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Komodo (island) facts for kids

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Komodo
Komodo Island north aerial.jpg
View of the northern end of the island
Geography
Location South East Asia
Coordinates 8°33′S 119°27′E / 8.55°S 119.45°E / -8.55; 119.45
Archipelago Lesser Sunda Islands
Administration
Indonesia
Demographics
Population c. 2000

Komodo is one of the 17,508 islands that comprise the Republic of Indonesia. The island is particularly notable as the habitat of the Komodo dragon, the largest lizard on Earth, which is named after the island. Komodo Island has a surface area of 390 square kilometres.

Komodo is part of the Lesser Sunda chain of islands and forms part of the Komodo National Park. It lies between the substantially larger neighboring islands Sumbawa to the west and Flores to the east. The island's surface area covers 390 square kilometres.

This area is inhabited by more than a thousand different fish species, making it one of the world’s richest marine habitats, the island is a popular destination for diving.

Komodo contains a beach with "pink" sand, one of only seven in the world. The sand appears pink because it is a mixture of white sand combined with red sand, formed from pieces of Foraminifera.

Modern day

Komodo Village
Komodo Village

Komodo has a population of over two thousand, spread out over the island and in the main Komodo village. The native population of Komodo, the Komodo people, has been extinct since the 1980s. The present day people of the island are descendants of former convicts who were exiled to Komodo and who have mixed with Bugis from Sulawesi.

The people are primarily followers of Islam but there are also Christian and Hindu congregations.

In April 2019, Indonesian authorities announced a plan to close Komodo Island to tourism for a limited period to allow for conservation efforts amid concerns over animal-smuggling. In July 2019, it was confirmed that the island would be closed as from the beginning of 2020. Governor Laiskodat has suggested that an expensive entrance fee be charged to foreign tourists while local villagers who live on Komodo Island are worried about the possible loss of income.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Isla Komodo para niños

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