Facts about Lombok

Location:
Lombok is a part of the province of Nusa Tengara (NTB), with an area of 4725 km². The island has Bali in the west and Sumbawa in the east. The capital and the largest city is Mataram.

People:
Around 3 million people live in Lombok. Of these 85% are Muslims and indigenous Sasaks. Their culture and language are unique to Lombok. Because most of the Sasak population practices Islam there are many mosques and minarets around Lombok. Islamic traditions and holidays influence the Island's daily activities.10 – 15% of the population is Balinese. Other ethnic groups are Chinese, Arab, Javanese and Sumbawanese.

Economy:
The island is fertile and there are a variety of climate zones, though locals still suffer from famine due to drought and subsistence farming. Rice, corn, tobacco, cotton and coffee are grown in the fertile areas in the southern part of the island. It is incredible that families with income around $ 1.00 a day, from fishing or farming, can live a productive and happy life on such small incomes.

Lombok is the most popular destination in Nusa Tenggara. Travelers can still enjoy its relaxed pace and have the opportunity to explore the island unspoiled. The most-developed center of tourism is Senggigi, not far from Mataram city. The most visited places are the Gili Islands, Gunung Rinjani and surfing places on the south coast. The local government believes that tourism can become a major source of income in future.

Nature:
The climate is tropical, hot and humid, though Lombok is drier than Bali. The island's topography is dominated by the volcano Mount Rinjani/ Gunung Rinjani, which rises to 3,726 m making it the third-highest in Indonesia.

Sources:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/indonesia/lombok

http://wikitravel.org/en/Image:Lombok_Regions_map.png

http://wikitravel.org/en/Lombok

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lombok

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