Adonara Explained

Adonara should not be confused with Andorra.

Adonara
Location:Lesser Sunda Islands
Archipelago:Solor Archipelago
Area Km2:529.75
Elevation M:1659
Country:Indonesia
Country Admin Divisions Title:Province
Country Admin Divisions:East Nusa Tenggara
Population:132,345
Population As Of:mid 2021 estimate
Density Km2:249.8
Ethnic Groups:Lamaholot

Adonara is an island in the Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia, 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 Regency of East Nusa Tenggara province.

Administration

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)
79.7111,74313,52914,021Waiwadan1886263
Wotan Ulu Mado 86.317,8719,96810,522Baniona1286260
Adonara Tengah
(Central Adonara)
42.7310,68613,31214,007Lewobele1386264
Adonara Timur
(East Adonara)
91.0626,16130,29931,434Waiwerang2186261
49.3013,94817,41618,333Senadan2186253
Witihama 79.4314,14017,46018,340Oringbele1686266
Kelubagolit 44.4110,21012,65013,296Pepak Kelu1286265
Adonara (a)56.809,74511,83512,392Sagu886262
Totals on
Adonara Island
529.75104,504126,469132,345121

Note: (a) Adonara District covers only the northern part of Adonara Island ("Adonara Utara").

History

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:

Geography

Adonara Island is a part of the Indonesian regency of East 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.

References

-8.25°N 132°W

Notes and References

  1. Book: Monk, K.A. . Fretes, Y.. Reksodiharjo-Lilley, G. . The Ecology of Nusa Tenggara and Maluku . Periplus Editions Ltd. . 1996 . 8. Hong Kong . 962-593-076-0.
  2. Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
  3. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.
  4. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2023.