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Indonesia
Archipelago |
The
string of Emerald
The Republic of Indonesia comprises the vast group of island and
islets strung out along the equator, spanning the Asian and
Australian continents. Extending between latitudes 6” north and
11” south, and longitudes 95’ west and 141” east, it stand like
a sentry guardian the sea avenues that link the pacific with the
Indian Ocean. Due to its location on top of a zone on the
earth’s crust where two of the world’s great mountain belts- the
circum – Pacific and the Tethyan or Mediterranean – Himalayan
Mountain system – meet, the Indonesia archipelago belong to the
world and even today, active mountain – building still stakes
place. The country has more than 400 volcanoes. Many of which
are active. Among the highest are Kerinci (3,800m asl) on the
island of Sumatra, Rinjani (3,726m asl ) on the island of Lombok,
semeru ( 3,667m asl ) in the island of java and sangir island’s
3,000-meter tall volcano. The highest summit in Indonesia it the
9 non-volcanic) 5,000-meter tall Jayawijaya peak in the province
of Irian Jaya, formerly west new Guinie. Notorious because of
its cataclysmic eruption of 1883 is the island volcano Krakatau,
in the Sunda strait which separates Java from Sumatra.
The Indonesia archipelago is the largest in the world to form a
single state. It consists according to the current official
count of 13,667 island and islets and has a total land surface
island of 5,193,166 square kilometers. The third largest country
in Asia in terms of both population and area after china and
India, in Indonesia’s national territory consists for 84 percent
of sea and only for 16 percent of land. The five biggest island
area Kalimantan (539,460 sq km) Sumatra (473,606 sq km), Irian
Jaya (421,952 sq km), Sulawesi (189,035 sq km) and java
(including Madura, 132,035 sq km).
The country is divided into several provinces, which together
hold of regencies and district. each province, regencies and
district is administered respectively by a Governor, a resident
and a district head. Jakarta is the capital city of Indonesia.
it is a Special District and is administered by a Governor. the
city has present population of more than 7.5 million.
Climate
Because the greater part of the country falls within the
boundaries of Equatorial tropical rain belt, Indonesia has a
characteristically tropical climate. its geographical make up as
an archipelago of mostly small island surrounded by the sea,
however, allows and active air circulation, as a result of which
the climate is more closely similar to that prevailing in the
equatorial zone above the world's oceans.
abundant rainfall, high temperature and a high degree of
humidity are characteristic to the average Indonesia Lowland
climate. the lowest average temperature is 18" Celsius and winds
are usually gentle. This kind of climate generally benefit the
people, as it make year around agriculture, cattle breeding and
fishery possible.
Moreover, the proximity of the Asian and Australian continents
brings the Indonesian archipelago, well within the Asian monsoon
belt. Winds reverse their direction and weather characteristics
keep alternating in accordance with the season. The tropical
character of the climate is tempered by the trade and monsoon
winds coming from the Indian and pacific oceans.
Summer, winter, autumn and spring area unknown in Indonesia.
Only two seasons prevail- a dry and a wet, or rainy season.
Lasts from around December up to March, and the dry season from
may to October, with transitions periods characterized by
shifting winds and capricious weather occurring in the months
march to may and September to November. Local differences in
climatic conditions are often quite pronounced, however, and the
general pattern is further complicated by the presence of tall
mountain chains, which cause the rainfall to be highly dependent
on the prevailing wind directions.
The greatest average annual rainfall (8,305 mm) is measured in
the Kranggan area on the slope of the volcano Slamet in central
java. The highest figure in recent years, measuring 10,112mm,
however was recorded in the village of Sirah in the Kencong
district of Kediri, east java.
In Jakarta the average daily rainfall figure is 12.5mm; in
Pontianak, Kalimantan, 17.5mm; in Ambon, Maluku, 15.7mm, and in
Karanggan 36.2mm. On the average, Indonesia’s annual rainfall is
2,000-3,000mm. There are a few areas in the archipelago where
the figure is less than 1,000mm.
The lowest rainfall – 600mm – occurs in the Palu Valley in
northern Sulawesi, which is flanked by mountain chains that
effectively drains the winds of all moisture before they reach
the valley. Other areas which low annual rainfall include
Waingapu on Sumba Island in the East Nusa Tenggara (764mm), Asem
Bagus in the Besuki regency of east Java (882mm).
The average years- around daily temperature in Indonesia is
between 25” and 27” Celsius. Fluctuations are minimal. Due to
those minimal variations in temperature, however, the
disparities between the Indonesia lowland and highland climates
become all the more emphasized, which temperature drops 5.5” to
6” Celsius with every 1,000-meter increases in altitude.
In coastal areas, the normal daily temperature range ins from
23” to 33” Celsius, with cooling sea breezes, however, often
blowing during the night. On the lowland plains further inland,
daily temperature fluctuations from 20” to 30” Celsius are
common, while in town higher up in the interior the normal range
is usually from 16” to 26”. High in the mountains, at altitudes
of 2,000- meters or high, the night temperature often reaching
freezing point. Average daily temperature recorded for some of
Indonesia’s major towns and cities are; Ambon 25”, Pontianak
26.2”, Manokwari 26”, Padang 26.2”, Jakarta 26.2” , and Kupang
26.2” Celsius.
Flora and Fauna
Ever since the British naturalist Sir Alfred Russell Wallace, in
1860, published his classic treatise The Malay Archipelago,
Indonesia’s flora and fauna have been known as the be among the
richest on earth. The archipelago’s high rainfall, its uniformly
hot and humid tropical climate, and its unique geographical
character makes it exceptionally suited to the proliferation of
all kind of life forms, many of which are unknown elsewhere in
the world. Most of Indonesia’s 13,667 islands are overgrown with
lust vegetarian, which provides shelter for a world that seems
with life. So rich, in fact is the country’s flora and fauna
that many scientist regards the Indonesia wilds to be veritable
living archive and laboratory.
Peculiar are the differences that exist between the plants and
animal worlds of western and eastern part of the archipelago - a
phenomenon which presumably has its origin in the geological and
geographical conditions prevailing in the historic times.
Generally speaking, the plants and animal species that are found
in the western part of Indonesia are representative of the
mainland Asia flora and fauna, which while those that typical of
the eastern regions mostly, belong to the Australian, or
Australasian, sphere. The central part of Indonesia archipelago
constitutes a transition zone bridging the two worlds. The
differences, however, affect the fauna much more than they do
the flora.
The People
From a mere 60 million before the country’s independent in 1945,
the population of Indonesia has grown to about 175 million by
1990 estimate, which make the country the fifth most population
in the world next to China, India, Soviet Union and the United
States. One of Indonesia’s biggest current problems, however,
stems not so much from the size of its population as from the
unequal distribution of its population, with about 62 percent of
the people living on the island of Java. Whose land area
constituted only 7 percent of the country’s total - a
predicament which the country is attempting to surmount by
conducting vigorous family planning and resettlement programs,
especially in overpopulates areas.
Although Indonesians are strongly aware of their unity as a
nation, the country’s ethnic diversity is really stupefying. For
the sake of convenience, however, four main ethnic of racial
groups can be distinguished: the Melanesian, the proto-Austronesian,
the Polynesian, and the Micronesian. There are again subdivided
into hundred of ethnic population groups and sub-groups, each of
which has its own culture and social heritage. Not less than 250
languages and dialect are spoken.
Member of the Melanesian race constitute by far the biggest
majority of the population and include Such major groups as the
Minangkabau, the Bataks, the Malay and the people of Aceh,
Palembang and Lampung all on the Island of Sumatra; the
sundaness and Javaness of Java; the Balinese; the Dayak people
of Kalimantan and the Minahasa, the Bugis and the Toraja of
sulawesi.
Representing the Polynesian and proto-Austronesian element are
the people of Maluku and Irian Jaya, while the Micronesian
component is primarily represented by the people on habiting the
small island in the far eastern regions of Indonesia.
Straddling one of the world’s most ancient and vital trade
routes, Indonesia has since times immemorial been host to
migrants from other parts of Asia, Arabia, and in more recent
times also from Europe, who brought with them their own ways and
customs to enrich the Indonesian cultural legacy. Of those
migrant and settler by far the most numerous are the Chinese who
at present are estimated to number approximately three million,
two-three hundred of whom have adopted the Indonesia
Nationality.
To forge those entire individual elements into one unified
nation, youth leader in the early days of the nationalist
movement proclaimed what is know as the 1982 youths Oath, which
affirms the unity of Indonesia in terms of nationhood, language
and country. That Oath is now regarded to be the milestone that
marks the beginning of the strong independence movement that
emerged in the following decades, and that finally led to the
nation’s proclamation of Independence on August 17, 1945.
In acknowledgement of it’s great ethnic diversity the Republic
of Indonesia carries on its coat of arms the Motto “ Bhinneka
Tunggal Ika “, or Unity in Diversity.
Religion
With roughly 90 percent of the country’s 175 million to the
Islamic faith, Indonesia has numerically the largest Moslem
population in the world. Yet, it is not in the formal sense a
Moslem state. Indonesia has no state religion and the
constitution guarantees freedom of worship for all. Religious
strife is unknown in Indonesia, despite the fact that all the
great religions are represented, albeit often strongly tinged by
local belief and traditions.
Apart from the major religions recognized by the state Islam,
Protestantism, Roman Catholicism, Hinduism and Buddhism there
are number of mystics –religious sects collectively referred to
as kepercayaan. The state acknowledges their right of existence
as long as they do not upset the public order or offend the
sensitivities of the followers of the major religions
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"...The expedition is exhausting, no doubt, but the sheer size
and beauty be seen to be believed. This was definitely a life
altering experience ..."
Gerrard Neve, Rinjani 2004 |
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weather condition etc, Please do not hesitate to contact us at :
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Service
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83355, lombok indonesia
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