The population of the island is about 1.5 million people.
These are peoples belonging to the transitional East Indonesian racial type: many residents have curly hair and are darker-skinned than most Indonesians.
The most significant ethnic groups are: Ende - 850 thousand people (eastern regions of Flores), Manggarai, about 500 thousand people (west of Flores Island), and Sikka - 175 thousand people (on the isthmus of the central part of the island).
Small ethnic groups live in the interior regions - Ngade, Nage, Lio, Keo, Riung, Ndao, Rokka and others.
In the Middle Ages, the island was under the political influence of the Javanese Hindu Majapahit Empire.
By the 17th century, the early state formations of Flores became dependent on the Makassar principality of Gowa. From that moment on, the Islamization of the local population began, interrupted by Portuguese and Dutch colonization.
Currently, 91% of the population, due to the missionary activities of the Portuguese, are Roman Catholic Christians. Francisco Xavier himself visited the islands.
And even after the transfer of the island of Flores (with the surrounding archipelagos) to Holland in 1859, the missionary activity of Catholics here did not stop. The Dutch administration, seeing the growing threat of Islamization of the island, in every possible way contributed to the strengthening of Catholicism here (at the same time introducing Protestantism on other islands).
Some of the islanders living in the interior of the island continue to adhere to traditional beliefs (ancestor cult, belief in spirits). In the center of the villages there is always a square with stone megalithic sculptures associated with the cult of ancestors.
The clothing of the highlanders consists of a loincloth or a skirt. In cities and on the coast they wear kain, shirts or sweaters.
Interesting are the mass celebrations of the Manggarai (ritual battle dances of men in military attire), and the funeral rites of the sikko (burial in boats sent “overseas”).
A small part of the islanders (Western Manggarai) adheres to Sunni Islam.
Among Muslims and noble adherents of traditional cults, polygyny is allowed. Cross-cousin marriages are preferred. Often, until the marriage price is paid, the wife and children live in the family of her parents.
A number of peoples continue to be divided into class and caste groups. There are large family communities in the mountains.
In addition to rice, corn, coffee and sugar cane are grown on Flores.
Livestock farming is developed: breeding buffaloes, horses, pigs, and poultry.
GS material
The first final game of the “Second Team Tournament”.
Participants
Vadim Karlinsky
Maxim Anfinagenov
Alexander Lichtshangof
- Vadim Karlinsky, programmer from Moscow
- Maxim Anfinagenov, TV journalist from Kharkov
- Alexander Lichtshangof, teacher from St. Petersburg
Progress of the game
First round
Themes:
- Heroes
- People and animals
- Intelligence services
- From 2 to 5
- Signs and symbols
- Ends with "y"
Ends with "y" (300)
On the set of “Going into a Storm,” Rostislav Plyatt in the role of physicist Dankevich was made up based on the portrait of this academician - the prototype of Dankevich.
Maxim answers.
Correct answer: Lev Landau
Ends with "y" (400)
On February 2, 1920, a peace treaty between Estonia and Soviet Russia with mutual recognition of sovereignty.
Maxim answers.
Correct answer: Tartu
Ends with "y" (200)
On the Indonesian island of Flores, 500 centuries ago, these “birds” lived, up to 2 meters tall and weighing up to 16 kilograms. Nowadays their relatives are much smaller.
Vadim answers.
Player response: Cockatoo
Maxim answers.
Player response: Emu
Correct answer: Marabou
Ends with "y" (100)
Bruce Lee developed his original style of this called "Jeet Kune Do".
Maxim answers.
Correct answer: Kung Fu
From 2 to 5 (400)
This is exactly how many people were included in the Directory - the highest executive body of revolutionary France in the 18th century.
Alexander answers.
Correct answer: 5
From 2 to 5 (500)
After the monetary reform of 1839, seven old kopecks began to correspond to exactly the same number of new ones.
Alexander answers.
Correct answer: 2
From 2 to 5 (200)
So many homemade “Stalingrad” burners were lit in the foyer of the Taganka Theater after the play “The Dawns Here Are Quiet.”
Vadim answers.
Correct answer: 5
People and animals (300)
The fastest production motorcycle in the world, the Hayabusa, is the namesake of this falcon.
Alexander answers.
Correct answer: Peregrine Falcon
From 2 to 5 (100)
Everybody dance! (500)
Cat in a poke. Subject: Everybody dance! In a cartoon from two centuries ago, two peasants forced him to dance.
Vadim plays. The bet is 500.
Correct answer: Napoleon
People and animals (400)
In honor of this performer from Barnum's circus, one of the Disney characters was named Jumbo.
Alexander answers.
Correct answer: Elephant
People and animals (200)
On the other hand (500)
Cat in a poke. Subject: On the other side. Long ago, Pushkin moved to the site of the demolished Strastnoy Monastery. But this is exactly what he still holds in his hand.
Vadim plays. The bet is 500.
Player response: Scroll with his works
Correct answer: Hat
Heroes (400)
Auction. Kliment Voroshilov received the first Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union on his 75th birthday. The second one is for the 50th anniversary of this.
Alexander plays. Bet - 1,600 (all-in).
Correct answer: Soviet army
Heroes (300)
In the Russian Empire, this city was founded last, and it was the last to receive the title “Hero City” - only on the 40th anniversary of the Victory, together with Smolensk.
Maxim answers.
Correct answer: Murmansk
Special services (300)
In 1992, Stella Rimington became the first woman to head Britain's counterintelligence service.
Vadim answers.
Correct answer: MI5
Heroes (500)
In Spaarndam there is a monument to an 8-year-old boy who supposedly saved the Netherlands from this. Although the hero's feat was composed by Mary Mape Dodge in the book “Silver Skates”.
Vadim answers.
Correct answer: From flooding as a result of a dam failure
Signs and symbols (400)
At the top of the Kyiv Independence Monument, a girl holds a branch of this bush - a symbol of Ukraine.
Maxim answers.
Player response: Turn
Correct answer: Kalina
Signs and symbols (500)
Auction. In the grammar of Alexander Vostokov, published in 1831, it was referred to as a “preventive sign.”
Vadim plays. Bet - 800 (all-in).
Player response: Colon
Correct answer: Ellipsis
Special services (500)
The operation to identify Nazi values in Switzerland, developed with the participation of Ian Fleming, bore this code name.
Correct answer: "James Bond"
Special services (400)
Three-year-old Gordon Lonsdale died along with his parents. The KGB legend about saving the boy helped this Soviet intelligence officer legalize and work.
Maxim answers.
Correct answer: Conan the Young
Special services (200)
Agents of this US service were allowed to carry weapons only in the twenty-seventh year of its existence after the death of one of the employees.
Maxim answers.
Correct answer: FBI
Special services (100)
Stripped to the skin by Romanian border guards, the great schemer cursed this special service.
Maxim answers.
Correct answer: "Siguranza"
People and animals (100)
This inhabitant of the Kronotsky Nature Reserve left her home in the spring, where engineer Alexey Matveev climbed to create an Internet model of the “house”.
Maxim answers.
Correct answer: Ursa
Heroes (200)
Finish the line from “March of the Merry Guys”: “We will get everything, understand and open: // The cold pole and the blue vault! // When the country orders you to be a hero...”
Vadim answers.
Correct answer: “...everyone becomes a hero with us”
Signs and symbols (300)
In the synagogue of Israeli Tiberias, on the ancient mosaic floor, along with the signs of the Zodiac, 4 women are depicted, symbolizing exactly this.
Alexander answers.
Correct answer: Seasons
Signs and symbols (200)
Since ancient times in Japan, the dragonfly has been a symbol of their fortitude and selfless courage.
Alexander answers.
Player response: Pilots
Maxim answers.
Correct answer: Samurai
Round result
- Vadim - 200
- Maksim - 1 500
- Alexander - 3 300
Second round
Themes:
- Watermelons
- Stop the thief!
- Questions from...
- Our old movie
- Who sings?
Who sings? (800)
“We, friends, are birds of passage. // Only our life alone is not good: // We didn’t have time to get married on earth, // But you won’t find a wife in heaven!”
Maxim answers.
Correct answer: “Because, because we are pilots...” (from the film “Heavenly Slug”)
Who sings? (600)
“Our years are long, // We are old friends, // You are faithful, as before, to me.”
Vadim answers.
Correct answer: "Song of the Old Cabby"
Who sings? (1,000)
“I see off my pets - // Sons, // Daughters. // Fly all the way to the Sun // And return home quickly.”
Vadim answers.
Correct answer: "I am the Earth"
Our old cinema (800)
Our old cinema (800)
The large-scale reconstruction of Berlin came at a very opportune time. Buildings exploded and collapsed right in the frame. Name the movie.
Alexander answers.
Correct answer: "Shield and Sword"
Who sings? (400)
“The one I meet, // Even the beast - I believe, I believe, // I will not forget, I will, I will, // I will say “hello”.”
Alexander answers.
Correct answer: "Little Red Riding Hood's Song"
Who sings? (200)
We built, we built (1,000)
Cat in a poke. Subject: We built and built. Water from the mountain lake Noir in the Vosges cascades into the neighboring Lake Blanc, and almost a hundred years ago this structure was built on a beautiful reservoir.
Vadim plays. The bet is 1,000.
Correct answer: Power plant
Our old cinema (600)
The artist of the film “Kin-dza-dza” Teodor Tezhik brought a model of this device, and Danelia was delighted: “Exactly! An old Armenian coffee grinder!”
Alexander answers.
Correct answer: Pepelats
USA (600)
Maxim answers.
Correct answer: In space flight
Our old cinema (1,000)
Auction. This year, on his 85th birthday, “The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!” shown on television not under New Year, and at the end of April.
Maxim plays. Bet - 2,900 (all-in).
Player response: Eldar Ryazanov
Correct answer: Yuri Yakovlev
Our old cinema (400)
Gaidai simply did not see a place for this song in the film, but Yuri Nikulin persuaded the director to insert the song into the episode on the ship. And for good reason!
Maxim answers.
Correct answer: "Island of bad luck"
Our old cinema (200)
Our old cinema (200)
This Soviet cartoon seen in childhood inspired the future animator Hayao Miyazaki to choose a profession.
Maxim answers.
Correct answer: "The Snow Queen"
Questions from… (200)
Questions from the dentist (200)
Dentist asks questions Svetlana Vanglis.
What does a dentist do with this tool?
Maxim answers.
Correct answer: Pulling out bad teeth
Questions from… (400)
In which story by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov did a paramedic unsuccessfully relieve a sexton of a toothache?
Alexander answers.
Correct answer: "Surgery"
Questions from… (600)
The first drill was invented in the USA in 1870. What was it used to propel it?
Vadim answers.
Correct answer: Foot pedal
Questions from… (800)
In what comedy directed by Georgy Danelia did an extra false tooth almost bring world fame to the main character?
Maxim answers.
Correct answer: "Thirty three"
Questions from… (1,000)
In 1480, the Italian Giovanni Arcalani first used gold for this. For what?
Vadim answers.
Correct answer: For filling teeth
Stop the thief! (600)
In May of this year, a safe with jewelry intended for guests and participants of this festival was stolen from a five-star hotel. The theft cost a million dollars.
Vadim answers.
Correct answer: Cannes Film Festival
Stop the thief! (800)
In a store, an Englishwoman, Tracy Thomson, had her wallet with money and photos that were dear to her stolen, but this daughter’s friend named Sam quickly found the loss. True, no money.
Maxim answers.
Correct answer: Dog
Stop the thief! (400)
An unlucky bank robber in the American town of Abilene managed to at least set this “world record”. No wonder he couldn’t escape from the police.
Alexander answers.
Player response: By quantity and weight of stolen goods
Correct answer: By age at which he committed the robbery
Stop the thief! (200)
The director of the Louvre, Omol, boasted that stealing it was like stealing Notre Dame. After the theft, Omol was fired.
Alexander answers.
Correct answer: Gioconda
USA (800)
As fate would have it, his eldest son Robert witnessed the assassination of three presidents: his father, Garfield and McKinley.
Alexander answers.
Correct answer: Abraham Lincoln
USA (1,000)
At the beginning of 2012, Jeremiah Franco and Karin Shreve set a record for watching this animated series - 86 hours and 37 minutes in a row - and entered the Guinness Book of Records.
Correct answer: "The Simpsons"
USA (400)
It was only in February of this year that Mississippi became the latest state to ratify the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, repealing this.
Maxim answers.
Correct answer: Slavery
Watermelons (600)
Six years ago, the All-Russian Research Institute of Irrigated Melon Growing created the “Lunny” watermelon variety with pulp of this color.
Maxim answers.
Correct answer: Yellow
Watermelons (1,000)
Auction. Candied fruits are made from watermelon rinds. During the last boiling, add turmeric, beet juice or, for example, a decoction of onion peels for this purpose.
Maxim plays. Bet - 3,400 (all-in).
Correct answer: For coloring
Round result
- Vadim - 5 000
- Maksim - 6 800
- Alexander - 6 100
Third round
Themes:
- Milk
- History of sports
- Parodies
- Art and money
- Everyone knows them
- Eureka!
Everyone knows them (900)
Albert Einstein often took money from those who wanted to get it. And he used his “earned money” for good deeds.
Maxim answers.
Correct answer: His autograph
Parodies (900)
Veniamin Smekhov called this musical performance the result of his sloppy skits and a parody of the most boring “Scheherazade”.
Maxim answers.
Correct answer: "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves"
Parodies (1,200)
This “genius of parody” often sang on stage better than the person he portrayed. Alas, he died in a plane crash, barely reaching the age of 28.
Maxim answers.
Correct answer: Victor Chistyakov
Parodies (1,500)
This film comedy by Ezio Greggio parodies “The Silence of the Lambs”, “Basic Instinct”, “Jurassic Park”, “The Woman in Red” and “Psycho”.
Correct answer: "The Silence of the Ham"
Parodies (600)
Alice Randall wrote the parody "The Wind Has Stopped". Unlike Gone with the Wind, all the characters are exactly like that.
Alexander answers.
Correct answer: Blacks
Art and money (1,200)
Antonio Salieri refused the order from Emperor Joseph II, and Mozart wrote this opera for 200 ducats. What kind of opera?
Correct answer: “That’s what everyone does.”
Art and money (900)
To support his own arts center in New York, he auctioned off Vereshchagin’s painting “View of St. Petersburg,” acquired in 1976.
Maxim answers.
Player response: Armand Hammer
Correct answer: Mikhail Baryshnikov
Art and money (600)
Error occurred (1 500)
Cat in a poke. Subject: There was an error. Having failed to find gold in California, the Spaniards lost interest in it. This error on the maps did not bother them one bit.
Vadim plays. The bet is 1,500.
Player response: They called the sea the Gulf of California
Correct answer: The California Peninsula was depicted as an island on maps
History of sports (900)
Auction. In 1941, the Boston Bruins hockey club set a record. It seems like it will last forever. They did this 83 times during the match. What?
Maxim plays. Bet - 8,900 (all-in).
Player response: Removed
Correct answer: Shot at the opponents' goal
Parodies (300)
“And to me goats, those who were offended, are dearest and closest to me. Have you seen a dog lick a beating hand? Who did Parnassus Stand on End parody?
Maxim answers.
Correct answer: Vladimir Mayakovsky
History of sports (1,500)
In 1936, two Japanese men brought silver and bronze medals from Berlin, showing the same result in the pole vault. And they did it.
Maxim answers.
Correct answer: They made themselves silver-bronze medals by sawing them in half and connecting them with opposite parts
History of sports (600)
Last year, Andy Murray not only became the first Briton to win the US Open in 76 years, but also the first tennis player to win this competition in the same year.
Correct answer:
Alexander answers.
Correct answer: Ramadan
History of sports (300)
Back in the late 17th century, in the Scottish town of Inveresk, women played football. Two teams were composed according to this principle.
Maxim answers.
Correct answer: Married vs. Single
Art and money (1,500)
This American gave the USSR a Goya painting for 60 thousand dollars, and the touched Furtseva gave away Malevich from the Tretyakov Gallery for 750 thousand dollars.
Maxim answers.
Correct answer: Armand Hammer
Milk (1,500)
“Harry, has it really come to this that they drink this veal’s drink in the bar?!” - cowboy Danley was indignant. Name the movie.
Alexander answers.
Correct answer: "The Man from the Boulevard des Capucines"
Milk (300)
In an African myth, the first girl on earth threw ashes from a fire into the sky. It turned out this way.
Maxim answers.
Correct answer: Milky Way
Eureka! (900)
Graphene airgel, created in China, is 6 times lighter than air and, among other things, will be used to clean up just such spills.
Vadim answers.
Correct answer: Oil
Eureka! (1,200)
These glass products appeared in 1888; They were invented by the Swiss ophthalmologist Adolf Fick.
Maxim answers.
Correct answer: Contact lenses
Everyone knows them (600)
In 1916, as a simple orderly, he carried the wounded out of battle, “earning” the Order of St. Stanislaus, two St. Georges and a severe concussion. In the hospital he returned to chess.
Alexander answers.
Correct answer: Alexander Alekhine
Round result
- Vadim - 5 800
- Maksim - 3 300
- Alexander - 10 900
Final round
Subject: Appeals
In “Travel Impressions,” Alexandre Dumas wrote: “... a common Russian address, which is usually used by a superior person in relation to a subordinate. “Many Russian people really love this especially affectionate word.” Say the word.
Vadim's answer: Kind
The bet is 3,000.
Maxim's answer: Dearest
The bet is 700.
Alexander's answer: Kind
The rate is 701.
Correct answer: Darling
Game summary
- Vadim - 2 800
- Maksim - 2 600
- Alexander - 10 199
Alexander Lichtshangoff wins the first final game.
The Portuguese brought their faith to Flores in the middle of the 16th century. Catholic missionaries told the animist locals about the suffering of Jesus and gained a grateful flock throughout the western part of the island. Muslim east centered on the city of Ende (Ende) resisted for a long time, which resulted in bloody clashes in 1907, after which Christianity established itself as the main island religion. In local performance it is densely mixed with animistic rituals; silent witnesses to this are the cult altars scattered throughout Flores.
The island is very elongated over a distance of 670 km, pierced by a winding mountain road that is completely washed away during the rainy season. It runs from the capital Labuanbajo (Labuhanbajo) through mountain town Ruteng (Ruteng) With cool climate, capital of eastern Flores Ende (Ende) and ends in the former Portuguese colony of Larantuka (Larantuke) on the most remote coast. From here you can cross by boat to the completely wild and not visited by tourists - and therefore interesting - islands of the Solor archipelagos (Solor) and Alor (Alor).
This road is long and difficult: it winds serpentinely along the mountain slopes, spilling out the contents of passenger stomachs, then it goes down to the coast, then it amazes with the beauty of the landscapes, then it turns into a liquid mess of impassable puddles. In the dry season, from April to October, the journey will require at least two days, but in other months the journey can take a week.
“All covered with greenery, absolutely all, there is a wild island of Flores in the ocean,” Semyon Semenych Gorbunkov would have sung if he had returned from an Asian trip. Wildness is manifested in the absence of ATMs (can't do without cash), and the name directly speaks of its plant origin: the Portuguese called it Cabo das Flores, which means “flower cape”. Little has changed in 500 years, and the riot of colors of nature is still one of the Flores magnets for tourists. The only super attraction of the island is the Kelimutu volcano (Gunung Kelimutu) with three colorful lakes is also an impressive natural spectacle that deserves a separate trip. Interest in the life of the islanders and their culture can be demonstrated by visiting the traditional villages around Ruteng (for example, Compang Ruteng, Golo Guru (Golo Shigi)).
Only the relative inaccessibility of transport has diverted tourist rivers from Flores. There are few people who want to sit on buses for days on end in Lombok - Sumbawa and flounder on ferries, only to end up in the vomiting embrace of the Flores trans-island highway. Many of them travel to Labuanbajo with only one goal - to sail in the opposite direction to the islands of Komodo and Rinca in order to see with their own eyes the legendary Komodo dragons in their natural habitat. Ferries from the Sumbawa port of Sape dock in the capital of Flores after 9 hours, after which you need to transfer to a ferry to Komodo (3 hours). There is no pier on Komodo; ships stop one kilometer from the shore, after which those interested are transported by boat for an additional fee. They also organize flights to Rinci (3 hours).
Air communication between Flores and the mainland is organized by Merpati Airlines in the form of 4 flights per week Denpasar - Labuanbajo, 8 flights Denpasar - Ende and daily flights to Maumere ($100 cost). The Trigana company supports this noble initiative with regular air raids of its “corn farmers” in the capital of the island, but it should be borne in mind that this regularity is far from regular. Flights are very often canceled and rescheduled for various reasons - from lack of capacity to supposedly bad weather conditions. In any case, you need to keep one extra day for possible connections.
The mysterious island, located in the south of the Indonesian archipelago, resembles a fish with a long tail. Until recently, it was little known among tourists, but now more and more vacationers are flocking to this friendly corner, which promises a sea of adventures for everyone.
Flower Island
The interesting island of Flores (Indonesia) was discovered by chance at the beginning of the 16th century. This beautiful name it was given to him by the Portuguese colonialists, delighted with the lush floral paradise. Five centuries have passed since its discovery, and the virgin nature is still considered the main attraction of the volcanic island. It is not for nothing that this picturesque corner, surrounded by exotic plants and tropical greenery, is recognized as a flower island.
Places untouched by civilization provide a unique opportunity to plunge into the fabulous world of nature. It is curious that many of the flowers and animals of Flores have been preserved from the times when gigantic dinosaurs lived on our planet. The diverse flora and fauna is another great reason to come here on vacation to fully experience the uniqueness of a lost paradise on earth.
The only Catholic corner in Indonesia
The colorful island of Flores is the only corner in Muslim Indonesia, where the main religion is Catholicism. When the Portuguese gave their colony to Holland, a Christian mission had already been founded here. Catholics converted local residents to their faith, and non-interference by the new owners in the sacrament of baptism became the main condition for the transfer of territory.
Hospitable natives with a traditional way of life
The Indonesian island of Flores is home to about 1.8 million people who warmly welcome all tourists. And the first thing that guests of an exotic corner talk about is the hospitality of the local population living in traditional way of life. Everyone notes the isolation of the indigenous islanders, living at a distance from each other, which has led to a striking contrast between the nationalities.
The main highway was built about twenty years ago, and before that the natives had never seen cars or buses. By the way, there are many old villages on the island, the natives of which look as if they stepped out of archival black and white photographs. Therefore, when they talk about an untouched civilization, this refers not only to nature, but also to the way of life of the local population, who show increased interest in guests.
The colorful island of Flores, which gained independence in 1945, is also known for the fact that residents are allowed to hunt whales using the ancient method.
Three crater lakes changing shades
The most famous volcano of the resort is Kelimutu, whose three crater lakes are changing and scientists to this day argue about the cause of the amazing phenomenon. Once upon a time, after a volcanic eruption, small depressions formed and turned into wonderful lakes.
Aborigines firmly believe that the souls of the dead live in water that changes color, and any change in color is associated with the anger of the ancestors. In the lake, located at a distance from the rest, rest the souls of people who lived righteously until old age.
Two other craters filled with water are located close to each other. The lakes, in which the souls of young people who died at a young age and sinners who brought a lot of evil live, are known throughout the world. The water in them changes shades, becoming green, burgundy-black, or blood red.
Explanations of scientists
True, scientists have their own point of view. They explain the natural phenomenon by the presence of dissolved minerals and claim that everything depends on the chemical reactions occurring in the water. However, other experts are convinced that this color change is due to volcanic gases entering the lakes.
Natural phenomenon
A real natural miracle, which the whole world learned about, has become a favorite place for tourists from all over globe declaring their love for the wonderful island. Tourists flock here to meet the sunrise at the top of Kelimutu, watching the magical play of sunlight on the water surface of the lakes.
Mirror Cave
Batu Cermin Cave is another local attraction. The underground kingdom located in a rocky massif is a delightful sight. Here you can examine the stone remains of turtles and fish, admire the quaint halls with colonies of stalagmites, reminiscent of fantastic views. As guests of the island note, at a certain hour the falling rays of the sun through a gap in the vault are reflected by millions of mirrors interspersed with minerals. To enjoy the marvelous picture, tourists from different corners of our planet.
Labuan Bajo
In the west of the picturesque island there is a small settlement that is adored by visitors to Flores who dream of magical beaches with clear water. All diving enthusiasts also want to get to the village.
Well, if you get bored relaxing holiday, you can go to a pearl farm, or wander through the mysterious caves that Indonesia is famous for. Travelers note that there are quiet places to solitude with nature, and the opportunity to walk in absolute silence will appeal to those who are tired of the noise of large cities.
Bajawa
The unique island of Flores, despite the long-term work of missionaries, is famous for its traditional rituals. The city of Bajava is of interest to tourists who want to get to know pagan rituals better. This is the center of the Ngadha religion, which is an interesting mix of Catholicism and ancestor worship.
Visitors to the town note well-preserved megaliths - places of worship of spirits, and the whole area seems to be saturated with a mystical atmosphere.
Scientific sensation
The unique island of Flores gained incredible popularity after scientists published the results of archaeological excavations. The discovery discovered in the Liang Bua cave became a real scientific sensation. The strange bones of a one-meter-tall man with a miniature build greatly surprised scientists, who at first thought that they had found the skeleton of a child.
However, after careful study, it was found that these are the remains of ancient hominids, called Homo floresiensis. Homo floresianus had an unusually small brain size weighing 400 grams, which caused a debate among scientists discussing the intellectual capabilities of the ancient people who inhabited the island of Flores (Indonesia).
“Hobbits,” as archaeologists have called the living creatures, are the last surviving human species other than Homo sapiens.
The discovery that destroyed the concept
The discovery radically overturned the harmonious system of traditional paleoanthropology. Scientists are interested in the question of what place the dwarf hominid occupies in the human family tree. Where did he come from and how did he end up on an island created as a result of volcanic activity?
After discovering new skeletons, experts established that the so-called hobbits lived on the Indonesian island of Flores 950 centuries ago, most likely having entered the territory by drifting at sea.
New discoveries
Interestingly, the small island once again surprised archaeologists with unusual anomalies. As it turned out, hominids coexisted with huge birds, the size of which was twice the height of the hobbits who lived among the fantastic fauna on the Indonesian island of Flores.
500 centuries ago, according to archaeologists, gigantic marabou hunted small people. Birds from the stork family differed from other relatives: their weight exceeded 15 kilograms, and their height reached almost two meters. These conclusions were made after research giant skeleton marabou found on the island.
Scientists' disputes
Now there is debate about why the ancient dwarfs and giant birds became extinct. According to the main version of scientists, they were killed by a volcanic eruption, because all the remains were found under a layer of ash. Perhaps, in an isolated area, ancient relics would exist to this day, as, for example, in neighboring Komodo they live
Be that as it may, but on the Indonesian island of Flores 500 centuries ago, as if on a kind of Noah's Ark, lived relics with ancient ancestry.
Travel to picturesque Flores, emerging from the shadows of more than famous islands, promises everyone a wonderful holiday and a variety of entertainment. Ideal conditions have been created here for a secluded pastime, and the picturesque landscapes make staying in an attractive place, devoid of an influx of tourists, unique.
In the south of the Indonesian archipelago there is a mysterious flower island called Flores, the outline of which is similar to a long-tailed fish. Until recently, it was unknown to tourists. But today they poured into it in hundreds in search of adventure.
The island, discovered by chance in the sixteenth century, owes its beautiful name to the Portuguese colonialists, who were delighted by the lush flowering of vegetation on it.
The nature of the island of Flores even today, five hundred years after its discovery, delights with its virginity. It is the main attraction of the volcanic formation.
Exotic plants cover its surface. Places untouched by civilization allow you to touch the world of fairy tales. Most of the flowers and animals inhabiting the island of Flores remember the times when dinosaurs still lived on Earth.
The fauna and flora turn it into a paradise, lost on earth, where numerous tourists rush to visit.
The colorful Indonesian island is the only place in the country where Catholicism is preached. The founding of the Christian mission occurred during the transfer of the island of Flores to Holland. Local residents Catholics converted to their faith, and the new owners were not interested in the sacrament of baptism: this was the main condition when the colony was transferred.
The local aborigines are unusually hospitable, which is immediately felt by travelers who come here. They have preserved the traditional way of life. There are approximately 1.8 million inhabitants here.
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Floras island on Google map
They live at a considerable distance, which provides a striking contrast that exists between nationalities. The natives first saw buses and cars only 20 years ago, when the main highway was built.
On the island of Flores there are many aborigines who live in ancient villages and look as if they just stepped out of archival photos. Therefore, when mentioning an untouched civilization, they mean both nature and animals, as well as the way of life of the islanders.
On the island of Flores there are three unusual crater lakes, the water in which changes color over time. The reason for the unprecedented phenomenon is still unknown to scientists. A long time ago, three depressions were formed as a result of volcanic eruptions, which later turned into magical lakes.
The natives believe that they are inhabited by the souls of the dead, and the changing color is associated with their anger. The souls of ancestors who lived a righteous life live in the lake, which is located at a considerable distance from the rest.
In the other two, known throughout the world, filled with wonderful water and located next to each other, the souls of the young dead and those who brought a lot of evil rest. The water in them turns from green to black and burgundy, and then to blood red.
One group of scientists suggests that the unique natural phenomenon is caused by the abundance of soluble minerals in the lakes and the chemical reactions that occur in the water.
Another connects this with the presence of volcanic gases in them.
The skeleton of Flores, which recently became known to the world, was created by nature and is a real miracle. Tourists love to watch the sunrise by climbing to the highest point of Kelimutu, from where they can see the magical play of the Sun’s rays on the water surface of the lakes.
Cave Batu Cermin
Another attraction is the mirror cave - an underground kingdom located on a rocky massif. A unique spectacle is presented by the fossilized remains of unprecedented fish and huge turtles, along with fantastic-looking stalagmites, on which at certain moments the sun's rays are reflected by millions of mirrors, which enter here through a gap in the vault.
Guests come here from all over the world to see this marvelous picture with their own eyes.
Labuan Bajo village
A small village is located in the west of an amazing island. Tourists who are partial to diving adore this picturesque place, alluring with clear water and magical beaches.
When you get bored of a relaxing holiday, you can visit a farm where pearls are grown, or go for a walk through the mysterious caves, of which there are many in the country. Those who are tired of the bustle of the city flock here to be alone with nature.
Pagan rituals of the city of Bajava
The island of Flores attracts with traditional rituals, which, despite the active work of missionaries, continue to be strictly observed here. The center of religion is Ngadha - a city with an interesting mix of ancestor worship and Catholicism. There are still preserved places where the spirit is worshiped - megaliths, and the area amazes with mysticism.
Scientific sensation
The popularity of the wonderful island of Flores began with the fact that experts published the results of their excavations. Truly, the discovery of human bones discovered in the Liang Bua cave is considered a scientific sensation.
At first they were mistaken for the skeleton of a child, since they belonged to a short (up to a meter) man of miniature build. However, in reality they are the remains of hominoids. Ancient Floresians (Homo floresiensis) had a surprisingly small brain (approximately 400 grams), which raised questions about their intellectual capabilities. Homo sapiens aside, the last surviving human species are the “hobbits” to whom the bones belonged.
Scientists are interested in where the dwarf hominid appeared on the wonderful island, which is the fruit of volcanic activity, and what place it belongs in the human family tree.
The skeletons found suggested that, drifting at sea, 950 years ago the hobbits ended up on an Indonesian island.
Surprised archaeologists small island and other anomalies. It was possible to find out that hominids coexisted with huge birds that were twice their size. Flying giants hunted short hobbits 500 years ago.
These birds from the stork family differed from their relatives:
- weight (up to 15 kilograms);
- height (up to two meters).
Scientists came to this conclusion after examining the skeleton of a giant bird discovered on the island.
The mystery of the disappearance of dwarfs and giant birds
There are several versions to understand this: they died as a result of volcanic activity, since the remains were covered with ash (the main one). If not for this, they could still exist today, as in neighboring island Komodo, where you can find huge specimens.
There are others, but one thing is indisputable - relics with an ancient pedigree lived here five hundred centuries ago, as if in Noah’s Ark.
What is attractive about a holiday on Flores?
The island of Flores, recently opened to the public, will provide a wonderful pastime for those who love leisure, and who wants to retire. Its picturesque landscapes, where there is not a large influx of travelers, make your holiday unforgettable.
