Komodo Makes It to ‘Provisional’ New 7 Wonders List

The preliminary results are out and it shows the Komodo National Park as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, according to the New7Wonders Web site.

The land inhabited by Komodo Dragons

The list, given in alphabetical order, includes the Amazon, Halong Bay, Iguazu Falls, Jeju Island, the Puerto Princessa Underground River and Table Mountain.  Read further:

Komodo is one of the 17,508 islands that make up the Republic of Indonesia. The island has a surface area of 390 km² and over 2000 inhabitants. The inhabitants of the island are descendants of former convicts who were exiled to the island and who have mixed themselves with the Bugis from Sulawesi. The population are primarily adherents of Islam but there are also Christian and Hindu minorities.

Komodo is part of the Lesser Sunda chain of islands and forms part of the Komodo National Park. Particularly notable here is the native Komodo dragon. In addition, the island is a popular destination for diving. Administratively, it is part of the East Nusa Tenggara province.

Komodo National Park is located in the center of the Indonesian archipelago, between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores. Established in 1980, initially the main purpose of the Park was to conserve the unique Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) and its habitat. However, over the years, the goals for the Park have expanded to protecting its entire biodiversity, both terrestrial and marine. In 1986, the Park was declared a World Heritage Site and a Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO,  both indications of the Park’s biological importance.

Categories: Asia, Indonesia

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