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 .

Geography

Area: approx. 17,100 km² (6,600 sq mi)

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 interior has dense rain forests and is largely unexplored. Copra, resin, sago, and fish are important products. Oil is exploited in the northeast near Bula .

History

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.

Religion

Most of the people here are either of the Animist, Muslim or Christian faith. However, the Manusela tribe follow a syncretic form of Hinduism.

See also

• Islands of Indonesia