Saumlaki, Yamada Island

Saumlaki is a regional capital city on the island of Yamdena, the main island of the unique Tanimbar archipelago, located in Indonesia between Papua New Guinea and the northern coast of Australia. The Tanimbar Islands have a distinct culture with still-vibrant traditions. They actively produce traditional crafts such as richly-colored ikat cloth and carved wooden statutes, and local residents still carry on their own centuries-old forms of music and dance. The Tanimbar Islands were part of the Dutch East Indies; the bay at Saumlaki was the site of a battle during World War II between the Dutch and the Japanese. In addition to the Saumlaki and the surrounding region’s rich history and cultural heritage, the region possesses golden, tree-lined beaches and a diverse fauna, including 8 bird species native to this archipelago