BANYAK ISLANDS

Bahasa Indonesia Kepulauan Banyak, or Banjak group of more than 60 small islands, in Aceh daerah istimewa (special district), Indonesia. The largest of the islands are Great Banyak, or Pulau (island) Tuangku, and Pulau Bangkaru. With an area of 123 sq mi (319 sq km), the group lies north of Pulau Nias and 18 mi (29 km) west of Sumatra in the Indian Ocean. The population is a mixture of settlers from northern and central Sumatra and from Nias; most are Muslims. Agriculturerice and root cropsis largely for subsistence, but copra is exported. Pop. (latest est.) 1,015.