Sanana or Sulabesi Island (earlier name Xulla Besi) is an island south of Mangoli Island, and is part of the Sula Islands Regency in the North Maluku province of Indonesia. Sanana is also the name of that island's largest settlement, home to the Dutch era fort Benteng De Verwachting.

Administrative districts

The island is divided into six districts within the Sula Islands Regency, which are set out below with their areas and the populations at the 2010 Census and the 2020 Census. The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, and the number of villages (rural desa and urban kelurahan) in each district.

NameEnglish nameArea in km2Population Census 2010Population Census 2020Admin centreNo. of villages
Sulbesi BaratWest Sulabesi255.024,7075,585Kabau Darat6
Sulabesi SelatanSouth Sulabesi284.004,2985,545Fuata5
Sanana157.3625,18333,994Waihama11
Sulabesi TengahCentral Sulabesi161.315,9297,250Waiboga7
Sulabesi TimurEast Sulabesi93.713,1004,350Baleha6
Sanana UtaraNorth Sanana244.785,6757,622Pohea7
Sulabesi Island(total)1,196.1248,89264,34642

Transportation

Sanana airport is linked to Ambon by Trigana Air Service flights.

History

As was common throughout Maluku at that time, Sanana suffered serious religio-ethnic tensions between Muslims and Christians during 1999.

Flora and fauna

Frog Callulops kopsteini, also known as Kopstein's callulops frog, is endemic to Sanana Island.

Gallery

  • Men and children on the beach (1930–1936)
  • Fort de Verwachtingh[nl] in 1921