Alor Islands

Alor Islands, group of two major islands and several lesser islets in East Nusa Tenggara propinsi (province), Indonesia. Part of the Lesser Sunda Islands, they lie between the Flores and Savu seas.

The largest island is Alor (900 square miles [2,330 square km]), the two major mountains of which, Kolana (5,791 feet [1,765 metres]) and Muna (4,724 feet [1,440 metres]), are both old volcanoes. Alor is broken up by steep ravines, with only one plateau and some small coastal plains. Pantar Island is high (Mount Delaki rises to 4,324 feet [1,318 metres]), with a rugged coast. The inhabitants speak languages belonging to the Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian) and Alor-Pantar families. Most of the people practice traditional religions, except for some Christian communities along the coasts and some Muslims. Festive occasions often involve exchanges of pigs, gongs, and mokos, cast-bronze kettle drums of unknown origin.