Skip to content
Archipelago

    Banda SeaIndonesia

    4°35′S 129°55′E

    Banda Islands

    Kepulauan Banda

    Part of Maluku Islands

    The Banda Islands (Indonesian: Kepulauan Banda) are a volcanic group of ten small islands in the Banda Sea, about 140 km (87 mi) south of Seram Island and about 2,000 km (1,243 mi) east of Java, and constitute an administrative district (kecamatan) within the Central Maluku Regency in the Indonesian province of Maluku.

    View from Pulau Pisang
    View from Pulau Pisang

    WiDi / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Chart

    10 landforms

    Overview

    The Banda Islands (Indonesian: Kepulauan Banda) are a volcanic group of ten small islands in the Banda Sea, about 140 km (87 mi) south of Seram Island and about 2,000 km (1,243 mi) east of Java, and constitute an administrative district (kecamatan) within the Central Maluku Regency in the Indonesian province of Maluku. The islands rise out of 4-to-6-kilometre (2.5 to 3.7 mi) deep ocean and have a total land area of approximately 172 square kilometres (66 sq mi); with associated maritime area this reaches 736.3 square kilometres (284.3 sq mi). They had a population of 18,544 at the 2010 Census and 20,924 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as of mid-2023 was 21,902. Until the mid-19th century the Banda Islands were the world's only source of the spices nutmeg and mace, produced from the nutmeg tree. The islands are also popular destinations for scuba diving and snorkeling. The main town and administrative centre is Banda Neira, located on the island of the same name.

    From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Census, cataloged

    • Major islands4
    • Minor islands3
    • Islets3
    • Rocks & skerries0

    Major islands

    4
    • Banda Besar

      Banda Besar

      Area
      25.4 km²
      High point
      521 m

      Banda Besar (English pronunciation: ; 'Great Banda', Dutch: Groot-Banda), also known historically as Lonthoir (alternatively spelt Lonthor or Lontor), is the largest of the Banda Islands in Indonesia. It is administered as part of Banda District, Central Maluku Regency, Maluku Province.

    • Gunungapi Island

      Gunungapi Island

      Area
      7.3 km²
      High point
      640 m

      Banda Api (Indonesian api, fire) is an island in the Banda Islands, Indonesia. It is administered as part of the administrative district (kecamatan) within the Central Maluku Regency in the province of Maluku.

    • Rhun Island

      Rhun Island

      Area
      3.7 km²
      High point
      174 m

      Run (also known as Pulau Run, Pulo Run, Puloroon, Polo or Rhun – pulau is 'island' in Indonesian) is one of the smallest islands of the Banda Islands, which are a part of the Moluccas, Indonesia. It is located within Banda District (kecamatan) in Central Maluku Regency.

    • Neira Island

      Neira Island

      Area
      3.4 km²
      High point
      243 m

      Banda Neira (or Pulau Neira) is an island in the Banda Islands, Indonesia. It is administered as part of the administrative Banda Islands District (Kecamatan Kepulauan Banda) within the Central Maluku Regency in the province of Maluku.

    Minor islands

    3

    Islets

    3

    Figures

    Comparative heights

    Sea level200 m400 m600 m800 m640 mGunungapi521 mBanda Besar243 mNeira174 mRhun173 mHatta123 mAy53 mSyahrir13 mKaraka7 mNailaka
    High points by island, metres above sea level.

    Islands by area

    0.0010.010.1110100Banda Besar: 25.4 km²Banda BesarGunungapi: 7.3 km²GunungapiHatta: 4.3 km²HattaRhun: 3.7 km²RhunAy: 3.5 km²AyNeira: 3.4 km²NeiraSyahrir: 0.2 km²SyahrirNailaka: 0.04 km²NailakaKaraka: 0.02 km²KarakaBatu Kapal: 0.2 haBatu Kapal
    km², log scale
    Banda Besar25.4 km²
    Gunungapi Island7.3 km²
    Hatta Island4.3 km²
    Rhun Island3.7 km²
    Ay Island3.5 km²
    Neira Island3.4 km²
    Syahrir Island0.2 km²
    Nailaka Island0.04 km²
    Karaka Island0.02 km²
    Batu Kapal Island0.2 ha

    Sources

    Facts

    • Geometry, areas and high points: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Copernicus GLO-30, via Talus.
    • Wikidata
    • Talus
    • Wikipedia

    Photographs