Lesser Sunda Islands
The Lesser Sunda Islands are an Indonesian island chain extending east from Bali toward Timor, between the Java Sea and the Indian Ocean.
Bali: An Indonesian island west of Lombok, known for its Hindu culture and volcanic landscapes. Bali forms the western end of the Lesser Sunda chain.
Indo-Australian Plate: A major tectonic plate that moves northward beneath parts of Southeast Asia. Its convergence with the overriding plate drives subduction south of the islands.
Sasak people: An Indigenous ethnic group whose homeland is Lombok in Indonesia. Sasak communities illustrate the distinctive cultures of islands west of Sumbawa.
Komodo National Park: An Indonesian protected area encompassing Komodo, Rinca, Padar, and nearby islands and seas. The park protects a celebrated island ecosystem in the central Lesser Sundas.
Greater Sunda Islands: The large western Indonesian islands of Sumatra, Java, Borneo, and Sulawesi. They are the larger western island group commonly distinguished from the Lesser Sundas.
Lombok: An Indonesian island east of Bali, separated from it by the Lombok Strait. Lombok is the first major island east of Bali in the chain.
Sunda Trench: A deep ocean trench marking subduction of the Indo-Australian Plate beneath the Sunda region. The trench traces the offshore boundary responsible for the arc’s tectonic activity.
Sumbanese people: The Indigenous peoples of Sumba, including communities with distinct languages and traditions. Their diverse societies show how island identities vary within the chain.
Komodo dragon: The world’s largest living lizard, native to several Indonesian islands including Komodo and Flores. Its restricted range makes conservation in the chain internationally significant.
Maluku Islands: An Indonesian archipelago east of Sulawesi and north of the Banda Sea. The Maluku Islands lie beyond the eastern Lesser Sundas and form a separate regional group.