The Komodo Islands
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Komodo island is 130 square miles in size and about 250 miles east of Bali in the Indonesian archipelago. It is surrounded by some of the warmest and clearest waters in the region.
Nearby islands include Rinca and Padar and the larger islands of Sumbawa and Flores. Flores has been in the news during 2004 after traces of hobbit-sized early humans were discovered on the island (Wheeler, 2004).
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The islands of Komodo, Padar, Rinca and surrounding waters form the Komodo National Park which was declared a World Heritage Site and Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1991 (Singleton and Sulaiman, 2002). The park is the home of the Komodo Dragon as well as other rare species of flora and fauna. The islands are very popular diving sites with extensive marine biodiversity, including more than 1,000 species of fish.
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