Manipa Island

About

Manipa Island is an island in West Seram Regency, Maluku Province, Indonesia. It is located 8 km off the western coast of Kelang (from which it is separated by the Kelang Strait) at the western end of Seram Island and 25 km off the western coast of Buru. Including adjacent small islands, it forms an administrative district (kecamatan) within the regency, with its district centre at Masawoi. The district covers an area of 159.71 km2 and had a population of 7,165 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 7,793.

There are 7 villages (desa), listed with their populations according to the official estimates as at mid 2022: Luhutuban (3,288), Tuniwara (865), Buano Hatuputih (359), Tomalehu Barat (1,057), Tomalehu Timur (285), Kelang Asaude (889) and Masawoi (727). The inhabitants speak the Manipa language, as well as Indonesian and Ambonese Malay.

This island gives its name to the Manipa Strait between Buru and Seram.

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.