Lombok Island Information

LOMBOK ISLAND INFORMATION

Population.(3,403,025) is an island in West Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia. It is part of the chain of the Lesser Sunda Islands, with the Lombok Strait separating it from Bali to the west and the Alas Strait between it and Sumbawa to the east. It is roughly circular, with a "tail" to the southwest, about 70 km across and a total area of about 4,725 km (1,825 sq mi). The administrative capital and largest city on the island is Mataram

Situated 54 kilometers to the east of Bali lies the Island of Lombok. Though relatively new to tourism Lombok is fast emerging as one of Indonesias best kept secrets.

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lombok islandThe friendly people of Lombok include Sasak villagers , some still living in traditional villages with mud and thatch huts , still virtually untouched by western influences, while the cities of Mataram and the Dutch-influenced Ampenan are bustling little towns.

Resort beaches of Senggigi or Kuta cater for travelers looking for peaceful beaches and a more relaxing pace.

The famous Gili Islands are a divers paradise while the rugged countryside and in particular the awesome Mount Rinjani or Tetebatu offer some fabulous trekking and beautiful scenery for the more adventurous.

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Lombok is also becoming known as a shoppers paradise, being the home of the now famous Lombok pots. The island also offers tightly woven baskets and silk weaving at prices you wont believe.

Whether you get a car or motorbike and drive yourself, or let our experienced guides show you the way, youll find an island of natural beauty, friendly people and areas still waiting to be explored without the hordes of tourists which visit its more famous neighbor.

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The Lombok Strait marks the passage of the biogeographical division between the fauna of the Indomalayan ecozone and the distinctly different fauna of Australasia that is known as the Wallace Line, for Alfred Russel Wallace, who first remarked upon the distinction between these two major biomes.

The island's topography is dominated by the centrally-located stratovolcano Mount Rinjani, which rises to 3,726 m (12,224 ft), making it the third-largest in Indonesia. The most recent eruption of Rinjani was in June-July, 1994. The volcano, and its sacred crater lake, are protected by a National Park established in 1997. The southern part of the island is a fertile plain where corn, rice, coffee, tobacco, and cotton are grown.

traditional houseThe island's inhabitants are 85% Sasak (a people, closely related to the Balinese, but mostly practising Islam), 10-15% Balinese, with the small remainder being Chinese, Arab, Javanese, and Sumbawanese.

The Dutch first visited Lombok in 1674 and settled the eastern part of the island, leaving the western half to be ruled by a Hindu dynasty from Bali. The Sasaks chafed under Balinese rule, and a revolt in 1891 ended in 1894 with the annexation of the entire island to the Netherlands East Indies.

Lombok has much in common with nearby Bali, but less well-known and less-visited by foreigners. It has been working to increase its visibility to tourists in recent years, promoting itself as an "unspoiled Bali". The most-developed center of tourism is Senggigi, spread in a 10-kilometer strip along the coastal road north of Mataram, while backpackers congregate in the Gili Islands off the west coast. 

Other popular tourist destinations include Kuta (distinctly different from Kuta, Bali) where surfing is considered some of the best in the world by leading surfing magazines. The Kuta area is also famous for its beautiful, untouched beaches.

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gendang beleqHowever, in early 2000 thousands fled from religious and ethnic violence that swept over the island, and tensions remain. Some travel websites warn that tourists sometimes provoke anger in this economically depressed region. 

This warning lacks credibility, since all of Lombok has had a long history of welcoming visitors to the island. Both the government and many of the residents recognize that tourism and the services required by tourists is Lombok's highest source of income. 

Further proof of the island's hospitality is show by the fact that tourists are virtually never seriously injured by any interaction with the local population. 

There is also a refugee camp on the island, costs paid for by Australia, which holds mostly Hazara Afghans who have tried to enter Australia by boat.

While the area may be considered economically depressed by First World standards, the island is fertile, has sufficient rainfall in must areas for agriculture, and a possesses variety of climate zones. Consequently, food in abundant quantity and variety is available inexpensively at local farmer's markets. 

A family of 4 can eat rice, vegetables, and fruit for as little as US$0.50. Even though a family income may be as small as US$1.00 per day from fishing or farming, many families are able to live a happy and productive live on astonishingly small incomes.