Seram

Seram and Ambon Islands (Operational Navigation Chart, 1967) Not for navigational use

View from a boat towards Tulehu, on the North Seram coast

Seram (formerly Ceram, also called Seran or Serang) is an island in the Maluku province of Indonesia. It is located north of Ambon Island. The chief port/town is Masohi.

Contents

1 Geography
2 History
3 Religion
4 See also

Geography

Area: approx. 17,100 km² (6,600 mi²)

Size: approx. 340 km (210 mi) long and 60 km (40 mi) wide

Highest point: Mt. Binaiyi, 3,019 m (9,905 ft)

Seram is traversed by a central mountain range, the highest point of which is covered with dense rain forests. Copra, resin, sago, and fish are important products. Oil is exploited in the northeast near Bula.

History

In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, Seram was generally within the sphere of influence of Ternate, although it was often ruled more directly by the Ternaten vassal state of Buru. Portuguese missionaries were active there in the 16th century. Dutch trading posts were opened in the early 17th century, and the island came under nominal Dutch control c. 1650. In the 1780s, Seram provided a key base of support for Prince Nuku of Tidore's long-running rebellion against Dutch rule.

Religion

Traditionally, most of the people here have been either of the Animist, Muslim or Christian faith. However, during the inter-religious conflict that swept the Maluku province and other parts of Indonesia in 1998 and continues sporadically to this day, the Christian and other non-Muslim population was either killed, driven off the island or forcibly converted to Islam and their homes and property burned. The remaining population is now entirely Muslim.

Seram

Geography

History

Religion

See also