The Komodo Islands are home to the world`s largest living lizard, locally named as `ora`, Komodo Dragon or Komodo Monitor (Varanus komodoensis) that is found no where else but on the Islands.
Komodo is part of the Lesser Sunda chain of islands and forms part of the Komodo National Park. The park includes three major islands, Komodo, Rinca and Padar, and 26 smaller islands together totaling 603 km² of land. The total size of Komodo National Park is presently 1,817 km². Proposed extensions of 25 km² of land (Banta Island) and 479 km² of marine waters would bring the total surface area up to 2,321 km².
The topography of the Komodo National Park`s islands are generally undulating to mountainous with steep slopes, where the hills are rounded and rocky, often barren and dry resulting in a very hot surroundings with the mean daily temperature of up to 40oC during the dry season.
As well as being home to the Komodo dragon, the Park provides refuge for many other notable terrestrial species such as the orange-footed scrub fowl, an endemic rat, and the Timor deer. Moreover, the Park includes one of the richest marine environments including coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, seamounts, and semi-enclosed bays. These habitats harbor more than 1,000 species of fish, some 260 species of reef-building coral, and 70 species of sponges. Dugong, sharks, manta rays, at least 14 species of whales, dolphins, and sea turtles also make Komodo National Park their home.Beside popular with Komodo Dragon Safari, the islands also a popular destination for diving. Scuba diving is popular because of the park's high marine biodiversity.