Damar Island
Damer, or Damar (Indonesian: Pulau Damer), also called Kenli Island, is a small volcanic island in the Barat Daya Islands group in Indonesia's Maluku province, on the southern side of the Banda Sea. It is flanked by four smaller uninhabited islands - one to the east (Layeni), one to the west (Nus Leur) and two to the south (Terbang Utari and Terbang Selatan). Together they are called the Damar Islands, and constitute one administrative district within the Maluku Barat Daya Regency, lying on the undersea ridge which forms the most easterly extension of the Lesser Sunda Islands.
Continuing the line of the ridge further to the northeast are several small and remote islands at increasing distances from Damer Island; these are Teon Island, Nila Island and tiny 'Nil Desperandum' islet; further to the northeast and administered as part of the Maluku Tengah Regency are Serua Island (and its offshore islet of Kekeh-Besar) and - even further to the north - Manuk Island; all of these far-flung islands are isolated stratovolcanoes and are uninhabited. The island has a land area of 201.80 km2 and had a population of 5,718 at the 2020 Census;[1] the district's land area (including the uninhabited islands) is 392.29 km2, and the official estimate of population as at mid 2024 was 6,439 (comprising 3,337 males and 3,102 females), all on Damer Island itself.[2]
Description
[edit]Damar is about 20 km (12 mi.) long by 18 km (11 mi.) wide. It lies about 125 km (78 mi.) east of Romang and 200 km (124 mi.) east of Wetar. The northern part of the island has been largely cleared for dryland farming of coconuts, cashews, coffee beans, cocoa beans, cloves and nutmegs, while the southern part is still mainly forested. Habitation is concentrated in the north and east; most islanders are farmers or fishers.[4] The highest point of the island is 868 m (2,847 ft) Mount Wurlali, an andesitic stratovolcano.[5] There are seven villages on the island - Batumerah on the northwest coast (which has the postcode of 97128), and Wulur, Kuay Melu, Kumur, Bebar Timur, Ilih and Keyli in the east (which share the postcode 97652).
Villages
[edit]The island is administratively divided into seven villages (desa), listed below with their officially-estimated populations as at mid 2024,[6] together with their postcodes.
| Kode Wilayah | Name of desa | Area in km2 | Population mid 2024 estimate | Post code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 81.08.02.2001 | Wulur (a) | 137.50 | 1,832 | 97652 |
| 81.08.02.2002 | Batumerah | 88.80 | 861 | 97128 |
| 81.08.02.2003 | Kuay Melu | 56.31 | 358 | 97652 |
| 81.08.02.2004 | Kumur | 28.25 | 575 | 97652 |
| 81.08.02.2005 | Bebar Timur | 47.53 | 1,093 | 97652 |
| 81.08.02.2006 | Ilih | 15.75 | 614 | 97652 |
| 81.08.02.2007 | Kehli | 18.15 | 1,106 | 97652 |
| 81.08.02 | Totals | 392.29 | 6,439 |
Notes: (a) the most southern desa, includes the small and uninhabited islands of Terbang Utari and Terbang Selatan.
Important Bird Area
[edit]
The forested part of the island has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area because it supports the endemic Damar flycatcher, which is largely restricted to lowland evergreen forest habitat.[4]
References
[edit]
- ↑ Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.
- ↑ Badan Pusat Statistik, 2025, Kecamatan Damer, Katalog/Catalog: 1102001.8108050
- ↑ bbc.com 19 October 2025
- 1 2 "Pulau Damar". Important Bird Areas factsheet. BirdLife International. 2014. Archived from the original on July 10, 2007. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
- ↑ "Wurlali". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
- ↑ Badan Pusat Statistik, 2025, Kecamatan Damer, Katalog/Catalog: 1102001.8108050.
07°08′30″S 128°36′45″E / 7.14167°S 128.61250°E
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