A country lying along the equator between the Indian and Pacific oceans, Indonesia is composed of some 13,670 islands. It is the largest country, both in area and population, in Southeast Asia. It is also the fourth most populous nation in the world. The capital is Jakarta. GeographyThe islands of Indonesia cover an area of more than 752,400 square miles (1,948,700 square kilometers). Despite the vast number of islands, five of them account for more than 90 percent of the land area. These are Sumatra; Java; Celebes (Sulawesi); the southern three quarters of Borneo, known as Kalimantan; and the western portion of New Guinea, known as Papua (formerly Irian Jaya). Most of the country's people live on these islands. More than half of the islands are uninhabited. - Mount Agung, the highest volcano on Bali, Indonesia.
Most of the islands are mountainous. Indonesia has many active volcanoes, including the famous Krakatoa. That volcano erupted in 1883, causing massive damage. The area is also known for earthquakes. In late 2004 one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded struck off the northwestern coast of Sumatra. It caused a giant wave, called a tsunami, in the Indian Ocean that struck 12 countries and killed more than 100,000 people. Indonesia's tropical climate is generally hot and humid. Average temperatures are highest along the coasts. Most of the country receives heavy precipitation throughout the year. Plants and animalsMuch of Indonesia is covered with tropical rain forests. Mangrove tree swamps are common along coastal lowlands. Among the animals found in Indonesia are the rhinoceros, orangutan, tapir, tiger, and elephant. The country's bird life includes the cockatoo, the bowerbird, and the bird of paradise. Some animals and birds live only on certain islands. Peacocks, for example, are found only on the island of Java. People and cultureIndonesia has more than 300 different ethnic groups speaking 250 languages. Most of the people, however, are of Malay ancestry. The largest ethnic group is the Javanese. The Chinese form the most numerous non-Malay community. Most of the population practices Islam. Other religions include Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism. In remote areas some tribal religions are practiced. The national language of the country is called Bahasa Indonesia. The majority of Indonesians live in rural areas, but the cities are growing. More than half of the population lives on the island of Java. On this island are the country's three largest cities—Jakarta, Surabaya, and Bandung. Indonesia is known for its rich cultural traditions. The country is famous for its many dance styles, especially on Java and Bali. Music, dance, and drama are combined in shadow puppet shows known as wayang. Decorative arts include batik, a traditional technique for dyeing fabric. Economy - Rice paddies on the island of Bali, Indonesia.
Agriculture employs more than 40 percent of the work force in Indonesia. The staple crop is rice. Indonesia is a major supplier of natural rubber. Other cash crops include coffee, sugarcane, tea, tobacco, copra, spices, and oil palm. Goats, cattle, and sheep are raised. The waters surrounding Indonesia allow for a fishing industry. Indonesia produces large quantities of petroleum and natural gas, which are the leading exports. The country is also rich in copper, nickel, bauxite (from which aluminum is made), and gold. The forests are another important natural resource, and wood products are major export items. Manufacturing expanded greatly in Indonesia in the late 20th century and has become a major part of the economy. Chief manufactured products include chemicals, cement, tires, and textiles and clothing. HistoryThe ancestors of the Malay peoples of modern-day Indonesia migrated to the islands from mainland Asia thousands of years ago. The recorded history of Indonesia, however, begins in the 1st or 2nd century AD. Around this time the islands became a destination for traders, and Hindu and Buddhist cultural influences from India began to take hold. From the 7th to the 16th centuries various Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms existed in Indonesia. The most notable were the Srivijaya and Majapahit kingdoms. In the 13th century Muslim traders from India brought Islam to Sumatra. The religion then spread to the other islands, except for Bali, which kept its Hindu religion and culture. From colonial rule to independenceThe Portuguese arrived in Indonesia in the early 16th century, followed by the Dutch and the British. By the end of the 17th century the Dutch controlled almost all of the islands. Except for a brief period of British rule from 1811 to 1816, the Dutch ruled Indonesia into the 20th century. In the 1920s a man named Sukarno emerged as leader of Indonesian opposition to Dutch rule. The Dutch lost control of Indonesia in 1942, when the Japanese invaded during World War II. After the Japanese surrendered in 1945, Sukarno declared Indonesia independent. The Dutch tried to regain control, but in 1949 they granted Indonesia independence. Sukarno became the nation's first president. Suharto's rule and beyondIn 1965 Sukarno was overthrown and General Suharto of the Indonesian army came to power. The Suharto government forcibly added the Portuguese territory of East Timor to Indonesia in 1975–76. After years of protest, the people of East Timor voted for independence from Indonesia in 1999. (See also East Timor.) Suharto brought economic gains to Indonesia during his rule. But he was widely criticized for corruption and for suppressing criticism of his government. Widespread protests, riots, and a loss of support—even among the country's military—forced Suharto to resign in 1998. In 1999 Abdurrahman Wahid was elected president in Indonesia's first free elections since 1955. Soon, however, the country's lawmakers accused the president of corruption. In 2001 they voted to remove Wahid from office. Megawati Sukarnoputri, the vice president and daughter of Sukarno, became the new president. She faced a struggling economy and movements for independence in the regions of Aceh and Papua. While she was president, terrorism became a major issue in the country as well when more than 200 people were killed in three serious attacks. In 2004 she ran for reelection but lost to Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The new president had to deal with the continuing struggle for independence in Aceh and Papua as well as terrorism. Population (2004 estimate), 222,611,000. |