100-549: Ombai-Wetar Strait may refer: in part, to Ombai Strait , which separates the Alor Archipelago from the islands of Wetar, Atauro, and Timor in the Lesser Sunda Islands in part, to Wetar Strait , which separates the island of Wetar from the eastern part of the island of Timor to the combination of those two straits [REDACTED] Topics referred to by
200-462: A commercial vessel or aircraft has freedom of navigation or overflight solely for the purpose of continuous and expeditious transit of a strait between one part of the high seas or exclusive economic zone and another. That transit passage principle applies to Ombai Strait and Wetar Strait, as they combine to link two oceans. The Ombai-Wetar route is longer in distance than its Strait of Malacca - Singapore Strait counterpart. The former route
300-420: A decline in landings over the previous 20 years. They attributed the decline to several human factors, including higher fishing effort, plastic pollution , motorisation of canoes and larger-scale, less selective fishing gear. Some sardine species were sold readily to traders; others were commonly kept for immediate home consumption. Another of the strait's pelagic fisheries is flying fish ( Exocoetidae ); both
400-539: A formidable maritime power and had extensive diplomatic relations, including with areas in the Southern Philippines. Tidore had a strong military tradition and often formed alliances with kingdoms in the northern region to face external threats, especially from European powers such as Portugal and Spain. Under the rule of Sultan Nuku , Tidore built local alliances and waged resistance that succeeded in maintaining its sovereignty while maintaining control over
500-466: A further run, east, along Alor's south coast, around its east point, and beyond. Meanwhile, Ombai Strait continues to run from longitude 125° East in a south westerly direction, now within the limits of the Savu Sea. It extends, as part of that sea, at least as far south west as Batek Island , at the north western tip of Oecusse. From Ombai Strait's south western, Savu Sea, end, the strait heads in
600-523: A generally north eastern direction, while gradually narrowing. At its narrowest point between the Alor Archipelago and Timor, it is 27 km (17 mi) wide, and its navigable waters are 26 km (16 mi) across. Beyond the end of the channel at the strait's north eastern extremity, between the islands of Alor and Atauro, is the Flores Sea to the north west and north, and the Banda Sea to
700-400: A height of more than 1000 meters above sea level, Lake Rana is estimated at around 700–750 meters above sea level. Using a landscape approach, Buru district is classified above, the coastal hills of the plains and mountains include varieties of highlands and slopes. Following the splitting off of the northern parts of the regency in 1999 to form the new North Maluku Province ( Maluku Utara ),
800-619: A monopoly while at the same time carrying out the spread of Catholicism . One of the famous missionaries was Francis Xavier . Arriving in Ambon on February 14, 1546, then traveling to Ternate, arriving in 1547, visiting islands in the Maluku Islands to spread Catholicism . The relationship between the Portuguese and Ternatean broke down in 1570, resulting in a war with Sultan Babullah that lasted for 5 years (1570–1575), causing
900-490: A number of species of sardines (and also other small pelagic fish) were caught on the north coast of East Timor, with flat-bodied sardinellas ( S. gibbosa etc.) being the dominant species group landed at Loes , and relatively abundant at Comoro . At most sites, catches of these pelagic species varied moderately between years, and were larger during the rainy season and when medium-sized turbid plumes were extending from river mouths. Fishers at various sites generally perceived
1000-493: A painting by W.P. Groeneveldt, titled Gunung Dupa, Maluku, is described as a green mountainous region filled with cloves – an oasis in the middle of the southeastern sea. Marco Polo also described the clove trade in Maluku during his visit to Sumatra . Before the arrival of European colonials, the Maluku islands had been ruled by several sultanates that played an important role in the spice trade, especially cloves and nutmeg. In
1100-477: A strategic role in trade routes and became an important supporter of the two sultanates, strengthening the defense system and relations with communities in the southern region. These four sultanates , through the Moloku Kie Raha system, demonstrated a bond of unity in the face of external threats and in managing the economic and cultural potential of Maluku. Although Ternate and Tidore often stand out in
SECTION 10
#17327805631241200-466: A whole. East Timor's coastal waters have also traditionally hosted mangrove forests. Together with seagrasses and coral reefs , they are the primary breeding grounds for many species of fish and shellfish. However, the country's mangrove cover has very substantially declined since 1940, and in Ombai Strait is now confined to the coastline and hinterland between Tibar [ de ] and
1300-409: Is Ambon on the small Ambon Island . It is directly adjacent to North Maluku , Southwest Papua , and West Papua in the north, Central Sulawesi , and Southeast Sulawesi in the west, Banda Sea , Australia , East Timor and East Nusa Tenggara in the south and Arafura Sea , Central Papua and South Papua in the east. The land area is 57803.81 km , and the total population of this province at
1400-580: Is also part of the Coral Triangle , which is recognised as a global centre of marine biodiversity . The coastal zones of East Timor have important areas of coral reef ecosystems , such as the ones at Tasitolu and in the Bay of Dili. At Tasitolu, the reefs west of Dili Rock are live, healthy and diverse, but those to the east of the rock have lower coverage and more reef rubble. At the Port of Dili inside
1500-614: Is also the western portion of a pair of international straits , the other one being Wetar Strait ; the two straits combine to link the Pacific Ocean with the Indian Ocean. Ombai is an alternative name for the island of Alor , in the Alor Archipelago on the other side of the strait's north, north western and western coastline. In Tetum, the expression tasi feto ( lit. transl. 'female sea' )
1600-548: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Ombai Strait Ombai Strait ( Indonesian : Selat Ombai , Portuguese : Estreito de Ombai , Tetum : Estreitu Ombai ) is an international strait in Southeast Asia. It separates the Alor Archipelago from the islands of Wetar , Atauro , and Timor in the Lesser Sunda Islands . The strait
1700-623: Is embraced by 46.3% (39.4% Protestantism and 7.0% Catholicism ). All the Maluku Islands were part of a single province from 1950 until 1999. In 1999, the northern part of Maluku (then comprising the Maluku Utara Regency , the Halmahera Tengah Regency and the City of Ternate ) were split off to form a separate province of North Maluku ( Maluku Utara ), separated from the remaining (South) Maluku Province by
1800-470: Is greatly influenced by the presence of vast marine waters and takes place in tune with the climatic season there. The average temperature based on Meteorological stations in Ambon , Tual and Saumlaki are C 26.80, 27.70 C and 27.40 C. Minimum temperatures are 24.00, 24.70 C and 23.80 C, respectively, while the temperature Tual, the average humidity reaches 85.4% when recording Saumlaki Meteorological Station shows
1900-727: Is heavily used by whales , dolphins , whale sharks ( Rhincodon typus ) and manta rays . The two straits combine to form a major migratory route for these species between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. East Timor, on the south side of the two straits, is a recognized global hotspot for whales and dolphins. Ombai Strait in particular has been identified as a critical habitat for sperm whales ( Physeter macrocephalus ), blue whales ( Balaenoptera musculus ), giant oceanic manta rays ( Manta birostris ) and sea turtles ( Cheloniidae ), amongst other endangered, threatened and protected species. Other species that have been observed consistently in
2000-402: Is low by comparison with other small island countries. Along the north coast of Timor and around Atauro, including within the strait, fishing levels are higher than elsewhere in the country, other than in pockets along parts of the south coast. Many of the fishers fish part time or seasonally, and are otherwise occupied in additional activities such as carpentry, labouring or security work. Most of
2100-771: Is often used to refer to the 'Ombai-Wetar Strait', which extends along most of Timor's northern shores. The counterpart of that body of water, the Timor Sea , which has larger waves, is more turbid , and washes the whole of Timor's southern coastline, is commonly referred to in Tetum as tasi mane ( lit. transl. 'male sea' ). Ombai Strait is relatively narrow and deep (3,250 m (10,660 ft)). It has complex and extreme bathymetry , ranging from narrow reef flats (often less than 60 m (200 ft) wide) partly covered with seagrass and coral, to 3,000 m (9,800 ft) depths within 20 km (12 mi) of
SECTION 20
#17327805631242200-744: Is the only Indonesian territory that is classified as an area that has the largest multiracial population other than East Nusa Tenggara . Many Moluccans still retained foreign surnames from foreign countries such as the Netherlands (Van Afflen, Van Room, De Wanna, De Kock, Kniesmeijer, Gaspersz, Ramschie, Payer, Ziljstra, Van der Weden, etc.), Portugal (Da Costa, De Fretes, Que, Carliano, De Souza, De Carvalho, Pareira, Courbois, Frandescolli, etc.), Spain (Oliviera, Diaz, De Jesus, Silvera, Rodriguez, Montefalcon, Mendoza, De Lopez, etc.) and Arabic directly from Hadramaut (Al-Kaff, Al Chatib, Bachmid, Bakhwereez, Bahasoan, Al-Qadri, Alaydrus, Assegaff, etc.) Today,
2300-731: Is therefore not really a preferred alternative path for west to east commercial traffic. However, it is sometimes used, and is considered the safest route, for the largest oil tankers transiting between the Persian Gulf and Japan, and is also used by vessels transiting between Australia and the Java Sea or East Asia. The two straits are always critical for East Timor, both in relation to its own international trade and as routes for internal transport. In Ombai Strait, internal East Timorese ferry services operate regularly between Dili and both Atauro and Oecusse. If there were any disruption in
2400-549: The Amazon River . During El Niño , the water is cooler and inhibits rain. In Ombai Strait, there is also a counterflowing eastwards current, which affects the strait's overall mix of nutrients, temperatures and salinity levels. The eastwards current is an extension of the South Java Current (SJC), and its deeper Undercurrent (SJUC), from the Savu Sea into the strait. During the dry season (March–November),
2500-862: The Babar Islands , the Tanimbar Islands , the Kei Islands (more precisely, the Kur Island group in the west of the Kei Islands), the Watubela Islands and the Gorong Islands , ending with Seram Island and Buru Island . With the dominant condition of regional waters, Maluku is very open to interacting with other provinces and surrounding countries. The Maluku islands have a tropical monsoon climate, this climate
2600-516: The Bay of Dili . A survey of Tibar Bay carried out in 2016 found three mangrove species, namely Sonneratia alba , which was the dominant species, Avicennia marina and Rhizophora stylosa . The report of another survey, carried out in 2017, stated that the dominant species in the area was Sonneratia albia , and that there were some clusters of Rhizophora apiculata , Ceriops tagal , and Lumnitzera . The 2016 survey report estimated
2700-582: The Central Maluku Regency , West Seram and East Seram, the topography is generally hilly. 0–2%, tilt / wavy 3–15% rather steep 15–40% and very steep 40%. Topography in the Southeast Maluku Regency is divided into plains, hills and mountains with flat slopes (0–3%), flat / bumpy (3–8%), bumpy (8–15%), rather steep (15–30%) and very steep (> 50%). The height of the sea surface area is divided into three classes, namely in
2800-715: The Dutch–Indonesian Round Table Conference , the Dutch recognize sovereignty of Indonesia. The Dutch soon left Maluku. Due to a deep distrust of the Indonesian leadership, which was predominantly Javanese Muslim , in 1951 an independent Republic of the South Moluccas ( Indonesian : RMS, Republik Maluku Selatan) was proclaimed at Ambon. The RMS had strong support among the former Moluccans colonial soldiers . Indonesian forces invaded Maluku to crush
2900-683: The Indonesian Air Force base at Liang in the northeast of the island, damaging the runway and destroying a Consolidated PBY Catalina . The Indonesian Air Force had only one serviceable fighter aircraft on Ambon Island, a North American P-51 Mustang at Liang. Pope's last air raid was on 18 May, when an Indonesian pilot at Liang, Captain Ignatius Dewanto, was scrambled to the P-51. Pope had attacked Ambon city before Dewanto could catch him, but Dewanto intercepted him just as Pope
3000-541: The Indonesian archipelago that link the waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, the other one being Wetar Strait. The archipelago is the only interocean connection on earth at low latitudes, and the exchange of water between the two oceans is known as the Indonesian Throughflow (ITF). The ITF flows in a generally north east to south west direction. Its main pathway runs from the Pacific Ocean into
3100-944: The Laha massacre . On August 15, 1945, Japan capitulated to the Allied forces . Two days later, the Proclamation of Independence of Indonesia was declared. Maluku was declared as one of the provinces of the Republic of Indonesia. However, the formation and position of Maluku was forced to take place in Jakarta , as after the Japanese surrender, the Netherlands Indies Civil Administration (NICA) immediately re-entered Maluku to assume control. The Dutch controlled Maluku until 1949, when in accordance to
Ombai-Wetar Strait - Misplaced Pages Continue
3200-476: The Maluku Islands . The large number of islands that are separated by long distances from each other also results in the increasingly diverse languages used in this province. Some of the most common languages spoken in Maluku - apart from Ambonese and Indonesian - are: Religion in Maluku (2022) Most of the people of Maluku adheres to either Islam , (52.85% of the population) or Christianity (46.3% of
3300-571: The Netherlands . Places of worship in Maluku Province in 2013 were recorded as follows: The Protestant Church of Maluku (Gereja Protestan Maluku or simply GPM) is the largest synod organization and church organization in Maluku, which has church congregations in almost the entire Sarane country throughout Maluku. Macroeconomically, Maluku's economic conditions tend to improve every year. One indicator is, among others, an increase in
3400-586: The Seram Sea . Historically, the term Maluku referred to the four royal centers in North Maluku, namely Ternate , Tidore , Bacan and Jailolo . A type of confederation consisting of the four kingdoms, which most likely emerged in the 14th century, was called Moloku Kie Raha or "The Four Mountains of Maluku". Although the four kingdoms subsequently expanded and covered the entire North Maluku region (as now defined) and parts of Sulawesi and New Guinea ,
3500-530: The province of East Nusa Tenggara , Indonesia. Wetar is part of the Maluku Province of Indonesia . Atauro, Oecusse, and the eastern part of Timor comprise the nation of East Timor . The southern limit of the Banda Sea runs along the southern edge of the strait from the eastern extremity of Timor along its north coast as far south west as longitude 125° East . From that point, the Banda Sea's western limit heads north to Alor Island, where it starts
3600-483: The 2010 census was 1,533,506 people, rising to 1,848,923 at the 2020 census, the official estimate as at mid 2023 (actually, the sum of the official mid-year estimates for all the cities and regencies) was 1,908,753. Maluku is located in Eastern Indonesia. Maluku has two main religions, namely Islam which at the 2020 census was adhered to by 52.85% of the population of the province and Christianity which
3700-566: The Banda Sea via the Celebes Sea , Makassar Strait and the Java and Flores Seas . Some of the ITF then passes directly into Ombai Strait, and some of it flows there indirectly, around Wetar Island's eastern end, and then via Wetar Strait. By this and other ITF pathways, nutrient-rich water from the Pacific Ocean runs into the Indian Ocean, at a rate 50 times faster than the discharge of
3800-579: The Bay of Dili, there are at least four different species of coral. The Dili area, on the southern edge of the strait, is a recognised nesting ground for sea turtles , of three different species: hawksbill sea turtle ( Eretmochelys imbricata ; Critically Endangered (CR), according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List ), olive ridley sea turtle ( Lepidochelys olivacea ; Vulnerable (VU)), and green sea turtle ( Chelonia mydas ; Endangered (EN)). On both
3900-461: The Dutch, being heavily outnumbered. On December 16, 1817, Pattimura and his colleagues were sentenced to death on the gallows, at Fort Niew Victoria, Ambon, while Martha Christina Tiahahu died on the boat during her voyage to Java and her body was released into the Banda Sea. Following the outbreak of the Pacific War on December 7, 1941, as part of World War II the region was occupied by
4000-711: The Indian Ocean via the Molucca Passage , Indonesia, which separates Sulawesi from Halmahera . Although the Ombai-Wetar route is a less direct link between Guam and the Indian Ocean than the Lombok - Makassar route, it is useful because it has limited traffic and very little surveillance, with the consequence that passing submarines are less likely to be tracked. By the mid-1970s, the Ombai-Wetar route had been identified as one of five international straits essential for passage by U.S. ballistic missile submarines ,
4100-476: The Japanese . The Japanese attacked on 31 January 1942 , landing at Hutu beach on the north coast, and Ritung beach in the south. They were opposed by soldiers of the KNIL and a small Australian contingent. The KNIL commander was captured the day after the attack, and the last defenders of the airfield were overcome a few days later. The battle was followed by the summary execution of more than 300 Allied PoWs in
Ombai-Wetar Strait - Misplaced Pages Continue
4200-496: The Maluku can come from: "Moloku" here meaning to grasp or hold. In this context, the meaning of "Moloku Kie Raha" is "the confederation of four mountains". However, the root word "loku" comes from local Malay creole word for a unit, therefore not from an indigenous language. The other possibility is that the word "Maloko" is a combination of "Ma", meaning "support" and "Loko" referring to the area. The phrase "Maloko Kie Raha" means "the place/world which has four mountains". The region
4300-662: The Maluku people already had mixed blood with other ethnic groups, namely with Chinese, Indians, Persians, Europeans (generally the Netherlands , Portugal and Spain ), then the Arabs were very common considering this area had been controlled by foreign nations for 2,300 years and gave birth to new descendants, which is no longer a pure Melanesian race but still inherits and lives with the Melanesian-Alifuru style. Because of this mixture of culture and race with Chinese , Indians , Persians , Europeans and Arabs , Maluku
4400-404: The Maluku region, four major sultanates – Ternate , Tidore , Jailolo , and Bacan – formed a power structure known as the “ Moloku Kie Raha ,” or “Four Mountains of Maluku.” The four had dynamic relationships, both alliances and rivalries, that played a vital role in maintaining stability and prosperity in the region, especially through the valuable spice trade. The Sultanate of Ternate
4500-588: The Moluccans. This was due to political, economic and social relations conditions that had been bad for two centuries. Moluccan people of the Ambon Islands rose up and took up arms under the leadership of Thomas Matulessy who was given the title Kapitan Pattimura, a former major sergeant of the British army. On May 15, 1817, an attack was launched against Fort Duurstede on Saparua island, resulting in
4600-569: The Netherlands. In April and May 1958 during the Permesta rebellion in North Sulawesi , the USA supported and supplied the rebels. Pilots from a Taiwan -based CIA front organisation, Civil Air Transport , flying CIA B-26 Invader aircraft, repeatedly raided targets on Ambon. From April 27 until 18 May there were CIA air raids on Ambon city . On May 8, 1958, CIA pilot Allen Pope raided
4700-650: The Ombai-Wetar Strait was designated as a Mission Blue Hope Spot. The designation recognises the importance of conserving the open waters on the north side of East Timor, with their globally-significant coral reefs and marine biodiversity. It also emphasises the potential of the two straits for sustainable marine ecotourism development. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ,
4800-639: The Portuguese to be expelled from Ternate and were driven to Tidore and Ambon. The resistance of the Moluccas to the Portuguese was used by the Dutch to gain a foothold in Maluku. In 1605, the Dutch managed to force the Portuguese to surrender their defenses in Ambon to Steven van der Hagen and at Tidore to the Sebastiansz Cornelisz. Similarly, the British fortress in Kambelo, Seram Island ,
4900-576: The Sultanate of Malacca and the Majapahit Kingdom, strengthening its position in international trade routes. Under the rule of famous sultans such as Sultan Baabullah , Ternate was even able to expel the Portuguese and maintain its sovereignty, which made it a symbol of strength and independence in Maluku. The Sultanate of Tidore , which grew in almost the same period, also played an important role in Maluku. Like Ternate, Tidore developed
5000-547: The Tasi Tolu Beach and the Beto Tasi Beach near Dili's international airport , there is regular hatching of sea turtles. However, in most parts of East Timor sea turtles are overharvested for their eggs, skin, meat and carapace for handicraft making. The northern edge of the strait abuts two Important Bird Areas (IBAs), Gunung Muna (on Alor, Indonesia), and Atauro (East Timor). The southern edge of
5100-723: The VOC did not hesitate to expel the Portuguese , Spanish and the British . Tens of thousands of Moluccans were victims of VOC brutality. During the Napoleonic Wars , British forces captured Maluku as the Netherlands were under French occupation. After the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1814 , the British returned Maluku to the Dutch. The Dutch returned in 1817. The return of the Dutch in 1817 evoked strong resistance from
SECTION 50
#17327805631245200-456: The activities of fishermen were highly disrupted by a growing number of illegal fishing practices. Small pelagic fish in the Indonesia – East Timor border area were regarded as shared fish stock and captured by fishermen from both countries. The report of the study recommended transboundary fisheries management in the border area, using an ecosystem-based approach. A 2021 study concluded that
5300-404: The area of expansion was originally not included in the term Maluku. This only referred to the four main clove-producing islands to the west of Halmahera : Ternate, Tidore. Moti and Makian . Bacan further to the south, and Jailolo on Halmahera, were also commonly included in Maluku Proper, the four kingdoms forming a ritual quadripartition with connotations to local cosmology. The etymology of
5400-452: The average humidity is 80.2%. The topography of the average condition of the Ambon region is rather flat, starting from the coast to residential areas. The mainland morphology of Ambon also varies from flat, bumpy, bumpy, hilly and mountainous with soft steep slopes to slightly dominant. The flat area has a slope of 0–3%, corrugated slope 3–8%, corrugated area 8–15%, hilly area 15–30% slope elevation and mountainous area greater than 30%. As for
5500-495: The bay, and that there were also anecdotal reports of saltwater crocodiles in the bay. A short distance further east, at Tasitolu, dugongs are often observed, although as of 2019 detailed information regarding their habitat location, size, and characteristics in the area was not available. The other sea life at Tasitolu includes cephalopods , crustaceans , frogfish , harlequin ghost pipefish , small octopuses , rhinopias , sea horses , and soft coral crabs . Ombai Strait
5600-462: The best way to experience the island's diving. There are other dive sites in the strait, near Dili including Tasitolu, and dive sites at Alor, but Alor's main diving areas are not within the strait. [REDACTED] Media related to Ombai Strait at Wikimedia Commons Maluku (province) Maluku is a province of Indonesia . It comprises the central and southern regions of the Maluku Islands . The largest city and capital of Maluku province
5700-437: The civilian population committed by both sides. The main belligerents were therefore religious militia from both faiths, including the well organised Islamist Laskar Jihad , and Indonesian government military forces. The conflict had a significant effect upon the 2.1 million people of greater Maluku. Leading up to the Malino agreement, the International Crisis Group estimated that 700,000 people had been displaced by
5800-415: The coast. The strait separates the Alor Archipelago from the islands of Wetar , Atauro , and Timor in the Lesser Sunda Islands . It also straddles the boundary between the Banda Sea (in its north east) and the Savu Sea (in its south west). The Alor Archipelago, and the western part of Timor except the coastal exclave of Oecusse , which is on the north coast of western Timor, are part of
5900-544: The conflict. The Maluku sectarian conflict broke out across Maluku in January 1999. The subsequent 18 months were characterized by fighting between largely local groups of Muslims and Christians, the destruction of thousands of houses, the displacement of approximately 500,000 people, the loss of thousands of lives, and the segregation of Muslims and Christians. Inter-communal fighting broke out between Christian and Muslim communities in January 1999, cascading into what could be described as all out warfare and atrocities against
6000-406: The death of Resident Johannes Rudolph van den Berg and his family. Pattimura was assisted by Philip Latumahina, Anthony Ribok, and Said Orders. The news of this Pattimura's victory aroused the spirit of popular resistance throughout Maluku. Paulus Tiahahu and his daughter Martha Christina Tiahahu fought the Dutch on Nusa Laut , and Kapitan Ulupaha in Ambon. But this resistance was crushed by
6100-464: The fish landings are of small pelagic species, including short-bodied mackerel , sardines ( Clupeidae ), halfbeaks and scads ( Carangidae ). A study published in 2019 observed that fishing vessels in and around the border area in Ombai Strait between East Nusa Tenggara , Indonesia, and Bobonaro, East Timor, were dominated by non-motorized and outboard motorized boats. Gill nets and handlines were widely used. Fishing grounds were limited, and
SECTION 60
#17327805631246200-423: The flow of commercial shipping on the Malacca-Singapore route, the Ombai-Wetar route would also have a crucial role to play in global trade, especially for the Asia-Pacific region. The ships and aircraft of all nations, including warships, auxiliaries, and military aircraft, enjoy the right of unimpeded transit passage through straits such as the Ombai-Wetar route and their approaches. Submarines are free to transit
6300-421: The four years of fighting in the Moluccas which is thought to have claimed a minimum of 5,000 lives. This constituted the largest movement of refugees since the federation of the Indonesian state and the majority of the 1.4 million Internal refugees reported in February 2002 by the World Food Programme . The duration of the conflict is generally dated from the start of the Reformasi era in early 1999 to
6400-585: The hills on the landward side of the mangroves. In parts of Ombai Strait, and especially close to the coast of Alor Island, elevated phytoplankton blooms or concentrations (and therefore availability of food for other species) have been observed, particularly during the dry south-east monsoon. The physical structure of the strait makes it likely that such concentrations are driven by fronts and vertical flows caused by some combination of tidal currents or topographic effects. A study published in 2002 noted persistent flow-induced upwelling and frontal features in
6500-399: The leadership of António de Abreu and Francisco Serrão , landed in the Banda Islands and the Penyu Islands . After they established relations with local residents and kings, such as the Sultanate of Ternate on the island of Ternate , the Portuguese were given permission to build fortifications in Pikaoli, as well as the old Hitu State, and Mamala on Ambon Island . The Portuguese gained
6600-401: The low altitude area (000–100 m elevation), middle (100–500 m), and high altitude (> 500 m). The topography of Buru Regency is mostly hilly and mountainous with a slope of 15–40% and 40%, the remaining height is from ordinary varieties. The highest mountain peak is located in the Kapalamada region north west of Buru with an altitude of 2736 meters above sea level (ASL), after Lake Rana with
6700-447: The meat and eggs of flying fish can be used. According to another 2021 study, the exploitation rate of flying fish in Ombai Strait is relatively low, and at a rational and sustainable utilisation range. Five species of flying fish were found. The waters in the strait were relatively fertile, pattern recruitment occurred throughout the year, and peak recruitment was in September and June. Adult fish groups were dominant, growth
6800-421: The north east. That channel is 35 km (22 mi) wide at its narrowest point, where the navigable waters are 34 km (21 mi) across. To the east of the strait, and linking with it south of Atauro, is Wetar Strait. To the east of the latter strait are the south eastern reaches of the Banda Sea, and the southernmost of the Maluku Islands . As such, Ombai Strait is one of two deep water passages in
6900-508: The north-east monsoon rainy season (December–February), when there are also strong westerly (onshore) winds and waves. Along the northern littoral of East Timor, including the strait, the shallow coastal waters are dominated by a seagrass bed about 2,200 ha (5,400 acres) in total area. Seagrass beds protect coral reefs from sedimentation and are feeding grounds for dugong ( Dugong dugon ), an endangered species. Seven genera of seagrass are known to exist off East Timor's coastline as
7000-434: The numbers of districts ( kecamatan ) and villages (urban kelurahan and rural desa ) in each city or regency. The province forms one of Indonesia's 84 national electoral districts to elect members to the People's Representative Council . The Maluku Electoral District consists of all of the 9 regencies and 2 cities in the province, and elects 4 members to the People's Representative Council. Since ancient times, many of
7100-707: The other hemisphere. These Maluku expatriates can be found in quite large communities and are concentrated in several countries such as the Netherlands (which is considered the second homeland by the Moluccas other than the land of Maluku itself), Suriname , Australia, and the United States. The Maluku community in other regions of Indonesia can be found in Medan , Palembang , Bandung , Greater Jakarta , Central Java , Yogyakarta , East Java , Makassar , Kupang , Manado , East Kalimantan , Sorong , and Jayapura . The languages used in Maluku, especially in Ambon, has been influenced by foreign languages, often by explorers who have visited and even occupied and colonized Maluku in
7200-613: The others being Gibraltar , Malacca-Singapore, Lombok and Sunda . In 1977, a paper published by the International Institute for Strategic Studies , based in London, ranked the Ombai-Wetar route as the second-most-important strait in the world to U.S. defense interests, after the Strait of Gibraltar. The two straits are now also considered by China to be strategically significant. In East Timor, involvement in fishing
7300-563: The past. The nations were the Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic and Dutch. The Ambonese language , as the lingua franca in Maluku, has been understood by almost all residents of Maluku Province and generally, little by little, is understood by other East Indonesian people such as those in Ternate , Manado , Kupang , etc. because Ambonese is related to other languages in the provinces of North Sulawesi , North Maluku , East Nusa Tenggara and
7400-446: The people of Maluku are not only found in Indonesia but are spread in various countries in the world. Most of those who migrate abroad are due to various reasons, of which the most classic was the large-scale movement of the Moluccans to Europe in the 1950s and settled there until now. Another reason is to get a better, more knowledgeable life, marrying and marrying other nations, who later settle down and have generations of new Moluccas in
7500-464: The population); the latter are divided between followers of ( Protestantism (39.39%) and Catholicism (6.87%). There are also adherents of folk religion , Hinduism and Buddhism . The spread of Islam was carried out by the Sultanates of Iha, Saulau, Hitu, and Hatuhaha and Arab traders who visited Maluku. While the spread of Christianity was carried out by missionaries from Portugal , Spain and
7600-441: The province of Maluku is currently divided into nine regencies ( kabupaten ) and the two cities ( kota ) of Ambon and Tual , which form the tenth and eleventh regency-level administrative divisions. The regencies and cities, with their administrative capitals, are listed below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 census and at the 2020 census, together with the official estimates for mid 2023. The table also includes
7700-711: The province's islands lie along two mainly submerged oceanic ridges which form the eastwards extension of the Lesser Sunda Islands ; the inner arc runs from Wetar Island through the Romang Islands and Damar Island (with its northeasterly outliers) to end at the Banda Islands ; the outer arc extends from the Wetar Strait through Kisar Island , the Letti Islands , the Sermata Islands ,
7800-579: The residual province of Maluku was composed of two regencies ( Central Maluku and Southeast Maluku ) and the City of Ambon , but on 4 October 1999 two new regencies were created with the separation of Buru Regency from Central Maluku, and of Southeast Maluku West Regency from Southeast Maluku. Three additional regencies were created on 18 December 2003 (under Law 40/2003) - East Seram Regency and West Seram Regency , both from parts of Central Maluku, and Aru Islands Regency from part of Southeast Maluku (which
7900-417: The role of trade and resistance to foreign powers, Jailolo and Bacan remain an important part of this structure, both as a balancing force and as a symbol of Maluku's cultural diversity. Their cooperation and competition illustrate the complexity of local politics that helped maintain Maluku's identity and sovereignty for centuries, making this region a unique center of the spice trade in the world. The era of
8000-416: The route are often very close to shore; networks of local residents record their movements and behaviour, and then report it in 'real time' to researchers and Dili-based whale watching tour operators. The island of Atauro, at the north eastern end of the strait, has been described as the highlight of any diving trip to East Timor . Atauro's west coast dive sites, located within the strait, are said to be
8100-532: The route submerged, as that is their normal mode of operation. The channels of the Ombai-Wetar route are extremely deep. East Timor has refused advances by China seeking off-shore oil rights and permission to set up radar arrays ostensibly to counter illegal fishing. The two straits therefore provide a route for undetected access by nuclear-powered submarines between the two oceans they connect. In particular, they are an alternative deep water route for submerged U.S. submarines moving between Guam and stations in
8200-436: The same term This disambiguation page lists articles about distinct geographical locations with the same name. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ombai-Wetar_Strait&oldid=1089479789 " Category : Place name disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description
8300-550: The separatists. The main stronghold of the RMS on Ambon was defeated by Indonesian forces in November 1950, while a smaller scale guerilla struggle continued on Seram Island until 1962. The defeat on Ambon however resulted in the flight of the self-declared RMS government from the islands, and the formation of a government in exile in the Netherlands. The following year some 12,000 Moluccan soldiers accompanied by their families went to
8400-761: The signing of the Malino II Accord on February 13, 2002. Maluku is bordered by North Maluku in the north, West Papua in the East, Southeast Sulawesi and Central Sulawesi in the West, and the nation of Timor-Leste and Australia in the south. While the total area consists of 527,191 km of sea area, and 57,803.81 km of land area, or in other words around 90% of Maluku is sea area. As an archipelago province, Maluku has 559 islands, which include some relatively large islands: Seram (18,625 km ), Buru (9,000 km ) Yamdena (5,085 km ) and Wetar (3,624 km ). Most of
8500-540: The six provinces of Indonesian Papua . Indonesian , as the official language and language of unity in the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI), is used in official and formal public activities such as in government offices and in schools and in places such as museums, airports and ports. Maluku is the largest archipelago in all of Indonesia, although this area is 90% water and only 10% land. Maluku Province and North Maluku Province together compose
8600-553: The south western entrance to the strait, is known for its hunting of sperm whale and other deep-sea species. The hunting has been taking place for at least six centuries, and is allowed under International Whaling Commission regulations concerning aboriginal whaling . However, conservationists worry that commercial whaling also takes place, and that hunters use their engine-powered boats all year round to catch other protected species such as manta rays, orcas ( Orcinus orca ), dolphins and oceanic sharks. On World Oceans Day 2020,
8700-690: The spice trade. Meanwhile, the Jailolo Sultanate and the Bacan Sultanate also played a significant role in maintaining political and social balance in Maluku. Sultanate of Jailolo , as one of the oldest sultanates, has a very rich cultural tradition and is a spiritual and cultural center that is respected among the people of Maluku. During its heyday, Jailolo became a respected local power, with influence not only on political aspects but also social and cultural aspects. The Sultanate of Bacan , although not as large as Ternate and Tidore, had
8800-414: The strait include false killer whales ( Pseudorca crassidens ), and spinner dolphins ( Stenella longirostris ), both of them in huge pods made up of large numbers of individuals. The report of a 2013 survey of Tibar Bay , on Ombai Strait's southern shore not far west of Dili , East Timor, noted that a local dive tourism operator had made frequent sightings of dugong along the coast immediately east of
8900-458: The strait is also the northern shore of four East Timorese IBAs . From west to east, they are Be Malae (just to the west of the Loes River ), Maubara (a short distance east of the village of Maubara ), Tasitolu (just to the west of Dili), and Areia Branca no Dolok Oan (on the eastern side of the Bay of Dili). The village of Lamalera (pop. 2,500) on the south coast of Lembata , facing
9000-424: The strait, together with subjective evidence of extremely strong tides. The study concluded that the upwelling and frontal features coincided with large phytoplankton blooms and significantly affected the concentration and distribution of chlorophyll in the Savu Sea. According to the study report, it is likely that the mean flow associated with the ITF also plays a role in causing the blooms. The Ombai-Wetar corridor
9100-503: The strong, prevailing westwards ITF currents in the strait are at an annual maximum at the surface in the southern part of the strait, and a front appears to trap the portion of the SJC inside the strait to within ~10–15 km (6.2–9.3 mi) of the strait's northern boundary. By contrast, the SJUC, when present, is observed across the entire strait. The ITF currents are at their weakest during
9200-414: The sultanate began to change drastically with the arrival of the Portuguese in the early 16th century, followed by the Spanish, Dutch, and then the British. European penetration in the region led to the weakening of local power and major changes in the political and economic structure of Maluku. The first Europeans to arrive in Maluku were the Portuguese , in 1512. At that time two Portuguese fleets, under
9300-515: The total area of mangrove in the bay to be 14 ha (35 acres); the 2017 survey report's estimate was 22 ha (54 acres). According to the latter report, tree density was relatively low, at around 100–400 trees per hectare, and the mangrove cluster was heavily degraded, due to direct and indirect human activities. The former activities included fish pond and salt pan development, mangrove cutting, and cattle grazing . The latter activities were sea level rise , and siltation due to erosion in
9400-584: The word Maluku is not very clear, and it has been a matter of debate for many experts. The first recorded word that can be identified with Maluku comes from Nagarakretagama , an Old Javanese eulogy of 1365. Canto 14 stanza 5 mentioned Maloko , which Pigeaud identified with Ternate or Moluccas. A theory holds that the name Maluku comes from the concept of "Maluku Kie Raha". "Raha" means four, while "kie" here means mountain, referring to 4 mountains of Ternate, Tidore, Bacan, and Jailolo (Halmahera), which have their own kolano (title for local kings). Therefore,
9500-574: Was attacking a pair of troop ships in an Indonesian fleet west of Ambon Island. The B-26 was brought down by fire from both Dewanto and anti-aircraft gunners on board the ship. Pope and his Indonesian radio operator bailed and were captured, which immediately exposed the level of CIA support for the Permesta rebellion. Embarrassed, the Eisenhower administration quickly ended CIA support for Permesta and withdrew its agents and remaining aircraft from
9600-513: Was destroyed by the Dutch. Giving the Dutch control of most of the Maluku region. The Dutch position in Maluku grew stronger with the establishment of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in 1602, and since then the Netherlands has become the sole ruler in Maluku. Under the leadership of Jan Pieterszoon Coen , Chief of Operations of the VOC, the clove trade in Maluku was under VOC control for almost 350 years. For this purpose,
9700-404: Was fast, and the natural mortality rate was higher than the fishing mortality rate. East Timor's whale watching industry is focused on the Ombai-Wetar route, and has been growing rapidly since the 2010s. Annual migrations of whales and dolphins through the route's generally calm waters provide some of the best and most accessible whale watching in the world. The cetaceans migrating along
9800-647: Was first settled by Melanesians at least 40,000 years ago, collectively now known as the Alifuru tribes.These people are the indigenous inhabitants of Maluku, along with the later Austronesian migration. At the beginning of the 14th century the Majapahit Kingdom ruled maritime Southeast Asia. At that time, traders from Java monopolized the spice trade in Maluku. During the Ming dynasty , spices from Maluku were introduced in various works of art and history. In
9900-475: Was one of the most influential sultanates in Maluku and played an important role in the clove trade that connected Maluku with traders from Asia and the Middle East. Founded around the 13th century, Ternate developed into a center of maritime power and the spread of Islam in the eastern part of the archipelago. This sultanate established strong diplomatic relations with major kingdoms in Southeast Asia, such as
10000-564: Was thus left to comprise just the Kai Islands . On 17 July 2007 the City of Tual was separated from Southeast Maluku, and on 24 June 2008 two further regencies were created - South Buru Regency from part of Buru, and Southwest Maluku Regency from part of Southeast Maluku West. The residual part of Southeast Maluku West Regency was subsequently renamed the Tanimbar Islands Regency on 23 January 2019. Thus
#123876