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Talaud Islands (Indonesian: Kepulauan Talaud) is a group of islands located north of Sulawesi island in Indonesia, north-east of the Sangihe Islands. The Talaud Islands are also the northernmost region of Eastern Indonesia, bordering Davao Region of the Philippines. The group, with a total area of 495 square miles (1,281 square km), includes Karakelong (the largest), Salebabu, Kaburuang, and numerous islets. The coast of Karakelong Island is steep except on the southern shore, which is fringed by a wide reef. The seven tiny Nanusa Islands lie north-east of Karakelong. Forested and with hills rising to 2,231 feet (680 metres)
Description
The islands were declared a regency of North Sulawesi in 2000, Kabupaten Kepulauan Talaud.
The largest islands of the Talaud group are Karakelong Island, Salibabu Island, Kabaruan, Karatung, Nanusa and Miangas islands. Population was 83,441 according to the 2010 census.
Grouping Talaud together with Sangihe, there are 77 islands in the Talaud-Sangihe archipelagoes, of which 56 are inhabited. The total population of the Talaud and Sangihe islands was 209,574 in 2010.
Most of the population are involved in agriculture, which includes coconuts, vanilla, nutmeg, and cloves. Numerous volcanoes produce very fertile volcanic soil on many of the islands.
Talaud's capital is Melonguane.
Both Sangihe and Talaud have small airstrips serviced by Merpati Nusantara Airlines once a week.
The region is regularly rocked by large earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, as the Molucca Sea Plate is being consumed in both directions.
As the regency is economically poor, the central government has agreed to construct a road of 91 km long with a budget of 14 billion Rupiah.