province also has a strong missionary history. European missionaries from Portugal and the Netherlands arrived centuries ago. This shaped the religious landscape of the islands.

The political history of East Nusa Tenggara changed significantly after 1945. After Indonesia declared independence, the eastern part formed the State of East Indonesia. In 1949, the area became part of the United States of Indonesia. By 1950, Indonesia became a unitary state. In 1958, Law No. 64/1958 officially established East Nusa Tenggara as a province. At that time, it was divided into twelve regencies. Following the fall of the Suharto regime in 1998, new laws allowed for regional autonomy. This led to a process called pemekaran, or the subdividing of local governments. Between 1999 and 2012, nine new regencies were created through this process. As of 2013, the province includes twenty-one regencies and the city of Kupang.

Today, the population of the province is quite large. The 2010 Census recorded 4,683,827 people. By 2020, the population grew to 5,325,566. Recent estimates from mid-2025 suggest around 5.74 million people live there. The population density averages about 110 people per square kilometer. However, people are not spread out evenly. Kupang City is the capital and the most crowded area. Other large regencies include Sikka and Manggarai. In contrast, rural areas on islands like Alor or Rote have much lower densities.

Sasando Building Kupang
Sasando Building Kupang

The culture of East Nusa Tenggara is very diverse. Many different ethnic groups live across the islands. These include the Flores, Sumba, Timor, Rote, Alor, and Sabu peoples. There are also Chinese, Arab, and Eurasian groups. Each indigenous group has its own regional language. These include languages like Manggarai, Ngada, Sikka, Sabu, and Rote. While Indonesian is the official language, local languages are used daily. Religion is also a major part of life. The province is one of only two Indonesian provinces with a Catholic majority. In Flores, about 85% of people are Catholic. There are also Muslim, Hindu, and local belief communities. People celebrate traditions like ikat weaving and the Pasola ceremony in Sumba.

Nihi Sumba
Nihi Sumba

The economy relies on several different sectors. Agriculture is the main source of work for most people. They grow crops like corn, rice, cassava, beans, and coconuts. In Sumba and Timor, livestock is very important. Residents raise cattle, horses, and pigs. The fisheries sector is vital for people living on the coast. They harvest fish and seaweed from the sea. Tourism is also a rapidly growing industry. Many visitors travel to see Komodo National Park or Labuan Bajo. The beautiful beaches and marine life attract many divers to the region.

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🖼️ Images & Media (5)
File:Sasando Building Kupang.jpg
Sasando Building Kupang.jpg
File:Oost-Nusa Tenggara en onderverdeling.png
Oost-Nusa Tenggara en onderverdeling.png
File:Nihi Sumba.jpg
Nihi Sumba.jpg
File:Borassus flabellifer.jpg
Borassus flabellifer.jpg
File:Global Forest Change tree-cover loss year in East Nusa Tenggara, 2001-2024.png
Global Forest Change tree-cover loss year...
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