Indonesia

Description of Indonesia

Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world, consisting of five large islands and 30 groups of small islands. The archipelago includes 13,677 islands, 6000 of which are inhabited. Extending for 5120 km (3200 miles) from the Asian continent to the Australian one, the archipelago separates the Pacific and Indian Ocean along the equator. The largest islands are Sumatra, Kalimantan, the most populated island of Java, Sulawesi and Irian. Indonesia shares the island of Kalimantan with Malaysia (two-thirds belong to Indonesia), and the island of Irian Jaya with Papua New Guinea. Every single island has its own character; each differs from others by its beauty, culture and historical development.

Geographically, the island of Bali is located in the center of the Indonesian (Malay) Archipelago - a vast chain of islands stretching from the Indian to the Pacific Ocean. The archipelago lies on the ancient trade routes linking Europe, the Middle East, India and China. Bali is a province within the Republic of Indonesia, the main city of which is Denpasar. The air gateway of the island of Bali is the international airport Ngurah Rai located near Denpasar. Bali occupies an area of 5633 square kilometers. Bali is noisy, colorful, lively and charming island - one of the most famous tourist destinations in the world.

Bali is a sample of predominantly agrarian society, despite the urbanization of Southern Bali in the 80's and 90's of the XX century. Bali and Lombok were major producers of rice in Indonesia until the middle of XX century, when the earth began to dwindle. Since then, the government has encouraged the increase of crop rotation, especially with respect to such consumer cultures, like coffee, vanilla, cloves, tobacco and citrus. Now tourism is increasingly being developed here. There are almost no alternatives. Marine and coastal resources have never been energetically developed, possibly due to a healthier climate of rice-growing regions; until the development of tourism industry, the products of coastal areas were only coconuts and salt. Fishing remains the poor’s occupation. The real industrialization slightly affected the island. In Southern Bali, craft has been developed, and in Kuta - the production of clothes. Although the trade is based on the work of the locals, workmen from other poorer islands, ready to work for scanty earnings, are also engaged. On the other hand, home-based production has allowed the economy of Bali to become less dependent on agriculture, and thus to avoid the mass outflow of agricultural workers.

Some facts about Indonesia

Gallery of Indonesia

Indonesia video guide

More information about Indonesia

Top cities of Indonesia