LOMBOK
Lombok is an island in West Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia. It is part of the chain of the Lesser Sunda Islands, with the Lombok Strait separating it from Bali to the west and the Alas Strait between it and Sumbawa to the east. The island is roughly circular, with a total of about 4,725 km² (1,825 sq mi). The administrative capital and largest city on the island is Mataram. The name Lombok in the Indonesian language and the language of the local Sasak people has different meanings. In the Sasak Language Lombok means 'straight' and in the Indonesia language it means is 'chili'.

The island's topography is dominated by the centrally-located strato volcano, Mount Rinjani, which rises to 3,726 m (12,224 ft), making it the third-largest mountain in Indonesia. The most recent eruption of Mt Rinjani was in June-July 1994. The volcano, and its sacred crater lake, are protected by a National Park which was established in 1997. The southern area of Lombok is a fertile plain where corn, rice, coffee, tobacco, and cotton are grown.

The island's inhabitants are 85% Sasak (a people, closely related to the Balinese, but mostly practicing Islam), 10% Balinese, with the small remainder being Chinese, Arab, Javanese, and Sumbawanese.

Lombok has much in common with nearby Bali, but less well-known and less often visited by foreign tourists. It has been working hard to increase its visibility to tourists in recent years, promoting itself as an "unspoiled Bali". The most highly developed center of tourism is Senggigi, spread over a 10-kilometer strip along the coastal road north of Mataram, while backpackers congregate in the Gili Islands off the west coast. Other popular tourist destinations include Kuta (distinctly different from Kuta, Bali) where surfing is considered some of the best in the world by many leading surf magazines. The Kuta area is also famous for its beautiful, untouched beaches.

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