Page 92 - Diving Indonesia 21 November 2019
P. 92

he Maluku

                                                    islands, formerly
                                             Tknown as the
                                              “Spice Islands”, sit
                                              between Sulawesi
                                              and West Papua and                               Underneath their beauty lies a volatile base; the islands
                                                                                               are spread over the meeting point of four geological plates
                                              north east of Timor.                             and two continental blocks – this geological foundation
                                              They boast volcanic                              results in volcanic eruptions and frequent earthquake
                                              mountains, primary                               tremors. The Maluku Islands are relatively young islands
                                              rainforests, stunning                            ranging from approximately 1 to 15 million years old; they

                                              beaches and bountiful                            are thought to be the product of tectonic plate movements
                                                                                               and collisions hence the huge sea depths between
                                              coral gardens.                                   them resulting in numerous endemic species which are
                                                                                               effectively imprisoned on individual islands.















        180                                Wonderful Indonesia Diving and Snorkeling Directory  Wonderful Indonesia Diving and Snorkeling Directory    181
   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97