Maluku Islands

:This page is about the geography and history of the island group in Indonesia — for the political entities encompassing the islands, see Maluku (Indonesian province) and North Maluku.

Related Topics:
Geography - History - Island - Indonesia - Maluku (Indonesian province) - North Maluku

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The Maluku Islands (also known as the Moluccas, Moluccan Islands or simply Maluku) are an archipelago in Indonesia, and part of the larger Malay Archipelago. They are located on the Australian continental plate, lying east of Sulawesi (Celebes), west of New Guinea, and north of Timor. The islands were also historically known as the "Spice Islands" by the Chinese and Europeans, but this term has also been applied to other islands.

Related Topics:
Archipelago - Indonesia - Malay Archipelago - Australian - Plate - Sulawesi - New Guinea - Timor - Island - Spice Islands - Chinese - European

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Most of the islands are mountainous, some with active volcanoes, and enjoy a wet climate. The vegetation of the small and narrow islands, encompassed by the sea, is very luxuriant; including rainforests, sago, rice, and the famous spices nutmeg, cloves, mace, and others. Though originally Melanesian, many island populations, especially in the Banda Islands, were decimated in the 17th century. A second influx of Malay immigrants began in the early twentieth century under the Dutch and continued in the Indonesian era.

Related Topics:
Volcano - Climate - Vegetation - Sago - Rice - Spice - Nutmeg - Clove - Mace - Melanesia - Banda Islands - Malay - Dutch

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Politically, the Maluku Islands formed a single province of Indonesia from 1950 until 1999. In 1999 the Maluku Utara Regency was split off as a separate province of North Maluku. The islands are now divided between two Indonesian provinces, Maluku and North Maluku. In recent years they have been home to ethnic conflict between Muslims and Christians.

Related Topics:
Province of Indonesia - 1999 - North Maluku - Provinces - Maluku

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