Maluku, Archipelagic province in eastern Indonesia
Maluku is a province in eastern Indonesia stretching across the Banda Sea and made up of more than a thousand islands of varying size. The capital Ambon sits on a medium-sized island and serves as a starting point for connections to smaller island groups around it.
Portuguese traders landed on these islands in 1512 and began trading cloves and nutmeg, sparking decades of fighting between European powers. Dutch, Spanish, and British forces competed for control of the spice routes until the Dutch gained the upper hand in the 1600s.
Markets along the harbor fronts still display cloves and nutmeg growing in nearby plantations, their scent drifting through coastal towns. Villages on the outer islands maintain wooden houses and boat-building methods that recall old trading routes.
Ferry connections between islands run several times a week, and schedules shift depending on weather and season. Flights to Ambon offer a faster alternative for longer distances, while boats reach smaller places without an airstrip.
Seram Island holds Mount Binaiya, which rises over 3,000 meters (about 9,900 feet) and is the highest peak in the province. Hikers need several days to manage the densely forested climb through cloud forest and steep slopes.
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