View source for Solor

{{Short description|Island in the Lesser Sunda Islands}}
{{About||the traditional district of Hedmark, Norway|Solør|the principal male ballet role|La Bayadère}}
[[File:Solorarchipel.png|thumb|upright=1.2|[[Solor Archipelago]] in yellow]]

'''Solor''' is a volcanic island located off the eastern tip of [[Flores]] island in the [[Lesser Sunda Islands]] of [[Indonesia]], in the [[Solor Archipelago]]. The island supports a small population that has been [[whaling]] for hundreds of years.  They speak the languages of [[Adonara language|Adonara]] and [[Lamaholot language|Lamaholot]]. There are at least five [[volcano]]es on this island which measures only {{convert|40|km|mi|abbr=off}} by {{convert|6|km|mi|abbr=off}}. The island's area is {{convert|226.34|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=off}},<ref name="MONK_8">{{cite book |last=Monk |first=K.A. |author2=Fretes, Y. |author3=Reksodiharjo-Lilley, G.  |title=The Ecology of Nusa Tenggara and Maluku |publisher=Periplus Editions Ltd. |date=1996 |page=8|location=Hong Kong |isbn=962-593-076-0}}</ref> and it had a population of 34,029 at the 2020 Census.<ref>Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.</ref> The official estimate as at mid 2024 was 36,739.<ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik 2025">Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2025, ''Kecamatan Solor Barat Dalam Angka 2025'' (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5309)</ref>

== Administrative districts ==
The island is divided into three [[Districts of Indonesia|districts]] (''kecamatan''), tabulated below with their areas (in km<sup>2</sup>) and their populations at the 2010 Census<ref>Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.</ref> and 2020 Census,<ref>Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.</ref> together with the official estimates as at mid 2023.<ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik Barat 2024">Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, ''Kecamatan Solor Barat Dalam Angka 2024'' (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5309040)</ref><ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik Selatan 2024">Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, ''Kecamatan Solor Selatan Dalam Angka 2024'' (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5309041)</ref><ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik Timur 2024">Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, ''Kecamatan Solor Timur Dalam Angka 2024'' (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5309050)</ref> The entire island is administered by the [[East Flores Regency]].

{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
! Kode <br>Wilayah || Name  || Area <br>in km<sup>2</sup>|| Population<br>Census<br>2010 || Population<br>Census<br>2020 || Population<br>Estimate<br>mid 2024 ||Admin<br> centre ||No.<br>of<br>villages||Post<br>codes
|-
| 53.06.06 || Solor Barat <ref>Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Solor Barat Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5309040)</ref> <br>(West Solor) ||align="right"|128.20||align="right"|9,321||align="right"|11,180||align="right"|11,836||Ritaebang||align="center"|15 <sup>(a)</sup> ||86272
|-
| 53.06.19 || Solor Selatan <ref>Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Solor Selatan Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5309041)</ref> <br>(South Solor) ||align="right"|31.58||align="right"|4,841||align="right"|6,874||align="right"|7,769||Kalike||align="center"|7||86273
|-
| 53.06.07 || Solor Timur <ref>Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Solor Timur Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5309050)</ref> <br>(East Solor) ||align="right"|66.56||align="right"|12,879||align="right"|15,975||align="right"|17,134||Menanga||align="center"|17||86271
|-
| || '''Totals on Solor Island''' ||align="right"|''226.34''||align="right"|''27,041''||align="right"|''34,029''||align="right"|''36,739''|| ||align="center"|''39''||  
|}
Note: (a) including the town (''kelurahan'') of Ritaebang, with 1,516 inhabitants in mid 2023.

==Villages==
West Solor District (''kecamatan Solor Barat'') is sub-divided into the town (''kelurahan'') of Ritaebang and fourteen rural villages (''desa''), as listed below with their areas and populations as at mid 2023.<ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik Barat 2024">Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, ''Kecamatan Solor Barat Dalam Angka 2024'' (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5309040)</ref> <br>South Solor District (''kecamatan Solor Selatan'') is sub-divided into seven rural villages (''desa''), as listed below with their areas and populations as at mid 2023.<ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik Selatan 2024">Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, ''Kecamatan Solor Selatan Dalam Angka 2024'' (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5309041)</ref><br>East Solor District (''kecamatan Solor Timur'') is sub-divided into seventeen rural villages (''desa''), as listed below with their areas and populations as at mid 2023.<ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik Timur 2024">Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, ''Kecamatan Solor Timur Dalam Angka 2024'' (Katalog-BPS 1102001.5309050)</ref>
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Kode <br>Wilayah!! Name of <br> ''desa''!! Area <br>in <br>km<sup>2</sup> !! Pop'n<br>mid 2023<br>estimate
|-
| 53.06.06.1001 || Ritaebang ||align="right"| 17.99 ||align="right"| 1,516  
|-
| 53.06.06.2002 || Tanah Lein ||align="right"| 24.74 ||align="right"| 988 
|-
| 53.06.06.2003 || Lamaole ||align="right"| 17.24 ||align="right"| 445 
|-
| 53.06.06.2004 || Kalelu ||align="right"| 2.88 ||align="right"| 744  
|-
| 53.06.06.2005 || Nuhalolong ||align="right"| 3.25 ||align="right"| 591 
|-
| 53.06.06.2007 || Balaweling II ||align="right"| 6.75 ||align="right"| 818 
|-
| 53.06.06.2008 || Balaweling I ||align="right"| 6.75 ||align="right"| 730 
|-
| 53.06.06.2009 || Pamakayo ||align="right"| 9.98 ||align="right"| 765 
|-
| 53.06.06.2012 || Ongalereng ||align="right"| 4.50 ||align="right"| 1,333 
|-
| 53.06.06.2013 || Karawatung ||align="right"| 4.50 ||align="right"| 818 
|-
| 53.06.06.2014 || Lamawohong ||align="right"| 3.24 ||align="right"| 451  
|-
| 53.06.06.2015 || Daniwato ||align="right"| 3.50 ||align="right"| 751 
|-
| 53.06.06.2017 || Lewotawah Ole ||align="right"| 12.00 ||align="right"| 436 
|-
| 53.06.06.2019 || Titehena ||align="right"| 2.87 ||align="right"| 4,869 
|-
| 53.06.06.2020 || Lewonama ||align="right"| 8.90 ||align="right"| 3,589 
|-
| '''''Totals''''' || '''''West Solor''''' ||align="right"| '''''128.11''''' ||align="right"| '''''11,583'''''
|-
| 53.06.19.2001 || Kalike ||align="right"| 4.99 ||align="right"| 1,048 
|-
| 53.06.19.2002 || Kalike Aimatan ||align="right"| 4.00 ||align="right"| 1,132 
|-
| 53.06.19.2003 || Sulengwaseng ||align="right"| 4.50 ||align="right"| 915  
|-
| 53.06.19.2004 || Kenere ||align="right"| 3.01 ||align="right"| 694 
|-
| 53.06.19.2005 || Lemanu ||align="right"| 5.98 ||align="right"| 1,236 
|-
| 53.06.19.2006 || Lewograran ||align="right"| 5.69 ||align="right"| 959 
|-
| 53.06.17.2007 || Bubu Atagamu ||align="right"| 3.41 ||align="right"| 1,296 
|-
| '''''Totals''''' || '''''South Solor''''' ||align="right"| '''''31.58''''' ||align="right"| '''''7,280'''''
|}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Kode <br>Wilayah!! Name of <br> ''desa''!! Area <br>in <br>km<sup>2</sup> !! Pop'n<br>mid 2023<br>estimate
|-
| 53.06.07.2002 || Watanhura ||align="right"| 1.43 ||align="right"| 704 
|-
| 53.06.07.2003 || Lebao ||align="right"| 2.71 ||align="right"| 879  
|-
| 53.06.07.2004 || Watohari ||align="right"| 6.85 ||align="right"| 753 
|-
| 53.06.07.2005 || Moton Wutun ||align="right"| 0.39 ||align="right"| 1,382 
|-
| 53.06.07.2006 || Watobuku ||align="right"| 1.45 ||align="right"| 1,233
|-
| 53.06.07.2007 || Labelen ||align="right"| 4.69 ||align="right"| 773 
|-
| 53.06.07.2008 || Menanga ||align="right"| 12.49 ||align="right"| 664  
|-
| 53.06.07.2009 || Lohayong I ||align="right"| 3.01 ||align="right"| 694 
|-
| 53.06.07.2010 || Wulublolong ||align="right"| 5.98 ||align="right"| 1,236 
|-
| 53.06.07.2011 || Liwo ||align="right"| 5.69 ||align="right"| 959 
|-
| 53.06.07.2012 || Tanah Werang ||align="right"| 0.85 ||align="right"| 1,743 
|-
| 53.06.07.2013 || Lewohedo ||align="right"| 4.50 ||align="right"| 915  
|-
| 53.06.07.2014 || Lohayong II ||align="right"| 1.88||align="right"| 731 
|-
| 53.06.07.2016 || Watanhura II ||align="right"| 8.91 ||align="right"| 390 
|-
| 53.06.07.2017 || Lewogeka ||align="right"| 7.35 ||align="right"| 1,981 
|-
| 53.06.07.2018 || Lamawai ||align="right"| 5.41 ||align="right"| 1,713 
|-
| 53.06.07.2019 || Kawuta ||align="right"| 1.10 ||align="right"| 708 
|-
| '''''Totals''''' || '''''East Solor''''' ||align="right"| '''''66.56''''' ||align="right"| '''''17,066'''''
|}
{{col-end}}

==History==
=== Pre-colonial period ===
In the 14th century, Solor was said to have been conquered by the [[Majapahit]] empire, and the island is mentioned in the [[Nagarakretagama|Negarakertagama]] as a possession of Majapahit.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Weekes |first=Richard V. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dQ3FEAAAQBAJ&q=Muslim+Peoples:+A+World+Ethnographic+Survey |title=Muslim Peoples [2 Volumes]: A World Ethnographic Survey |date=1984 |publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |isbn=978-0-313-23392-0 |pages=437 |language=en}}</ref> In the 16th century, parts of the island were under the influence of the [[Sultanate of Ternate]]. Since at least the 16th century, Solor played an important role in the trade of [[sandalwood]] by acting as a popular safe harbor for ships engaged in the trade. This made Solor a relevant part of the mercantile networks of the wider region, a situation that would be reversed with the arrival of the Portuguese.<ref name=":0" />

=== Colonial period ===
In 1520, the Portuguese established a [[trading post]] in the village of [[Lamakera, Indonesia|Lamakera]] on the eastern side of the island as a transit harbor between [[Maluku Islands|Maluku]] and [[Portuguese Malacca]]. In 1562, [[Dominican Order|Dominican]] priests built a palm-trunk fortress which [[Javanese people|Javanese]] Muslims burned down the following year. The fort was rebuilt from more durable materials and the Dominicans commenced the [[Christianity in Indonesia|Christianisation of the local population]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Heuken |first=Adolf |editor-last1=Aritonang |editor-first1=Jan Sihar |editor-last2=Steenbrink |editor-first2=Karel |title=A History of Christianity in Indonesia |publisher=Brill |date=2008 |pages=73–97 |chapter=Chapter 4: The Solor-Timor mission of the Dominicans, 1562–1800 |volume=35 |jstor=10.1163/j.ctv4cbgb1.9 |chapter-url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/10.1163/j.ctv4cbgb1.9.pdf |isbn=978-90-04-17026-1}}</ref> By 1590 the Portuguese and Christian population numbered about 25,000. There were, however, repeated displays of resistance against both the Portuguese and their religion; in 1598–1599, for example, the Portuguese required an armada of 90 ships to put down a Solorese uprising.<ref name="RICKLEFSp25">{{cite book|last =Ricklefs  | first =M.C.  | title =A History of Modern Indonesia Since c.1300, 2nd Edition  | publisher =MacMillan  | date =1991  | location =London  | isbn = 0-333-57689-6  | page =25 }}</ref>

At this time, there was a conflict between the traders and the priests, so the traders left Solor and settled in [[Larantuka]] at [[Flores]] island. When the Dutch came in 1613, the priests surrendered at the first attack and were brought to Larantuka, too.

The Dutch kept the fort, but did not make a profit close to the Portuguese port. After two commanders defected to the Portuguese, they gave up Solor. In 1636 the Portuguese were attacked by the Dutch and had to abandon the fort. In 1646 the Dutch occupied the fort again. The first of the new commanders was suspended, because he married an indigenous woman. The second commander challenged the Portuguese commander to a duel and was slain. In 1648 the Dutch left and the Dominican priests returned.<ref name="Dausp325">{{cite book|last =Daus|first =Ronald|title =Die Erfindung des Kolonialismus|publisher =Hammer|date =1983|location =Wuppertal|pages =325–327| isbn = 3-87294-202-6 }}</ref>

In 1851 the Portuguese governor José Joaquim Lopes de Lima sold Solor and other areas of the Lesser Sunda Islands, which had been under Portuguese sovereignty, to the Netherlands for 200,000 florins without authorization from Lisbon. Lisbon did not recognise the sale and had Lopes arrested. He died on the way back to Europe. From 1854 the agreements were renegotiated. The sale was finally confirmed in the Lisbon Treaty and was ratified in 1859. Although the Dutch occupied the fort with a small force, the occupation was withdrawn again in 1869 for economic reasons but the official affiliation to the Netherlands remained.<ref>M. C. Ricklefs: A History of Modern Indonesia Since c.1300. 2. MacMillan, London 1991, ISBN 0-333-57689-6, p.25</ref> It was under [[Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies|Japanese occupation]] between 1942 and 1945, but along with the state of East Indonesia was later annexed into the [[United States of Indonesia]] with independence in 1949.

<gallery widths="200" heights="200">
File:Fortaleza de Solor.jpg|Portuguese Fortress of Solor
File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Gezicht uit het fort van Solor op Tedoenara TMnr 60033462.jpg|Ruins of a fort in Solor in the 1930s
File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Portret van een groep mannen van Poelau Solor in krijgskleding TMnr 60007331.jpg|Solor warriors, 1915.
</gallery>

== Towns and villages ==
{{Div col|colwidth=15em}}
* Amakebo
* Apelame
* Aplame
* Balawelin
* Balawelin I – Riangtaliha and Lamalewo
* Balawelin II – Riangmuda and Rianglaka
* Buwu-Atagamu
* Daniwato
* Enatukan
* Karawatung
* Kelike
* Kelike – Lewolo and lamagohan
* Kenere
* Kukuwerang
* [[Lamakera, Indonesia]]
* Lamawolo
* Lamboleng
* Lebao
* Lemanu
* Lewograran
* Lewograran
* Lewohedo
* Liko
* Liwo
* Lohayong
* Menanga
* Ongalereng
* Pamakayo 
* Sulengwaseng 
* Wulublolong
{{Div col end}}

== See also ==
* {{Portal inline|Islands}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://epress.anu.edu.au/oota/ch1.htm Portuguese and Dutch in Timor and Solor]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070816193003/http://www.colonialvoyage.com/solor.html The Remains of the Portuguese Fort of Solor]

{{Authority control}}{{Coord|8|29|18|S|122|58|26|E|region:ID_type:isle_source:dewiki|display=title}}

[[Category:1613 establishments in the Dutch Empire]]
[[Category:Islands of Indonesia]]
[[Category:Populated places in Indonesia]]
[[Category:Portuguese colonialism in Indonesia]]
[[Category:Solor Archipelago]]