Adonara is an island in the Lesser Sunda IslandsofIndonesia, located east of the larger island of Flores in the Solor Archipelago. To the east lies Lembata, formerly known as Lomblen. Adonara is the highest of the islands of the archipelago, reaching an altitude of 1,659 metres, and it has an area of 529.75 km2.[1] It is situated administratively in the East Flores RegencyofEast Nusa Tenggara province.
Adonara, viewed from the Space Shuttle, 1983. The eruption plume from stratovolcano Ili Boleng is visible.
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Lesser Sunda Islands |
| Archipelago | Solor Archipelago |
| Area | 529.75 km2 (204.54 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 1,659 m (5443 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Province | East Nusa Tenggara |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 132,345 (mid 2021 estimate) |
| Pop. density | 249.8/km2 (647/sq mi) |
| Ethnic groups | Lamaholot |
The island is divided into eight districts (kecamatan), tabulated below with their areas (in km2) and their populations at the 2010 Census[2] and 2020 census,[3] together with the official estimates as at mid 2022.[4]
| Name | Area in km2 |
Population Census 2010 |
Population Census 2020 |
Population Estimate mid 2022 |
Admin centre |
No. of villages |
Post codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adonara Barat (West Adonara) |
79.71 | 11,743 | 13,529 | 14,021 | Waiwadan | 18 | 86263 |
| Wotan Ulu Mado | 86.31 | 7,871 | 9,968 | 10,522 | Baniona | 12 | 86260 |
| Adonara Tengah (Central Adonara) |
42.73 | 10,686 | 13,312 | 14,007 | Lewobele | 13 | 86264 |
| Adonara Timur (East Adonara) |
91.06 | 26,161 | 30,299 | 31,434 | Waiwerang | 21 | 86261 |
| Ile Boleng | 49.30 | 13,948 | 17,416 | 18,333 | Senadan | 21 | 86253 |
| Witihama | 79.43 | 14,140 | 17,460 | 18,340 | Oringbele | 16 | 86266 |
| Kelubagolit | 44.41 | 10,210 | 12,650 | 13,296 | Pepak Kelu | 12 | 86265 |
| Adonara (a) | 56.80 | 9,745 | 11,835 | 12,392 | Sagu | 8 | 86262 |
| Totals on Adonara Island |
529.75 | 104,504 | 126,469 | 132,345 | 121 |
Note: (a) Adonara District covers only the northern part of Adonara Island ("Adonara Utara").
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Local history on Adonara is documented from the sixteenth century, when Portuguese traders and missionaries established a post on the nearby island of Solor. By that time Adonara and the surrounding islands were ritually divided between a population of coastal dwellers known as Paji, and a population mainly settling the mountainous inland called Demon. The Paji were susceptible to Islam, while the Demon tended to fall under Portuguese influence. The Paji areas on Adonara contained three principalities, namely Adonara proper (centered on the north coast of the island), and Terong and Lamahala (on the south coast). Together with two principalities on Solor (Lohayong and Lamakera), they constituted a league called Watan Lema ("the five shores"). The Watan Lema allied with the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in 1613, confirmed in 1646. The Adonara principalities had frequent feuds with the Portuguese in Larantuka on Flores, and were not always obedient to the Dutch authorities. In the course of the nineteenth century, the ruler of Adonara (proper) in the north strengthened his position in the Solor Archipelago; by then, he was also the overlord of parts of eastern Flores and Lembata. The Demon areas stood under the suzerainty of the principality of Larantuka, which in turn was under Portuguese rule until 1859, when it was ceded to the Netherlands. The principalities of Larantuka and Adonara (proper) were abolished by the Indonesian government in 1962. Some post-independence local officials trace their roots to past rulers, called raja, of Adonara (proper). These include:
Adonara Island is a part of the Indonesian regencyofEast Flores. It can be reached by airplane from Jakarta to Kupang, then by ferry to Larantuka, then by boat.
The administrative centre of Adonara is the town of Waiwerang.
8°15′S 123°09′E / 8.250°S 123.150°E / -8.250; 123.150
