The island consists of two distinct geographic zones. The eastern zone is dominated by a range of verdant hills which drop steeply to the coast of the Alor Strait. The western zone is relatively flat, consisting of a plain which gently slopes to the west from Mount Sirung, an active volcano. The western zone is characteristically drier and much less densely populated than the eastern zone. Owing to its relatively low elevation, the entire island is drier than neighboring Alor. The dry season is long, interspersed with heavy rainfall during the rainy season, which peaks during January and February.
History
The earliest written reference to Pantar is in the fourteenth-century Javanese poem Nagarakretagama, which describes the power and extent of the empire ruled by the fourth king of Majapahit, Hayam Wuruk. Pantar is referred to with the term 'Galiao', which is known in the Alor archipelago. The precise location of the Majapahit dependency within Pantar is a subject of discussion.
Economy
The economy is dominated by subsistence agriculture and fishing. The most common crops are rice, corn, and cassava. Crops are harvested annually in April and stored for consumption throughout the dry season. Excess production is sometimes traded for fish or to help support school children studying in the district capital of Kalabahi. Recently, commercial production of seaweed has been promoted along the north coast. A limited craft industry focused on ikat weaving is centered in Baranusa. Tourism remains underdeveloped, though a small dive resort was recently established on the northeast coast.
Transportation
Access to the island is by water only; there is no airstrip on Pantar. Small wooden power boats ply the route between Alor and Pantar daily, serving numerous communities. The state-run ferry serves Baranusa weekly between Kalabahi and Larantuka.
Administration
Pantar is part of Alor Regency, comprising five districts, and has 39,896 residents at the 2010 Census. Within this administration lie some small islets to the west.
Name
English name
Population Census 2010
Pantar
8,798
Pantar Barat
West Pantar
6,729
Pantar Barat Laut
Northwest Pantar
4,276
Pantar Tengah
Central Pantar
9,313
Pantar Timur
East Pantar
10,740
Languages
At least eight different languages are spoken on Pantar. These include at least five Papuan languages belonging to the Alor–Pantar family as well as the Austronesian languageAlorese. A small community of Bajauspeakers is located north of Kabir. Local varieties of Malay and more standardized Indonesian are used as languages of wider communication.
