Harman Patil (Editor)

Rote Ndao Regency

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Country
  
Indonesia

Website
  
www.rotendaokab.go.id

Province
  
East Nusa Tenggara

Capital
  
Baa

Area
  
1,280 km²

Population
  
119,711 (2010)

Rote Ndao Regency i1trekearthcomphotos34172roadofrotendaojpg

Rote Ndao Regency is a regency in East Nusa Tenggara province of Indonesia, consisting primarily of the island of Rote, situated south-west of the western tip of West Timor. Established in 2002 formerly part of Kupang Regency, the regency has its seat (capital) in Baa. The population was 119,711 as of the 2010 census. Many Beluga Whales are known to breed in this regency.

Contents

Map of Rote Ndao Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

The regency is surrounded by water, bordering the Savu Sea to the north, the Indian Ocean to the south and west, and the Pukuafu Strait to the east.

List of districts (kecamatan)

This area was originally composed of six districts, but it later underwent expansion to eight districts. In 2012 the regency was reorganized into 10 districts, namely:

  1. Rote Timur
  2. Pantai Baru
  3. Rote Tengah
  4. Rote Selatan
  5. Busalangga
  6. Rote Barat Daya
  7. Rote Barat Laut
  8. Rote Barat
  9. Landu Leko
  10. Ndao Nuse

Islands

Rote Ndao has an area of 1280.10 km², including 96 islands, though only the following six are inhabited, namely:

  • Rote Island, area 97.854 Ha;
  • Usu Island, area 1.940 Ha;
  • Nuse Island, area 566 Ha;
  • Ndao Island, area 863 Ha;
  • Landu Island, area 643 Ha; dan
  • Do'o Island, area 192 Ha.

    • Sasando and Ti'i Langga

    The sasando (a musical instrument) and the Ti'i Langga (a hat) are well-known symbols of Rote Ndao Regency.

  • The sasando is a Rotenese string musical instrument, found nowhere else outside East Nusa Tenggara. The instrument of 28 strings (consisted of 15 thick strings and 13 thin strings) has unique resonance. It is made from a lontar palm leaf. Originally, the sasando was called the sasando gong and consisted of fewer strings. It was later developed into the sasando biola (violin sasando) that sounds more like a harp. Performers such as Berto Pah in Indonesia Mencari Bakat usually play the sasando biola as a solo player. The sasando gong has become less popular recently. Nowadays the sasando is modified and modernized further for the comfort of traveling and public performances so that the leaf can now be folded somewhat like a hand-fan and it can be plugged to an amplifier. However, the modernized sasando is less likely to be found crafted in Rote Ndao Regency, than Timor, more specifically in Oebelo Village. In Rote Ndao there are still a few places where the sasando is taught and practised.
  • The Ti'i Langga on the other hand, is a traditionally crafted lontar leaf hat resembling a Mexican sombrero hat. The hat is worn by male Rotenese, more so in past years, to protect them from the sun while working outside (for example, while tapping the sap of lontar trees). It is made up of lontar leaf webbings and constructed without the aid of glue, sometimes even ornamented with coloured straps that complement the Rotenese tastes of rather simple artistry.

    • References

    Rote Ndao Regency Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA