Lesser Sunda Islands

Lesser Sunda Islands
Native name:
  • Kepulauan Sunda Kecil (Indonesian)
  • Illá Sunda ki'ik sirá (Tetum)
  • ᬓᬧᬸᬮᭀᬯᬦ᭄ᬲᬸᬦ᭄ᬤᬘᭂᬦᬶᬓ᭄ (Balinese)
Geography
LocationSoutheast Asia
Coordinates9°00′S 120°00′E / 9.000°S 120.000°E / -9.000; 120.000
ArchipelagoSunda Islands
Total islands975
Major islandsBali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Sumba, Flores, Timor
Highest elevation3,726 m (12224 ft)
Highest pointMount Rinjani
Administration
Provinces
Largest settlementDenpasar (pop. 670,210)
Districts
Largest settlementDili (pop. 277,488)
Demographics
Population16,303,575 (2020)
Ethnic groupsBalinese, Sasak, Sumbawan, Bimanese, Atoni, Manggaraian, Sumbese, Lamaholot, Tetum, Mambai, Kemak, Moluccans, Alfur, Javanese, Bugis, Bali Aga.
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The Lesser Sunda Islands (Indonesian: Kepulauan Sunda Kecil, Tetum: Illá Sunda ki'ik sirá, Balinese: ᬓᬧᬸᬮᭀᬯᬦ᭄ᬲᬸᬦ᭄ᬤᬘᭂᬦᬶᬓ᭄, romanized: Kapuloan Sunda Cenik), now known as Nusa Tenggara Islands (Indonesian: Kepulauan Nusa Tenggara, or "Southeast Islands"), are an archipelago in the Indonesian archipelago. Most of the Lesser Sunda Islands are located within the Wallacea region, except for the Bali province which is west of the Wallace Line and is within the Sunda Shelf. Together with the Greater Sunda Islands to the west, they make up the Sunda Islands. The islands are part of a volcanic arc, the Sunda Arc, formed by subduction along the Sunda Trench in the Java Sea. In 1930 the population was 3,460,059; today over 17 million people live on the islands. Etymologically, the name Nusa Tenggara means 'Southeast Islands' from the words nusa meaning 'island' and tenggara meaning 'southeast'.

The main Lesser Sunda Islands are, from west to east: Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, Sumba, Savu, Rote, Timor, Atauro, Alor archipelago, Barat Daya Islands, and Tanimbar Islands. Apart from the eastern half of Timor island and Atauro island which constitute the nation of Timor Leste, all the other islands are part of Indonesia.