Buru

Buru is an Indonesian island in the Maluku Islands, part of Maluku Province. It lies in eastern Indonesia between the Banda Sea to the north and the Seram Sea to the south. The island covers several thousand square kilometers and features rugged interior mountains, tropical rainforest, and a long coastline with bays and beaches. The highest point is Mount Kapalat Mada, a volcanic peak.

Administratively, Buru forms the core of Buru Regency, with Namlea as its main town and port. The population comprises several ethnic groups, including the indigenous Buru people, with the Buru language spoken alongside Indonesian. The economy relies on agriculture, fishing, and forestry; crops include coconuts and sago, with some spice crops and small-scale mining. Tourism is limited but growing, focused on natural and cultural attractions.

Historically, Buru was part of the Maluku sultanates and later under Dutch colonial rule. In the 20th century it functioned as a penal island for political prisoners during the Dutch and post-independence eras. The novelist Pramoedya Ananta Toer was imprisoned there in the 1960s and 1970s and produced significant works during confinement.

Ecology and conservation: The island preserves extensive tropical rainforest habitats with several endemic flora and fauna. Access is via air and sea, with ferries and a domestic airport connecting to Ambon and other islands.