Islands Bandaged

The islands Banda are a group of ten volcanic islands of Indonesia pertaining to the province Indonesia of the Moluques. They are located in the Mer of Bandaged, in the south-east of the island of Ambon, to 140 km in the south of that of Seram.

Largest of these islands, which cover an total surface area of 44 km ², east Banda Besar (" large Banda"). An inland sea, formed by 3 of these islands, makes it possible the boats to drop anchor. The site has very beautiful coral gardens. Api Gunung (" mountain of feu"), another island of the group, is an active volcano which culminates with 670 meters. The population of the archipelago is approximately 14.000 inhabitants.

The volcanic ground of the Banda islands allowed the culture of the Muscade, which is an indigenous plant. The other products of the archipelago are the clove, the coconut, tapioca, the fruit and vegetables, fishing.

Half of the population of the archipelago is with Banda Naira, capital and port of the district, which is on the island of the same name. The inhabitants of Bandaged Naira are descendants of Javanese, Makassar and inhabitants of the close islands brought by the Dutchmen to work in the Dutch nutmeg plantations.

History

The Portuguese annex the Banda islands in 1512. The Dutchmen expel some at the beginning of the XVIIe century. In 1609, the VOC (Dutch Company of the Eastern Indies) dispatch with Banda Naira certain Verhoef with for mission of imposing the Dutch monopoly on the trade of spices. The power struggle being unfavourable to them, the inhabitants accept the conditions of the Dutchmen and the construction of a fort. Verhoef nevertheless is killed shortly after with 45 of its men. In 1619 Jan Pieterszon Coen, general governor of the VOC, unloads with the head of a punitive forwarding during which the population of the island is massacred.

English and Dutchmen dispute then the islands, which change several times of hand until 1814, date of the signature of the Treaty of Paris, which recognizes Dutch sovereignty.

The nationalist leaders indonésiens Hatta and Sjahrir were exiled in Banda Naira by the Dutchmen of 1934 to 1942, date of the unloading of the Japanese troops.

Tourism

The Banda islands are an appreciated destination of the plungers. The principal sites are the islands with Crabs, Batu Kapal and Karnobol.

The company Merpati connects in theory twice per week Banda Neira to Ambon, the capital of the province of the Moluques. It is not rare that the flight is cancelled for lack of passengers.

External bonds

www.divingbanda.com

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