Maluku Islands, Spice archipelago in eastern Indonesia.
Maluku is an Indonesian archipelago of more than 600 islands spread across the Banda Sea between Sulawesi and New Guinea. The larger landmasses such as Halmahera, Seram, and Buru rise from deep oceanic waters, while smaller atolls and reef formations sit along coastlines and between main islands.
European traders reached the region in the early 16th century seeking cloves and nutmeg, which at the time grew only here. The following centuries brought shifting Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, and British control over different parts of the island chain.
Residents use traditional wooden boats known as kora-kora to travel between outer islands and transport goods. Many coastal villages structure their daily activities around tidal patterns, as fishing and marine gathering remain important livelihoods.
Ferry connections run between larger islands, with schedules depending on weather conditions and wave heights. Road systems on individual islands link bigger settlements, while remote coastal areas often remain accessible only by boat.
Some outer islands receive their fresh water supply from shallow wells dug just behind beaches, tapping into lenses of filtered rainwater. On Banda Neira, old nutmeg trees from colonial plantations still grow, bearing fruit that split open to reveal bright red mace.
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