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West Nusa Tenggara

geography Maturity 5-7 Next article →

West Nusa Tenggara is a province located in Indonesia.

Prov. Nusa Tenggara Barat
Prov. Nusa Tenggara Barat

It forms part of the southern Lesser Sunda Islands. The province is bordered by the Flores Sea to the north. The Indian Ocean lies to the south. To the west, it shares a border with Bali. To the east, it borders East Nusa Tenggara. The province consists of two main islands: Lombok and Sumbawa. Several smaller islands, such as the Gili Islands, sit nearby.

Prov. Nusa Tenggara Barat
Prov. Nusa Tenggara Barat

The geography of the province is very diverse. Lombok is the smaller island in the west. It is also much more populated than its neighbor. The capital city, Mataram, is located on Lombok. Lombok features flat coastal areas in the south and west. It also contains massive mountains. Mount Rinjani is the highest peak at 3,726 meters. It is an active volcano and a major tourist site. It features a crater lake called Segara Anak.

Mount Rinjani Ultra 8
Mount Rinjani Ultra 8

Sumbawa Island is much larger in area than Lombok. However, it is much less densely populated. The landscape on Sumbawa is very varied. It has steep hills and mountains in the west. The eastern part of the island consists of dry grasslands. Sumbawa also contains active volcanoes. Mount Tambora is one of these volcanoes. It is famous for a massive eruption in 1815.

Caldera Mt Tambora Sumbawa Indonesia
Caldera Mt Tambora Sumbawa Indonesia

The history of the region began with prehistoric inhabitants. These people came from Southeast Asia. They left behind stone axes and decorated stoneware. The Sasak people are the largest indigenous group on Lombok. On Sumbawa, the people are divided into Samawa and Bima groups. In the 14th century, the Majapahit Empire conquered these islands. Later, Islam spread through coastal communities. This happened after the Majapahit Empire collapsed. King Abdul Kahir was the first to embrace Islam in Bima.

Prov. Nusa Tenggara Barat
Prov. Nusa Tenggara Barat

European powers later arrived in the region. The Portuguese landed on nearby islands in 1605. The Dutch arrived shortly after. The Dutch helped local kings fight the Portuguese. They eventually made many agreements with small kings on Sumbawa. In 1669, the Bima Sultanate made peace with the Dutch. This agreement restricted trade to members of the Dutch East India Company. The Dutch wanted to control ports in Bima and Lombok. They also wanted to prevent British influence in the area.

Natural disasters have shaped the history of these islands. On April 5, 1815, Mount Tambora erupted. This was one of the largest eruptions in history. The event had a global impact. It caused the kingdoms of Tambora and Papekat to disappear. More than 10,000 people were killed by the eruption.

Caldera Mt Tambora Sumbawa Indonesia
Caldera Mt Tambora Sumbawa Indonesia

The province also experiences a tropical climate. It has a rainy season from November to March. The dry season lasts from April to October. Because of the southeast monsoon, rainfall is lower than in western Indonesia. Annual rainfall ranges from 1,000 to 2,000 mm.

Global Forest Change tree-cover loss year in West Nusa Tenggara, 2001-2024
Global Forest Change tree-cover loss year in West Nusa Tenggara, 2001-2024

The economy of West Nusa Tenggara is very active. Agriculture is the backbone of the economy. Most people work in farming. They grow rice, corn, soybeans, peanuts, and tobacco. The province also has significant mineral wealth. There is a large gold mine on Sumbawa. Tourism is another vital industry. People visit the Gili Islands for coral reefs. Surfers visit Kuta Beach and Lakey Beach. Visitors also explore Sade Village to see Sasak architecture.

Global Forest Change tree-cover loss year in West Nusa Tenggara, 2001-2024
Global Forest Change tree-cover loss year in West Nusa Tenggara, 2001-2024
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🖼️ Images & Media (4)
File:Caldera Mt Tambora Sumbawa Indonesia.jpg
Caldera Mt Tambora Sumbawa Indonesia.jpg
File:Global Forest Change tree-cover loss year in West Nusa Tenggara, 2001-2024.png
Global Forest Change tree-cover loss year...
File:Mount Rinjani Ultra 8.jpg
Mount Rinjani Ultra 8.jpg
File:Prov. Nusa Tenggara Barat.jpg
Prov. Nusa Tenggara Barat.jpg
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