The Tanimbar Islands, also called Timor Laut, are a group of about 30 islands in the Maluku province of Indonesia. This page is about the geography and history of the island group in Indonesia — for the political entities encompassing the islands, see Maluku (Indonesian province) and North Maluku. ... The number of provinces of Indonesia has tended to increase as new provinces have been split from existing territories. ...

Geography

The Aru Islands and Kai Islands lie to the northeast, and Babar Island and Timor lie to the west. The islands separate the Banda Sea and the Arafura Sea. The total land area of the Islands is 5440 km² (2100 sq mi). The Aru Islands (also Aroe Islands or Kepulauan Aru) are a group of about 95 low-lying islands in the Maluku province of Indonesia. ... The Kai Islands (also Kei Islands) of Indonesia are in the south-eastern part of the Maluku Islands, in Maluku province. ... Babar island is an island chain in Southern Indonesia. ... Map of Timor Timor Island from space, November 1989 (North is to the bottom of the image). ... Bandasee The Banda Sea is the sea of the South Moluccas in Indonesia, technically part of the Pacific Ocean but separated from it by hundreds of islands, as well as the Halmahera and Ceram Seas. ... The Arafura Sea is the body of water that lies between Australia and New Guinea. ...

The largest of the group is Yamdena. Yamdena Island has a range of thickly forested hills along its eastern coast, while its western coast is lower. Saumlaki is the chief town, located on the south end of Yamdena. Other islands include Larat, Selaru, and Wuliaru. Yamdena is the largest of the Tanimbar Islands in Indonesia. ...

The population is approximately 61,000, of whom 44,000 are Christian, and 17,000 Muslim and unknown. (http://www.websitesrcg.com/ambon/Tanimbar.htm)

Economy

Important products are copra, tortoiseshell, and trepang (an edible sea cucumber). Copra is the dried meat, or kernel, of the coconut. ... Orders Subclass Apodacea  Apodida  Molpadiida Subclass Aspidochirotacea  Aspidochirotida  Elasipodida Subclass Dendrochirotacea  Dactylochirotida  Dendrochirotida The sea cucumber is an echinoderm of the class Holothuroidea, with an elongated body and leathery skin. ...

See also

• Islands of Indonesia