Flores

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Flores is an island in Southeast Asia which belongs to Lesser Sunda Islands. It is administered by the Indonesian province Nusa Tenggara Timur. Flores Island offers beautiful sceneries as there are palm forests and very rich exotic flora and fauna. The area of the island is 13,540 square kilometers. more »

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Currently, the island has a population of 1.5 million. The name of the island means "flowers". The largest city is Maumere . .

Homo Floresiensis

Flores Island became famous in 2003 due to the archaeological findings of a new human species , which was called Homo floresiensis. The remains were found in the Liang Bua cave. This new human species is often compared to the well-known hobbits from the novel Lord of the Rings - as the prehistoric man´s height was approximately 1 m.

Attractions

The biggest attractions seems to be the Komodo dragon, living on the west side of the island in the Komodo National Park. There is a beautiful Kelimutu volcano near the city Ende . The volcano is known for three lakes which change colors. It is the most popular tourist destination on the island. The highest point of the island is Mandasawu Poco Mountain ( 2370 m above sea) .

Diving, Hiking and Hot Springs

The north coast of Flores is very popular among divers, in particular around cities Riung and Maumere. Another popular place is the area around the city Labuanbajo, where divers can observe sharks. Flores Island is an ideal place for active holiday, both in the water and in the mountains. If you want to relax, you can visit the hot springs called Soa near the city Ruda .