Lesser Sunda Islands
The Lesser Sunda Islands, also known as Nusa Tenggara Islands (Indonesian: Kepulauan Nusa Tenggara, formerly Kepulauan Sunda Kecil), are an archipelago in Maritime Southeast Asia, most of the Lesser Sunda Islands are located within the Wallacea region, except for the Bali province which is west of the Wallace Line and is within the Sunda Shelf. Together with the Greater Sunda Islands to the west they make up the Sunda Islands. The islands are part of a volcanic arc, the Sunda Arc, formed by subduction along the Sunda Trench in the Java Sea. Slightly over 20 million people live on the islands. Etymologically, Nusa Tenggara means "Southeast Islands" from the words of nusa which means 'island' from Old Javanese language and tenggara means 'southeast'.
Native name: Kepulauan Nusa Tenggara Kepulauan Sunda Kecil | |
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| Geography | |
| Location | Southeast Asia Southwestern Pacific Indian Ocean |
| Coordinates | 9°00′S 120°00′E |
| Archipelago | Sunda Islands |
| Total islands | 975 |
| Major islands | Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Sumba, Flores, Timor |
| Highest elevation | 3,726 m (12224 ft) |
| Highest point | Mount Rinjani |
| Demographics | |
| Ethnic groups | Balinese, Sasak, Sumbawan, Bimanese, Atoni, Manggaraian, Sumbese, Lamaholot, Tetum, Mambai, Kemak, Moluccans, Alfur, Javanese, Bugis |
The main Lesser Sunda Islands are, from west to east: Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, Sumba, Savu, Rote, Timor, Atauro, Alor archipelago, Barat Daya Islands, and Tanimbar Islands.