Komodo National Park - Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia

The Komodo National Park is a national park in Indonesia located within the Lesser Sunda Islands in the border region between the provinces of East Nusa Tenggara and West Nusa Tenggara. The park includes the three larger islands Komodo,Padar and Rinca, and 26 smaller ones, with a total area of 1,733 km² (603 km² of it land). The national park was founded in 1980 to protect the Komodo dragon, the world's largest lizard. Later it was dedicated to protecting other species, including marine species. In 1991 the national park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

"Located between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores, the Komodo National Park comprises three major islands: Rinca, Komodo, and Padar, and numerous smaller ones, all of which have a volcanic origin"

Komodo National Park has been selected as one of the New7Wonders of Nature

"More than 60 thousand tourists from 104 countries visited the Komodo Biosphere Reserve and National Park from January to December 2013, thus showing an increase of 10 thousand, from 50 thousand tourists during the same period in 2012"

lets talk about Komodo Island and Rinca Island :)

Komodo Island

Komodo is one of the 17,508 islands that compose the Republic of Indonesia. The island is particularly notable as the habitat of theKomodo dragon, the largest lizard on Earth, which is named for the island. Komodo Island has a surface area of 390 square kilometres and a human population of over two thousand. The people of the island are descendants of former convicts who were exiled to the island and who have mixed with Bugis from Sulawesi. The people are primarily adherents of Islam but there are also Christian and Hindu congregations.

The Komodo Biosphere Reserve and National Park is famous for its population of some 5 thousand komodo dragons, and are of great interest to scientists involved in the research on the theory of evolution. This giant lizard was also the key reason for the national park being designated as a World Heritage Site.

Rinca Island

Rinca, also known as Rincah and Rindja, is a small island near Komodo island, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, within the West Manggarai Regency. It is part of Komodo National Park. The island is famous for komodo dragons, giant lizards that can measure up to 3 metres (9.8 ft) long. Rinca is also populated with many other species such as wild pigs, buffalos and many birds.

Being less known and less visited than Komodo, it is a good place to see the komodo dragon in its natural environment with fewer people to disturb them. Day trips can be arranged from Labuan Bajo on Flores by small boat at the park headquarters.

The island's area is 198 square kilometres (76 sq mi).

Living conditions for local people on the island are often difficult. Education facilities, for example, are quite limited for children. Some non-government organisations help with the provision of books for children on Rinca. Local people must also take some care to avoid komodo dragons because komodos in the area occasionally attack and kill humans.




Keyword :
komodo island
rinca island
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