Flores (Indonesian: Pulau Flores) is one of the Lesser Sunda Islands, a group of islands in

the eastern half of Indonesia. The population was 1,831,000 in the 2010 census and the
largest town is Maumere. The name Flores is the Portuguese word for "Flowers".
Flores is located east of Sumbawa and Komodo islands and west of Lembata island and
the Alor Archipelago. To the southeast is Timor. To the south, across the Sumba Strait,
is Sumba island and to the north, beyond the Flores Sea, is Sulawesi.
Among all islands containing Indonesian territory, Flores is the 10th most populous
after Java, Sumatra, Borneo (Kalimantan), Sulawesi, New Guinea, Bali, Madura, Lombok,
and Timor and also the 10th biggest island of Indonesia.
Until the arrival of modern humans, Flores was inhabited by Homo floresiensis,
a pygmy archaic human.

Contents

 1Etymology
 2History
o 2.1Homo floresiensis
o 2.2Modern History
 3Administration
 4Flora and fauna
 5Culture
 6Tourism
 7Economy
 8Gallery
 9Transport
 10See also
 11Notes
 12References
 13External links

Etymology[edit]
Unlike most islands in the Indonesian archipelago, the modern name Flores was given by
the Portuguese, from Cabo de Flores (Cape of Flowers), the Portuguese term for the
eastern part of the island. This part of the island, originally called Kopondai, was so named
by the Portuguese because of the flowering Delonix regia trees found there.[2] The original
name of Flores was Nipa, referring to the serpent.

History[edit]
Homo floresiensis[edit]
Model representing a female Homo floresiensis

Main article: Homo floresiensis

Before the arrival of modern humans, Flores was occupied by Homo floresiensis,
a pygmy archaic human.[3] Remains of nine individuals have been found,[4][5] and the
dominant consensus is that these remains do represent a distinct species due to genetic
and anatomical differences from modern humans.[6] The most recent evidence shows that
Homo floresiensis likely became extinct 50,000 years ago.[7]

Modern History[edit]
Indigenous warrior from Ende, Flores.

Portuguese traders and missionaries came to Flores in the 16th century, mainly

to Larantuka and Sikka. Their influence is still discernible in Sikka's language, culture and
religion. The first Portuguese visit took place in 1511, through the expedition of António de
Abreu and his vice-captain Francisco Serrão, en route through the Sunda islands.
The Dominican order was extremely important in this island, as well as in the neighbouring
islands of Timor and Solor. When in 1613 the Dutch attacked the Fortress of Solor, the
population of this fort, led by the Dominicans, moved to the harbor town of Larantuka, on
the eastern coast of Flores. This population was mixed, of Portuguese and local islanders
descent and Larantuqueiros, Topasses or, as Dutch knew them, the 'Black Portuguese'
(Zwarte Portugezen).
The Larantuqueiros or Topasses became the dominant sandalwood trading people of the
region for the next 200 years. This group used Portuguese as the language for worship,
Malay as the language of trade and a mixed dialect as mother tongue. This was observed
by William Dampier, an English privateer visiting the Island in 1699:
These [the Topasses] have no Forts, but depend on their Alliance with the Natives: And
indeed they are already so mixt, that it is hard to distinguish whether they are Portuguese
or Indians. Their Language is Portuguese; and the religion they have, is Romish. They
seem in Words to acknowledge the King of Portugal for their Sovereign; yet they will not
accept any Officers sent by him. They speak indifferently the Malayan and their own native
Languages, as well as Portuguese.[8]
In the western part of Flores, the Manggarai came under the control of the sultanate of
Bima, in eastern Sumbawa; the Dutch effectively established their administration over
western Flores in 1907 while in 1929, the Bimanese sultanate ceded any control over
Manggarai.
In 1846, Dutch and Portuguese initiated negotiations towards delimiting the territories but
these negotiations led nowhere. In 1851 Lima Lopes, the new governor of Timor, Solor and
Flores, agreed to sell eastern Flores and the nearby islands to the Dutch in return for a
payment of 200,000 Florins in order to support his impoverished administration. Lima
Lopes did so without the consent of Lisbon and was dismissed in disgrace, but his
agreement was not rescinded and in 1854 Portugal ceded all its historical claims on Flores.
After this, Flores became part of the territory of the Dutch East Indies.
During World War II a Japanese invasion force landed at Reo on 14 May 1942 and
occupied Flores.[9] After the war Flores became part of independent Indonesia.[8]
On 12 December 1992, an earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale occurred, killing
2,500 people in and around Maumere, including islands off the north coast.
In 2017 two men were killed in Flores due to land disputes between warrior clans; the
Mbehel, a West Manggarai mountain tribe, and the Rangko from Sulawesi island who
helped build Manggarai and were given land near Labuan Bajo by the Manggarai king.[10]

Administration[edit]
Flores is part of the East Nusa Tenggara province. The island along with smaller minor
islands are split into eight regencies (local government districts); from west to east these
are: Manggarai Barat (West Manggarai),[11] Manggarai Tengah (Central
Manggarai), Manggarai Timur (East Manggarai), Ngada, Nagekeo, Ende, Sikka and Flores
Timur (East Flores).[12] Flores has 39.1% of the East Nusa Tenggara provincial population
as of 2010, and the most Indonesians of all islands in the province.

Population
Area
Regency Name Capital Est. Statute 2010
(km²)
census[13]

West Manggarai Labuan

2003 UU 8/2003 2,947.50 221,430
Regency Bajo

UU
Manggarai Regency Ruteng 1958 1,545.97 292,037
69/1958

East Manggarai UU
Borong 2007 2,502.24 252,754
Regency 36/2007

UU
Ngada Regency Bajawa 1958 1,620.92 142,254
69/1958

Nagekeo Regency Mbay 2007 UU 2/2007 1,416.96 129,956

UU
Ende Regency Ende 1958 2,046.62 260,428
69/1958

UU
Sikka Regency Maumere 1958 1,731.92 300,301
69/1958

East Flores UU
Larantuka 1958 1,812.85 232,312
Regency 69/1958
 Population
Area
Regency Name Capital Est. Statute 2010
(km²)
census[13]

Flores * 15,624.98 1,831,472

Main towns on Flores are Ruteng, Bajawa, Ende, Maumere, Labuan Bajo and Larantuka

 Ruteng, 34 569 inhabitants

 Bajawa, 44 000 inhabitants
 Ende, 60 000 inhabitants
 Maumere, 52 921 inhabitants