- Pantar
Pantar (Indonesian: "Pulau Pantar") is the second largest island in the Indonesian
Alor Archipelago , afterAlor . To the east is the island of Alor and other small islands in the archipelago; to the west is theAlor Strait , which separates it from theSolor Archipelago . To the south is theOmbai Strait , and 72 km away, the island ofTimor . To the north is theBanda Sea . The island is about 50 km north-to-south, and varies from 11 to 29 km in east-west width. It has an area of 728 km². The main towns on the island are Baranusa and Kabir. Administratively, the island is part of theAlor Regency .The island consists of two distinct geographic zones. The eastern zone is dominated by a range of verdant hills which drop steeply to the coast of the
Alor Strait . The western zone is relatively flat, consisting of a plain which gently slopes to the west from the 900 m active volcano,Mt. Sirung . The western zone is characteristically drier and much less densely populated than the eastern zone. Owing to its relatively low elevation, the entire island is drier than neighboringAlor . The dry season is long, interspersed with heavy rainfall during the rainy season, which peaks during January and February.The economy is dominated by subsistence agriculture and fishing. The most common crops are
rice ,corn , andcassava . Crops are harvested annually in April and stored for consumption throughout the dry season. Excess production is sometimes traded for fish or to help support school children studying in the district capital ofKalabahi . Recently, commercial production of seaweed has been promoted along the north coast. A limited craft industry focused onikat weaving is centered inBaranusa . Tourism remains underdeveloped, though a small dive resort was recently established on the northeast coast.Access to the island is by water only; there is no airstrip on Pantar. Small wooden power boats ply the route between Alor and Pantar daily, serving numerous communities. The state-run ferry serves Baranusa weekly between
Kalabahi (Alor) andLarantuka (Flores).ee also
*
Islands of Indonesia External links
* [http://alor-island.com/ Regency of Alor Website]
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