Indonesia is a country comprised of a sprawling
group of islands and archipelagos straddling the equator. It consists
of more than 13, 677 islands, including the 5 main islands of
Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Irian Jaya, two main
archipelagos and 60 smaller ones. Many of these islands are mountainous
and there are around 100 active volcanoes in the country. However,
the volcanic soil, combined with its tropical climate, has made
most of Indonesia extremely fertile. There is little variation
in the climate during the year; it is tropical, hot, and humid
with warm waters. Western Indonesia has a dry season from June
to September and a rainy season from December to March.
Indonesia is the fourth most populous country
in the world, with over 201 million people. The island of Java
is one of the most densely populated areas in the world, with
over 107 million people living in an area the size of New York
State. On the other hand, the large and resource-rich island of
Kalimantan is sparsely populated. Indonesia includes many distinct
ethnic groups; a fact recognized in the Indonesian coat of arms
which bears the inscription, "Unity in Diversity." There
are over 300 socio-linguistic groups in Indonesia, each with a
distinct culture and heritage. Since Independence in 1949, Bahasa
Indonesia (a form of Malay) has been designated as the national
language; it is now the language of education, government, and
business. Many local languages, however, remain important in their
areas and the majority of Indonesians first develop a regional
identity, only learning the national language when they begin
school. English is the most widely spoken foreign language.
In addition to the variety of languages, Indonesia's
ethnic groups have diverse myths, legends, stories, and cultural
mores; this diversity is a tremendous challenge to the modern
State. Nation building in Indonesia is a complex task, involving
the formation of national unity and a national cultural identity
out of the many regional identities that most Indonesians learn
from birth. One means of attaining this identity is through education,
which is free and compulsory for children through grade 9. In
spite of this, many children attend primary school only part time,
and only half attend middle school.
While Indonesia is, in terms of population, the
largest Islamic nation in the world, it is a secular nation with
guarantees of religious freedom to the five religions recognized
by the state: Islam (87% of the population); Protestantism (6%),
Catholicism (3%),Buddhism (2%) and Hinduism (1%). In some remote
areas, animism is still practiced.
Indonesia is a rich agricultural country and has
long been known to the West as the "spice islands" for
the wide range of spices which have been an item of export for
centuries. It was the wealth to be made from these spices that
resulted in Indonesia being fought over and colonized by the Portuguese,
the Dutch, and the English. Rice is the staple food and, since
the agricultural revolution of the 1980's, Indonesia has become
a net exporter of rice.
For a good map please click on the following link.
http://www.mapquest.com/atlas/
(once you are on the site, scroll down to Indonesia and there
is an excellent, clear map which can be printed).
