3.6 Komodo National Park

National Park of Komodo (Indonesia)

Review of this natural wonder

The Komodo National Park is located in the smaller islands of the probe, at the boundary of the provinces of West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara, in the archipelago of Indonesia. It was declared as world heritage by Unesco in 1991. Form the National Park three large islands of Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as other small and numerous islands. These islands are of volcanic origin and some 4,000 people live in them. The National Park was founded in 1980, in order to protect the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis). The goal was subsequently extended towards the protection of the flora and fauna of the region, including the maritime areas. The total surface is of about 1,817 km², of which 603 km2 are land. November 11, 2011 the Komodo National Park was declared as one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

Geographical aspects

The Komodo National Park is located in the smaller islands of the probe, at the boundary of the provinces of West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara, in the archipelago of Indonesia. It was declared as world heritage by Unesco in 1991.

Form the National Park three large islands of Komodo, Padar and Rinca, Gili, as well as other small and numerous islands. These islands are of volcanic origin and some 4,000 people live in them.

The National Park was founded in 1980, in order to protect the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis). The goal was subsequently extended towards the protection of the flora and fauna of the region, including the maritime areas. The total area is about 1.238 km², of which 603 km2 are land.

November 11, 2011 the Komodo National Park was declared as one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The Komodo Dragon is a creature of about 3 m in length and about 70kg of weight.

National Park of Komodo in Indonesia

The Komodo National Park is one of the privileged natural destinations of the world. It is located in the archipelago of Indonesia, and extends along the Lesser Sunda Islands. It was declared a Heritage site in 1991, and consists of an amazing natural wealth.
Park is composed of three large islands: Komodo, that gives name, Rinca and Padar, as well as other small and very numerous islands. They are all of volcanic origin and many are inhabited. The total population of the Islands is around 4 thousand inhabitants.
The protagonist of the Park is without a doubt the Komodo dragon, for whom the Park was founded. Declared a national park in 1980, Komodo National Park was created with the aim of protecting to this curious species, and later expanded his intentions toward the protection of all the flora and fauna of the region, including the maritime areas.

More than a thousand species of fish, about 260 species of coral reefs and 70 species of sponges live in the waters of the Park. Also abound the manta rays, sharks, whales, dolphins and sea turtles.
In the land area of the Park, seeks to protect the forest habitats reservations and the water that have been threats due to the population growth of the Islands, which in the past 60 years increased by an 800 per cent.
Currently, the sustainable tourism development is the main strategy of the Park to sustain itself economically. One of the activities of this place is the diving, encouraged by the great variety and beauty of the marine species that live there. There are numerous sites especially signposted for the practice of this sport, each characterized by different depths and the dominance of different species.
To get to the Park, you can travel by air, in one of the daily flights carried out from Indonesia, ferry or even buses. The best practice is to fly, since the ferry trip takes about 36 hours.