Geographical position

The Republic of Indonesia is the largest state in South-East Asia and the largest island nation in the world.

total area state is 1904.5 thousand square kilometers. In the world it occupies the 16th place in terms of area.

The country has more than 14 thousand islands. Among them, the following island groups can be distinguished: the Greater Sunda (Kalimantan, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Java, Madura, etc.) and the Lesser Sunda, Moluccas and the western part of the island New Guinea(Irian Jaya). Only half of them are inhabited.

Indonesia has land borders with Malaysia, East Timor and Papua New Guinea. Maritime borders pass with Australia, Singapore, the Philippines, etc.

In the north and east, the country is washed by the waters of the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, in the south and west by the waters of the Indian Ocean.

The capital of the country is the city of Jakarta.

The relief of the country is very diverse. There are both small hills and real mountains. The most mountainous regions of the country are Java, New Guinea and Bali. Most of the territory of Indonesia is covered with mountains. Only along the coastline of the islands is a narrow strip of lowlands.

by the most high volcano Kerinci is considered to be located in Sumatra. Its height is 3800 meters. The most famous volcano is considered to be Krakatau with a height of 813 meters. It forms a small island between Java and Sumatra.

Indonesia has an equatorial and subequatorial maritime climate. In the lowlands of the country all year round the air temperature is 26-27 C, in the mountainous regions it is a little cooler.

Almost all year round in Indonesia, the weather is sunny. Most of the precipitation falls on the mountainous regions. It rains mostly early in the morning or at night. The total amount of precipitation is over 3000 mm. in year.

The greatest amount of precipitation occurs during the period from January to February. The sea water temperature does not fall below 26-28 C all year round.

Visas, entry rules, customs rules

Russians need a visa to enter the country. You can apply for it at the Indonesian Embassy in Moscow. The term for issuing a visa is from 2 to 10 days.

You can also get a visa on arrival. Its cost is 25 USD.

It is forbidden to import into the country weapons, drugs, pornographic materials, printed publications on Chinese, Chinese Medicines. The import of alcoholic beverages and cigarettes is restricted.

It is forbidden to export antiques, rare plants and animals, as well as items of historical and artistic value from the country (special permission is required).

You can import and export foreign currency from Indonesia without restrictions. You can export the national currency in an amount not exceeding 50,000 IDR. Mandatory declaration.

Duty-free export from Indonesia is allowed not a large number of cigarettes, cigars, tobacco and spirits.

When entering and leaving the country, professional photo, video and audio equipment must be registered with the authorities.

When departing from the country, a small airport tax must be paid. For flights within the country, an airport tax is also charged, paid in rupees.

Population, political condition

The total population of the country is about 240 million people. Indonesia ranks 4th in the world for this indicator. The population of the country consists of 365 ethnic groups. The largest of them can be called Javanese (46%), Sunds (13%), Madurese (6%) and Malays (5.5%).

People from other countries also live in Indonesia. Asian countries- Chinese (more than 4 million people), Arabs, Indians, etc.

IN politically Indonesia is a unitary republic. The head of state and government is the president, who is elected for a five-year term.

The legislative body is the Parliament (Council of People's Representatives). supreme body state power - People's Consultative Congress, which meets once every five years.

Administratively, the entire territory of the country is divided into 30 provinces, which are governed by governors. There are also 2 special administrative divisions with the status of a province and 1 metropolitan area.

Official language- Indonesian ("Bahasa-Indonesia"), which is a variant of Malay. In addition, more than 250 languages ​​and dialects are used in Indonesia - "bahasa-daerah".

For part of the population, the main language is Chinese. IN tourist places English is widely spoken.

What to see

Island Java is one of the most famous islands archipelago. The local landscapes amaze with their picturesqueness. The island has a large number of volcanoes. The local flora and fauna are very diverse. In Java, you can also see many temples, palaces, shrines and mosques. Crafts flourish here.

Jakarta was called Batavia until 1949. It is the capital and most Big City states. It lies on the northwest coast of Java.
Here you can see many buildings of the XVII-XVIII centuries, canals and "national" quarters. Each of them has its own unique color.
One of the centers of the city can be called Taman Fatahila Square, located in the Kota district.
Not far from here is Historical Museum Jakarta, which works in the building of the former city hall, built in 1627. The old cannon "Sea Yago" is interesting, it is worth visiting the Museum of Puppets and Ritual Accessories Wayang.
The Bahari Museum has observation tower. In the Chinese region of Glodak, the oldest temple of the capital, Jine Yuan, is located. It was built in the 17th century.
Another center of the city is Medan-Merdeka Square (Freedom Square). On it you can see the National Monument (Monas), whose height is 132 meters.
IN National Museum Indonesia can see unique historical and ethnological collections. The museum will tell about the life and traditions of the peoples inhabiting the archipelago.

Of great interest to tourists are such buildings as: the Church of Willelme, presidential palace, City Council Building, Palace of Arts, Indonesian Maritime Museum, Penang Gate.

The Istiklal Mosque is one of the largest in Southeast Asia. The Palace of the Governor-General was built in 1760. Currently, it is the National Archives.

The Glodok Bazaar and the famous Ragunan Zoo, located in the south of the city, are very popular. The largest and most famous recreation park in the capital is Jaya Ankol.

Outside the historical and business centers of the city, there are poor areas that tourists should not visit. The whole city is quite heavily polluted and overpopulated.

Kebun Rai Botanical Garden is world famous. Its area is 80 hectares.

In the west of the island lies mountain resort Bandung. It attracts numerous tourists with a large number of museums and the Dago waterfall. Volcano Tangkuban Praya (Tangkuban Perahu) and Lake Situpatenngang have very picturesque surroundings.

The most prestigious beaches in this area can be called: Anyer and Karang-Bolong. Chiater has hot volcanic springs.

Worth to visit national park Pendant. The hot springs of Maribaya are surrounded by majestic volcanic landscapes. These places are considered the most suitable for trekking.

exquisite temple complex Lara-Jongrang ("slender maiden") was created at the beginning of the 10th century. and located in the nearby Prambanan.

Surabayais capital of East Java. Here, the temples of the Malang area and the Bromo volcano attract attention.

42 km. northwest of Yogyakarta is Stupa Borobudur. This name can be translated as"monastery on the mountain" or "temple of a thousand Buddhas". This unique monument medieval Indonesian art dates back to 778-856. Outwardly, it resembles a stepped stone pyramid with 10 tiers. Its height is 34 m.

The walls of this building symbolize the sacred Mount Meru. The stupas are decorated with 1460 reliefs dedicated to the life of Buddha and illustrating the ancient Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.

In the niches you can see 504 Buddha statues. All this is surrounded by a five-kilometer "Road of Processions" in a spiral. It symbolizes the path of cognition of the spiritual principle in man. At the top of the structure there is a sanctuary with a diameter of 15 m. It symbolizes the highest goal and spiritual freedom. This building is the largest monument of Buddhism in the southern hemisphere.

Bali lies between the islands of Java and Lombok. He is the most popular resort countries. Its length from east to west is 150 km, from north to south - 80 km.

The highest point of the island is the active volcano Agung with a height of 3142 m, located on the slope sacred mountain Gunung-Agung. The total area of ​​the island is 5561 sq. km. The population is 2.9 million people.

Denpasar is the capital and administrative center of the island. It lies in its southern part. This is a quiet green town.

Its main attractions are: the Negen-Propinsi ethnographic museum and the Taman-Vedi-Budaiya Art Center. Located near the city international Airport Ngurah Rai is the island's main transport hub.

The temple complex of Pura Besakih (Temple of the Mother) stands on the seaside rock of Tanan Lot ("Temple of the Sea"). The sacred "forest of monkeys" Alas-Kedaton is interesting. IN Mengwi available "royal temple"Taman-Ayun, surrounded by water.

The handicraft and ethnographic center with the museum "Puri-Lukisan", located in Ubud.

Rock temples can be seen in Pejeng, Yeh Pulu and Pura Samuan Tiga.

IN Tampaksiring it is worth visiting the monastery and the sacred spring of Pura Tirta Empul. Other sights on the island include the Pura Panataran Sasi temple, the giant gallery of rock bas-reliefs in Ge Pulu and the 40-meter-high Git-Git waterfall.

In the "Elephant Cave" of Goya Gadzha there is a statue of Ganesha dating back to the 13th century. Lake Batur is located in a crater extinct volcano and surrounded by magnificent botanical garden. Be sure to go to the Bat Cave.

Bali Barat is the only national park on the island. Its area is 20 thousand hectares.

IN Taman Burung worth a visit to the Bird Park, and in Desa-Taro- elephant park "Elephant Safari". IN Kuta There is a water park Taman-Kupu-Kupu- Butterfly Park.

Bali is also famous for its beaches. The most popular resorts Sanur, Kuta, Jimbaran, Benoa, Tuban Legian, Nusa Dua and Kandy Dasa.

coastal waters islands Menjangan, Gili Tepekong, Gili Wiah attract many divers.

The island of Sulawesi (Celebes) is interesting because various ancient tribes have survived here. This island has cave burials, coral reefs in the Manado Bay area, magnificent mountain lakes. Here you can see magnificent folk ceremonies. IN Ujungpandange is the Museum of Folk Art.

Sumatra is the fifth largest island in the world. The local beaches are covered with dark volcanic sand. There are ruins of ancient temple complexes and palaces on the island.

On the shores of the wonderful volcanic lake Toba lies prestigious resort Parapat. Worth seeing are the royal tombs and the palace of the island Samosir. Of interest to tourists are also the Istana Maimun Palace, the Bukit-Barisan Military Museum in Medan.

Lake Toba is the largest volcanic lake in Southeast Asia. A large number of legends and traditions are associated with Bookittings - the capital of the mengkabau people. The "killer volcano" Krakatoa is located in the Sunda Strait.

In the northern part Sumatra you can visit the largest nature reserve in Indonesia - Gunung-Luser. It is home to the rarest species of the Sumatran rhinoceros, as well as tigers and orangutans.

Kalimantan (Borneo) is home to the Dayaks, one of the last "wild" tribes in the world. They still live according to the laws of the Stone Age.

In the village Melak you can see the orchid garden. "River City" Pontianak interesting for its houseboats, canals and wooden mosque Mesdzhi-Abdurraham. Local rivers are great for rafting.

On the island Lombok a lot of resort complexes. The beaches of the island are especially appreciated Geely. The height of the Rinjani volcano is 3726 m. It has crater lake. Other attractions are the Otakokok and Sendang Jila waterfalls.

Island Flores is one of the rare places on our planet where whale hunting is allowed. It can be found in the archipelago Alora and island Solor. The only freshwater dolphin on the planet lives in the waters of the Mahakam River.

At an altitude of about 1600 m there is a unique "tricolor" lake Keli matu. The waters of this lake have different colors due to various mineral salts. These salts come from volcanic craters at the bottom of the lake.

Island Madura famous for bull racing ("kerapan sapi"). On the island Sumba you can watch the group fights of riders.

Islands Komodo And rinka are famous reserves in which the "Komodoro dragon" (monitor lizard) is found. This monitor lizard is the largest reptile in the world.

On a small volcanic island Moyo right in the jungle is the Amanwana complex, which is "the most secluded hotel in the world."

The best dive sites in the country lie north of Jakarta: Palau Damar, Palau Tikus, Palau Pari, Palau Putri, etc.

In the first century AD, such religious movements as Buddhism and Hinduism appeared on the archipelago. A thousand years after that, Islam penetrated here, which replaced the previous religions.

Indonesia was discovered for Europeans in 1292 by the famous navigator Marco Polo. Europeans were attracted to this archipelago by its convenient geographical location. It was located on the main trade sea routes. Europeans also really liked the spices that were grown in Indonesia.

The development of the islands of the archipelago began only in 1511. For many centuries, the main maritime states of Europe tried to seize the most large islands archipelago.

Modern Indonesia owes much of its centralization to the colonial activities of the Netherlands. This state in the period from 1610 to 1945 was able to take possession of most of the islands of the archipelago, defeating Portugal. Portugal, however, managed to retain its sovereignty over part of the island of Timor.

During World War II, Japanese intervention ended Dutch dominance. On December 27, 1949, Indonesia gained independence and became an independent state.

But until now, territorial and religious conflicts continue within the state.

In 2002, East Timor seceded from Indonesia. It was occupied by Indonesia in 1975.

On September 20, 2004, the country's first popularly elected president. They became retired General Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Previously, the President was elected by the People's Consultative Congress.

On July 8 of this year, regular elections were held, in which Yudonoyo was re-elected for a second term.

International trade

Last year, Indonesia's exports brought in $139 billion. The country exports oil, gas, timber, textiles and rubber.

The main export trading partners are: Japan 20%, America 10% and Singapore 9%.

The country mainly imports machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuel, food ($116 billion in 2008).

The main suppliers are: Singapore 17%, China 12%, Japan 12%.

Indonesia's external debt last year amounted to $141 billion.

The shops

Shops are usually open from 10:00 to 18:00, large shopping centers can be open until 21:00 on weekdays and on Saturdays, and on Sunday - until 14:00.

The best souvenirs from Indonesia can be called a variety of handicrafts. It sells unique figurines made of ebony, sandalwood and mahogany, exotic paintings by local artists, bone and wood carvings, puppets, and pottery.

The traditions of their manufacture are carefully preserved and passed down from generation to generation. They are quite inexpensive by our standards.

But you need to know that there are also a lot of fakes of poor quality on sale, the purchase of which should beware.

Of great interest are also silverware that can be purchased in Bali. Batik (hand-painted on fabric) is also interesting, paintings and a variety of silk products are offered.

Demography

In ethnic terms, the population of the country is very diverse. In Indonesia live: Javanese 45%, Sudanese 14%, Madurese 7.5%, Malays 7.5%, other 7.5%: Balinese, Minangkabau, Ache, Banjars, Dayaks, Makassars, Boogies, Minahasans, Galelas, etc.

The average life expectancy of the country's population is 69 years. The average life expectancy for men is 65.6 years, while for women it is 70.4 years.

The proportion of the population aged 0 to 14 is 30%; 15 - 64 years - 65%; 65 years and older - 5%.

Industry

The basis of the country's economy is the production and processing of oil and gas. Mining is carried out mainly in Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan and in the western part of Irian Jaya. The petrochemical industry is controlled by the state-owned Pertamina. The main industrial centers of Indonesia are: Jakarta, Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Palembang. They have developed oil and gas processing, metallurgy, mechanical engineering, and the chemical industry. 2/3 of the employed are in the food and beverage and textile industries. Light industry, which is of great importance, works only on imported raw materials.

Flora and fauna

The nature of Indonesia is distinguished by a wide variety of flora and fauna. Here you can see nature in its original form. Indonesia accounts for 12% of the mammal species recorded on our planet, 17% of all bird species, 16% of all reptiles and amphibians, more than 33% of insects, and more than 4 thousand plant species.

The slopes of the mountains in the upper tier are covered with mixed and coniferous forests. Somewhat lower, tropical rainforests predominate. They grow trees up to 50 m high.

Palm and ficus forests dominate the plains. Fern is found in the undergrowth. In areas with high rainfall, a rare casuarina (“red”) tree and bamboo grow.

On the southern islands, vegetation characteristic of Australia is found - eucalyptus, etc. On the coasts in the wetlands of the country, mangroves are predominant.

In Indonesia, you can also see the largest flower in the world, which is called rafflesia. In diameter, it can reach 1 meter and has a bright orange color.

On the western islands of the archipelago, such Asian animals are found as: rhinoceros, elephant, tiger and orangutan. On east island In New Guinea, marsupial species of animals are found: echidnas, couscous and tree kangaroos.

Indonesia has a large number of endemic animals. The Malayan bear lives on the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan. In Java and Kalimantan there is a wild bull, in Sulawesi - a babirus (wild pig).

The tropical forests of the country are home to snakes, crocodiles and lizards. On Komodo Island, you can see a giant lizard called the Komodo monitor lizard.

Birds of paradise, hornbills, cassowaries, and various parrots are represented on the islands.

Banks and money

The country has intercity buses that have a clear schedule within the same island. Some routes can also move between the islands; they use ferries to cross.

Tickets are inexpensive, you can buy them at bus stations or at the office bus companies the day before the trip.

City buses are mostly old and worn out. They are usually very crowded. The fare is paid to the conductor or driver. Foreigners on buses are often shortchanged.

The area is 1919.4 thousand km2.

Population - 206.1 (2001) million people.

The capital is Jakarta (8.8 million people).

Territory and geographic location. Indonesia is the largest country in Southeast Asia and one of the largest island countries in the world. In terms of territory, it ranks 13th in the world.

Indonesia is located on more than 13.5 thousand islands of the Malay Archipelago, which stretches along the equator between Indochina and Australia. The Malay Archipelago consists of the Greater and Lesser Sunda Islands. Indonesia includes the Moluccas, as well as the western part of the island of New Guinea (Irian Jaya) and the islands adjacent to it. 2/3 of the country's territory is occupied by the Greater Sunda Islands (Kalimantan, Sumatra, Sulawesi and Java).

The composition of the territory of Indonesia
Islands
Area, thousand km2
Share of the country's area,%

Greater Sunda Islands:
1331,4
69,37

Kalimantan (except northern part)
539,5

Sumatra
473,6

Sulawesi
189,0

Lesser Sunda Islands:
92,51
4,82

Flores
15,2

Sumbawa
15,5

Sumba
11,2

Bali
5,6

Lombok
5,4

Moluccas:
74,9
4,35

Irian Jaya (western part of New Guinea)
412,8
21,46

As an island country, Indonesia is predominantly maritime bordered. The shores are washed by two oceans and 13 seas. In the northwest, the Strait of Malacca separates it from Malaysia and Singapore, in the northeast from the Philippines, the Sulawesi Sea, and in the southeast, the Timor and Arafura Seas from Australia. Land borders of Indonesia with Malaysia (on the island of Kalimantan) and Papua New Guinea (on the island of New Guinea).

Natural conditions and resources. The relief of Indonesia is highly dissected and is characterized by a combination of mountainous and flat areas. Most of the surface of the islands is mountainous. The mountains have steep slopes and considerable height. The most high peak the country of Jaya (5029 m.) is located in the western part of the island. New Guinea.

Along the coast of the seas and river valleys stretch areas of alluvial plains. They occupy the largest areas in the eastern part of Sumatra, in the south of Kalimantan and in the western part of New Guinea. A significant part of the lowlands is swampy. Wetlands are a serious obstacle to the economic development of the territory.

Indonesia is an area of ​​active volcanic and seismic activity. There are more than 500 volcanoes on the archipelago, of which about 100 are active. Volcanic eruptions, which are often accompanied by earthquakes, cause great damage to the economy.

The mountainous relief affects the level of economic development of the territory and complicates transport links. The fertile mountain valleys and gentle slopes of the mountains are the most developed and favorable for agriculture. In the mountains there are significant reserves of minerals.

Minerals. The component structure of the mineral resources of Indonesia is quite diverse, although its subsoil has not yet been fully explored.

The largest are the reserves of fuel and energy resources, especially oil, whose deposits are estimated at 1.2 billion tons, almost 2/3 of the total reserves of Southeast Asia. Sumatra is especially rich in oil, East Coast kalimantan, north coast Java and offshore deposits in the Java Sea. On the east coast of Sumatra is one of the richest in Asia and the largest oil field in the country, Minas. Natural gas reserves are estimated at 865 billion m3, which is 1/3 of the total reserves of the subregion. Almost all of them are located within the oil-bearing regions.

Coal reserves are small. Its main deposits are located in Sumatra. Low quality coal. Significant reserves of brown coal is in Kalimantan. Other fuel and energy resources include uranium and peat.

Indonesia stands out for its tin reserves, which are estimated at 1 million tons. Almost all the main deposits of tin are located on the islands of Bangui, Belatung and Sinkep, which are often called "tin islands". In terms of tin reserves, the country ranks third in the world and second in the subregion (after Malaysia).

The country has relatively large bauxite deposits. According to their reserves, which are estimated at 150 million tons, Indonesia ranks second in Southeast Asia. They have a high content of alumina, and their development is carried out mainly by an open method. Reserves of other metal ores are small. The main reserves of iron ore are concentrated in Sulawesi. Reserves of manganese, nickel, cobalt and copper were discovered.

Sumatra has reserves of gold and silver, and Kalimantan has diamonds. The country also has sulfur, phosphorites and other minerals.

climate resources. The territory of Indonesia is located in the zone of the equatorial and subequatorial climatic zones. The seasonality of the climate is manifested only within the subequatorial belt and is associated with changes in monsoon winds. Most of the country's territory lies within the equatorial climate zone. Flat areas with an equatorial climate are characterized by high temperatures throughout the year - +24 ° ... 26 ° C. Only in the mountains does the temperature drop to + 15 ° C. Precipitation falls evenly throughout the year in the form of showers. On the flat territories, on average, up to 2000 mm of them fall annually, and in the mountains - up to 4000 mm. The wettest place is in the western part of about. Sumatra, where more than 6000 mm falls annually. precipitation. The least rainfall is in the Palu Valley in the southwest of the island. Sulawesi - up to 500 mm. in year.

Within the subequatorial climate, only the eastern coast of about. Java and the Lesser Sunda Islands. This region is characterized by high temperatures throughout the year and a pronounced alternation of two seasons: wet and dry. On average, up to 1000 mm falls on the plains per year. precipitation, and in the mountains - up to 2000 mm. The dry season lasts from May to October.

In most areas, the climate is favorable for human life, especially at an altitude of 500 to 1000 m. These areas also have the highest population density.

Climatic conditions are favorable for the development of agriculture. The upper limit of agricultural activity in a significant part of the country is at an altitude of over 2000 m above sea level. High temperatures throughout the year allow 2-3 crops to be harvested from one field.

Soil resources. The soil cover of Indonesia is dominated by lateritic soils formed under conditions of high humidity and constantly high temperatures. Red soils are common in areas with seasonal moisture. Significant areas are occupied by meadow and alluvial-meadow soils. These soils are waterlogged and require reclamation works. Heavy rains reduce soil fertility, but river sediment and volcanic activity restore it. A significant part of the soil cover is eroded as a result of intensive deforestation.

Water resources. The year in Indonesia is many, but their length is small. largest river- Kapuas flows on about. Kalimantan.

Most of the year are full of water throughout the year. Seasonal fluctuations in runoff are observed in areas with a monsoon climate. In the wet season, rivers often overflow their banks, in the dry season they become shallow, and some dry up.

The rivers of Indonesia are of multifunctional importance. In off-road conditions, they serve as means of communication, are used for timber rafting, for irrigation and fishing. Hydropower resources, according to various estimates, range from 10 to 15 million kW.

Rivers also bring natural disasters during floods during rains. Stormy floods are especially dangerous - Banjara. To protect the elements, dams are being built along the banks of many rivers.

Numerous lakes are small. More - Lake Toba in Sumatra.

Forest resources. Indonesia has the largest forest area in Southeast Asia. Forests cover 59.7% of the country's territory. The forest cover is high in Kalimantan, Sumatra and Irian Jai and low in Java.

The species composition of forests is very diverse. The most common are moist evergreen forests, which occupy 2/3 of the forested area. Many types of trees have valuable wood and edible fruits. Monsoon deciduous forests grow in the southeast of the country. Teak and eucalyptus forests are especially valued. Mangrove forests grow along the coast. their wood is used mainly for fuel.

Bamboo is harvested for local needs. For export are tree species that have strong and beautiful wood. A significant part of the wood is lost due to difficult transportation conditions.

Intensive deforestation leads to increased soil erosion. The country is developing measures aimed at reforesting some areas.

Population. The ethnic composition of the Indonesian population is very diverse. About 300 ethnic groups and 16 large nationalities live in the country.

Anthropologically, the majority of the population belongs to the southern branch of the Mongoloid race. The largest peoples include Javanese, Sundanese, Madurese, Malays. They make up 2/3 of the total population of the country and speak languages ​​belonging to the Malayo-Polynesian language family. In the extreme east of the country, the Papuan peoples belonging to the Australoid race live. Among the representatives of non-indigenous peoples, the Chinese, Indians, Japanese, Arabs and Europeans predominate.

The official language is Indonesian.

In terms of population, Indonesia is largest countries peace. In mid-2000, 206.1 million people lived on its territory (the fourth largest in the world). Every year the country's population is growing by 3-4 million people. Over the past ten years, the average population growth rate was 1.8% per year, and at the end of the 90s it decreased to 1.4%.

Population growth is mainly due to natural increase. External migrations did not have a significant impact on the formation of modern ethnic composition population and its dynamics. During 1930-1995, the country's population increased by 3.2 times.

In the late 1990s, Indonesia had a birth rate of 24 per 1,000 inhabitants and a death rate of 7 per 1,000 inhabitants. The main reason for the high natural increase was the decrease in mortality, especially among children. Indonesia's infant mortality rate of 64 children per 1,000 births is in line with the global average.

The age structure of the population is dominated by young age groups. Children under 14 make up 31.0% of the total population, while those over 65 make up only 4.0%. Average life expectancy for men is 65 years, for women - 70 years.

young age structure of the population led to a decrease in the share of the economically active population - about 40%. In the sectoral structure, there is a high share of people employed in agriculture - 45% and a low share of people employed in industry - 11%. Unemployment rate - 5.5% (1998). This figure is especially high in Java, where 2/3 of the economically active population is concentrated.

The average population density is 110 people per km2 (2000). According to this indicator, the country ranks 69th in the world. The highest population density on about. Java - 813 people per km2, and the least populated island. Irian Jaya - 4 people per km2. The country has developed a program for the migration of residents from about. Java to other islands.

The majority of Indonesia's population lives in rural areas. The country is characterized by the so-called false urbanization, in which the growth of the urban population is caused mainly by agrarian overpopulation, and not by the development of industry. In the mid-1990s, 32% of the population lived in cities. The level of urbanization in Java is especially high, which is explained by the presence here major cities. Of the country's six millionaire cities, four are on this island. The largest city in Indonesia is Jakarta, which is home to 8.8 million people (1996). The cities of Surabaya and Bandung each have more than 2 million inhabitants. About 10% of the total population of the country lives in cities with a million population. Large cities are located mainly on the coast of the islands.

More than 80% of the population is Muslim, mostly Sunni. The second largest and most numerous religion is Christianity. Protestants predominate among Christians. Other religions include Hinduism and Buddhism. Some small nations adhere to traditional beliefs.

Features of development and general characteristics economy. The first states on the territory of modern Indonesia arose at the beginning of our era.

Before the arrival of Europeans, Java and some other islands had reached a fairly high level of economic development for that time. They carried on a brisk trade with China, India and the countries of the Middle East. The main subject of their trade was spices, which were grown in the Moluccas.

From the end of the XVI century. Indonesia was colonized first by the Portuguese and then by the Dutch. For more than 350 years, until World War II, Indonesia was a Dutch colony.

During this period, the pace of economic development was very slow. In addition to traditional crops that have long been cultivated in the country (spices, rice), new crops were introduced that were in demand on the world market. For example, at the beginning of the XVIII century. The Dutch brought the coffee tree to the country. For a long time, coffee, sugar cane, and since the beginning of the 20th century. - Hevea, were among the most profitable crops.

The agrarian reform of 1870 freed the peasants from the forced cultivation of cash crops and assigned to them the plots they cultivated at that time. The rest of the land was transferred to the Europeans for the organization of the plantation economy. Indonesian agriculture developed into two main sectors: the large-scale plantation economy of foreign monopolies and the small-scale peasant economy of the Indonesians. Java was the main plantation area. From the beginning of the XX century. plantation areas expanded in Sumatra and Kalimantan.

At the end of the XIX century. the mining industry began to develop, especially the extraction of tin and oil. They became important exports of the country and a source of great profits for the monopolies. In the pre-war period, Indonesia provided 3.2% of world oil production.

However, the main object of exploitation and the source of foreign capital inflow in Indonesia was agriculture.

During World War II, Indonesia was occupied by Japan. The Japanese expanded the cultivation of rice (for the needs of the army), cotton, ram and other fiber crops.

The Japanese occupation violated the external economic ties countries that have developed historically, paralyzed its economic life. This led to the decline of important branches of agriculture.

In August 1945, the Republic of Indonesia was proclaimed, which in the autumn of 1945 was suppressed as a result of armed aggression by the Netherlands. Only in 1949 did Holland recognize the independence of Indonesia.

In the early 50s of the XX century. the restoration of the economy, destroyed during the years of Japanese occupation and Dutch intervention, began. In 1959, the President of the Republic, Sukarno, proclaimed a concept, the essence of which was to strengthen the role of the state in economic life. The nationalization of Dutch enterprises was carried out in the country. By 1965, the country was developing under the slogan of "Indonesian socialism", which led it to an economic crisis.

In 1965, a coup d'etat took place in Indonesia, a military dictatorship and a "new order" regime were established. Since the late 1960s, the country has proclaimed an "open model" of the economy, which provided for the widespread attraction of foreign capital. The new government began to denationalize the economy. A long-term program for the development of the economy for 30 years (1970-2000) was adopted. Its main task was to restructure the structure of the economy and raise the level of the country's socio-economic development.

In 20 years, Indonesia has overcome the economic crisis. In the structure of GDP, positive quantitative and qualitative transformations took place, which changed the nature of the economy from an agrarian-resource-based to an agrarian-industrial one. In the mid-1990s, the industrial sector of the economy produced 40% of the country's GDP. In terms of GDP, which is estimated at 850 billion dollars (in PPP national currencies, 2000), Indonesia ranks first in Southeast Asia. It accounts for one third of the economic potential of the subregion. However, in terms of socio-economic development - only the sixth place. GDP per inhabitant here is only $4,100, which is almost three times less than the same indicator in the region.

The country's economic development strategy for a long time was based on natural resources and agricultural products. The economic policy ensured high GDP growth rates. For example, if in the 60s they did not exceed 3.5% per year, then in the 70s they already reached 7.8%.

High rates of economic growth were observed in 1980, when they reached 9.8%. Decreased significantly in the 80s, and in the early 90s rose again to 6.5%.

The level of development of industry and the rate of its growth were determined by the development of the mining industry, especially the oil industry. Modern industries developed on the basis of capital imports and the latest technology.

Industry is developing at a faster pace than other sectors of the economy. As a result, the share of industry in the creation of GDP increased to 35% (2000). The priority sectors are those that process local raw materials, ensure the development of agriculture and manufacture products that replace imports.

The sectoral structure of industry is dominated by the extractive industry, which produces 2/3 of the total gross industrial output. Until 1973, the value of gross output was dominated by the manufacturing industry. The increase in oil prices has led to a change in the ratio between the mining and manufacturing industries.

The extractive industry of Indonesia is deeply integrated into the world economy. It provides raw materials for the development of the manufacturing industry and is an important source of foreign exchange earnings.

The fuel industry occupies a leading position in the sectoral structure of the extractive industry.

Area - 1,919,440 sq. km
Population -189136000
Capital - Jakarta (6,504,000)
Another major city is Surabaya (2,028,000)
The highest point is Mount Punkak Jaya (5,030 m)
Official language - Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia)
Major religions - Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism
Monetary unit - Indonesian rupiah
Main exports - oil, liquefied natural gas, timber, rubber, coffee
Form of government - multi-party republic

Indonesia occupies the world's largest archipelago, consisting of over 13,600 mountainous islands with many active volcanoes. Geologists call this seismically dangerous zone the Pacific Belt of Fire. Indonesia has been the site of some of the most violent volcanic eruptions known to history. However, people continue to live near smoking volcanoes, as volcanic ash enriches and fertilizes the soil. The climate here is humid and warm, with abundant seasonal rains. There are many transparent lakes, coastal mangroves and picturesque tropical forests on the islands. Rafflesia is found here - the largest flower in the world (up to 1 meter in diameter), bright orange in color, with an unpleasant odor that attracts insects. The forests are home to rare animals, including rhinos and tigers. The main income of the country comes from agriculture, forestry and fishing. Mackerel, anchovies, tuna, as well as pearls and shells are mined in the seas of Indonesia. For a long time, merchants and pirates came to the islands for spices - pepper, cloves and nutmeg, which are grown here to this day. In addition, the country exports coffee, rubber, tobacco and oil. Indonesia has deposits of copper, nickel and coal. In the 60s, the development of oil fields began here, which brought a significant income to the country.

POPULATION AND HISTORY
Apparently, the first inhabitants of the islands were immigrants from mainland Malaysia. Since the 8th century, these islands, abundant in spicy plants and located at the crossroads of important trade routes, have attracted navigators from different countries peace. Indian merchants brought Hinduism to the islands, and Arab traders brought Islam. In the XVI-XVII centuries, the Portuguese and the British tried to capture the islands, but the Dutch managed to do this in 1798. During the period of Dutch domination, the islands united in the struggle for independence, and in 1945 Indonesia was proclaimed a republic. One of the main political forces of the state was the army, which in 1965 crushed the communist uprising. In 1976, the eastern part of the island of Timor was annexed to Indonesia. The first president of sovereign Indonesia was Ahmed Tsukarno, who instilled in Indonesians a genuine sense of national pride. After a military coup, General Suharto came to power in the country, whose rule was distinguished by political and religious tolerance.
Most of the islanders are engaged in agriculture. The daily life of the Indonesian people combines Buddhist, Hindu and folk customs, although most Indonesians practice Islam. Each island lives according to its own traditions.

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INDONESIA, Republic of Indonesia, the largest state in Southeast Asia and the largest Island state in the world. The territory of Indonesia extends between 6" 11" north latitude and 11" 15" south latitude, between 94"54" and 141" 05" east longitude. According to the latest data, Indonesia includes islands, of which about 1000 have a permanent population. The country's borders are predominantly maritime. In the northwest, Indonesia is separated by the Straits of Malacca and South China Sea from West Malaysia and Singapore, in the northeast by the Sulu and Sulawesi Seas from the Philippines and by the Pacific Ocean from Palau, on southeast Timor and Arafura seas from Australia. On Kalimantan, Indonesia borders on East Malaysia, on about. Timor - with East Timor and on about. New Guinea - with Papua New Guinea. Indonesia. The capital is Jakarta. Population - 238.5 million people (July 2004). Density - 110 people per 1 sq. km. Urban population - 34%, rural - 66%. Area - 1919.4 thousand square meters. km. The most high point- Mount Jaya (5030 m). The official language is Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia). Major Religions: Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Animism, Confucianism. Administrative-territorial division - 27 provinces. Currency: Indonesian rupiah = 100 senam. National holiday: Independence Day - August 17th.

NATURE Indonesia is spread over the islands of the Malay Archipelago (Greater and Lesser Sunda Islands), the Moluccas and the western part of the island. New Guinea, which stretched out along the equator. The extreme western and eastern points of the country are separated by approximately 5150 km, and the extreme northern and southern - 1931 km. The total land area of ​​Indonesia is 1919.4 thousand square meters. km, and the water area - 7.9 million square meters. km. The coastline is rather weakly indented, there are few natural bays; coral reefs and sandbars are common along the coast. The coasts of the inland seas are low-lying, swampy almost everywhere with extensive mangroves or floodplains. rice fields. Shores in the south of Sumatra, Java and the islands Eastern Indonesia addressed to Indian Ocean, on the contrary, are high and in some places with rocky cliffs. Relief. The islands of Indonesia vary greatly in size. The largest of them are New Guinea (829 thousand sq. km, of which the province of Papua accounts for 421.9 thousand sq. km), Kalimantan (734 thousand sq. km, Indonesia owns 539.5 thousand sq. km), Sumatra (473.6 thousand sq. km), Sulawesi (189.2 thousand sq. km) and Java (126.5 thousand sq. km). The remaining islands of Indonesia are significantly inferior in area to those listed, most of them belong to the Lesser Sunda and Moluccas. Indonesia also includes many tiny coral atolls and single rocks.

Area: total: sq. km. water: 4.85 sq. km. At BER A. PAYEN. City

The climate of Indonesia is equatorial and subequatorial. Stretching along the equator and surrounded on all sides by seas, Indonesia is characterized by very slight regional climatic differences and high relative humidity (80%). The average monthly air temperature at sea level approximately corresponds to the average annual temperature of + 26–27 ° С. On the Lesser Sunda Islands, Java and Bali, relatively remote from the equator, the balancing climatic influence of the ocean is quite strongly felt. So, in the seaside city of Kupang on Timor, where the country's southernmost meteorological station is located, the average annual air temperature is +26 ° C, and the monthly averages fluctuate between + 24–27 ° C. Although not so high and more differentiated air temperature indicators are recorded in elevated areas, its monthly values ​​remain stable. At altitudes above 1500 m there are frosts.

Water resources. Features of climate and relief favor the formation of a dense river network. Due to the abundance of precipitation, the rivers are full-flowing almost all year round and play an important role in the irrigation system. In mountainous regions, rivers represent a potential source of electricity. However, floods are not uncommon in the region, and rivers carry a significant amount of silty material that makes navigation difficult and is deposited in the coastal zone. Most big rivers Indonesia on the island of Kalimantan - the Kapuas River, or Kapuas Besar (1040 km, the basin area is 97 thousand sq. km) in West Kalimantan, Mahakam (715 km) in East Kalimantan, Martapura and Barito (650 km) in South Kalimantan. Most of the rivers originate in the central mountain range; on the plains, closer to the coast, they flow through vast swamps; channels change frequently. Along many rivers, which also serve as transport arteries, settlements are formed.

Vegetable world. Due to the hot and humid climate, the diversity of the relief, as well as geographic location Indonesia has a rich and varied flora, including approx. 40 thousand species (only Java has about 10 thousand species). With the exception of Java and Bali, approximately 90% of the country's territory is covered with forests, in which approx. 3 thousand species of trees. To a large extent, this is already a secondary forest (belukar), which is quite common in those parts of the Outer Islands where slash-and-burn agriculture is practiced. In drier areas, under this type of land use, natural vegetation was often completely replaced by a cover of tough lalang grass.

Animal world. The conditional line drawn by the English naturalist of the 19th century. A.R. Wallace along the outer edge of the Sunda continental shelf, east of Kalimantan and Java, corresponds to the approximate boundary of the Asian fauna in the west and the Australian one in the east. Accordingly, such large animals as elephant, rhinoceros (one-horned in Java and two-horned in Sumatra), tiger and orangutan live to the west of the designated border, and smaller monkeys are also found to the east - on the islands of Sulawesi and Timor. Even further east, many Asian species of birds, reptiles and insects (including butterflies) penetrate. As you move east of this line, the number of Australian animal species increases, which is most noticeable in the province of Papua, which is characterized by marsupials.

Protected areas. In total, there are more than 35 national parks(9.7% of the country's area, 1997), created to protect rare animals and preserve wildlife. Many animal species, incl. orangutan, Javanese and Sumatran rhinoceros are on the verge of extinction and can now be found almost exclusively in nature reserves. To List world heritage UNESCO included parks: Ujung Kulon (West Java, 1206 sq. km), Komodo (Komodo, 1817 sq. km), Lorentz (West Papua, sq. km), as well as the parks of the Sumatra Rainforest Heritage project - Kerinci Seblat National Park (Central Sumatra, sq. km), Gunung Löser National Park (North-West Sumatra, approx. sq. km) and Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (South Sumatra, 3,650 sq km). Other natural parks are Siberut (West Sumatra, 4030 sq. km), Tanjung Puting (Central Kalimantan, 3040 sq. km), Kutai (East Kalimantan, approx. sq. km), Meru Betiri (East Java, 580 sq. km), Alas Purvo (Southeast Java, 434 sq. km). Protected area status has also been extended to an extensive network of marine reserves.

POPULATION Population growth occurs due to natural increase, characterized by high birth rates and gradually decreasing mortality. Annual growth rates in 1963-1970 were estimated at 2.8% per year, in 1970-1980 - 2.34%, in 1985 - 2.9%, but thanks to the successful implementation of the family planning program in 1990-1995, they dropped to 1.7%. Now the population growth is 1.5%. The birth rate (2003) per 1000 people is 21.49 people. The death rate is 6.26 per 1,000 people. The average life expectancy is 68.94 years. If the current growth rate is maintained, the expected population in 2025 should reach 287 million people.

Languages. Indonesia has the second largest number of living languages ​​in the world. 728 languages ​​and dialects are spoken here. The languages ​​of the country's indigenous ethnic groups differ significantly, although they all belong to the Malayo-Polynesian (Austronesian) language family, including Javanese, the most widely spoken language in Indonesia. It is native to 75 million inhabitants, especially on about. Java. The only exceptions are the Papuan languages, which are spoken in West Papua and other parts of eastern Indonesia.

ECONOMY Indonesia is a developing industrial-agrarian country with a diversified economy and the world's largest exporter of commodities. The economic development strategy is based on five-year plans. The period from 1969 to 1997 is characterized by high growth rates in industry and the service sector, attracting foreign investment and attempts to diversify the economy. After 30 years of steady economic growth, the Indonesian economy experienced a severe recession in 1998. The crisis hit Indonesia particularly hard and undermined President Suharto's position, creating the country's most tense political situation since the mid-1960s. Although the crisis has highlighted many shady phenomena, most economists and businessmen believe that in the long run Indonesia will have a bright future based on the use of the wealthy. natural resources. Significant shifts are observed in the structure of the Indonesian economy, as evidenced by the distribution of the national product. The share of agricultural production in gross domestic product (GDP) gradually declined from about 45.5% in the early 1970s to 22% in the mid-1980s, and then to 16–17% in 1997. The share of industry increased from about 7% in 1970 to 16% in 1985 and from 25% in 1997 to 43.6% 4 (including manufacturing - from 8.4% in 1970 to 13% in 1980 and up to 25% in 2002). The role of the oil and gas industry has especially declined, in which an average of 30% of GDP was created in x and only 14% in 1990 and 6% in 2004. Over the same years, the service sector has noticeably strengthened, growing from 29.8% in 1970 to 39.9% in 2004.

Healthcare. Indonesia has made some progress in the area of ​​health care. Thanks to the family planning program, it was possible to reduce high level fertility. Life expectancy for men increased from 51.1 years in 1980 to 67 years in 2003, for women from 54.4 years to 71 years. Child mortality (per 1,000 live births) has fallen from 105 cases in 1980 to 37 in 1980. However, child mortality in rural areas is much higher than the average. Despite vaccination, various diseases typical of a tropical climate are found everywhere. The foci of malaria remain in Kalimantan and Sumatra. The unsanitary living conditions of the majority of the population, especially on overcrowded islands, also have a negative impact on the state of health. According to data for 2000, 90% of urban and 69% of rural residents do not have access to safe drinking sources, and about 12 million people suffer from malnutrition.

CULTURE Cultural influences. The Malayo-Polynesian origin of the indigenous population of the country is evidenced by the high social status of women and the symbolic significance attached to boats. As a result of the collective creative efforts of various peoples who came to the archipelago, there was a layering of different cultures. Hinduism and Buddhism, which came to the islands primarily from India and from the 8th century BC, consistently exerted their influence. successfully entrenched in Java and Bali; Islam introduced in the 14th century from the Middle East by merchants and preachers; European traditions that were introduced by the Portuguese in the 16th century. and then by the Dutch until the beginning of the 19th century. Music and dance. An example of the combination of Hindu influence and local tradition is the famous Javanese shadow theater (wayang-kulit), also popular in Bali. During the performance, the puppeteer (dalang) moves figures of puppets made of buffalo skin in front of a white screen, on which the light of an oil lamp is directed. Puppets are clearly visible against the background of the screen, and their shadows are on the screen itself. The performance of wayang-kulit, which lasts all night, is not only a performance, but also a kind of ritual action. Playing out plots from the Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata serves to glorify the gods, appease the spirits and enrich the souls of the audience. They believe that ancient art wayang kulit may have originated in China

Indonesia is a country on the set tropical islands. Each Indonesian island has its own unique culture, architecture, people and traditions. Indonesia has it all - jungles, rainforests, lakes, active volcanoes and, of course, paradise beaches. In Indonesia, you will meet friendly people, and you will also be able to see the sunrise over the most beautiful Buddhist temples.

Geography of Indonesia

Indonesia is located in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago, which includes more than 17.5 thousand islands of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, including Kalimantan, Sumatra, Java, and New Guinea (only 6,000 of them are inhabited). Indonesia shares borders with Malaysia, East Timor and Papua New Guinea. Other nearby countries are Singapore, Philippines, Palau and Australia. The total area of ​​this country is 1,919,440 sq. km.

A significant part of the territory of the islands that make up Indonesia is occupied by mountains. The largest local peak is Mount Punchak Jaya on the island of New Guinea, which reaches a height of 4,884 meters.

The geographical position of Indonesia determines that this country has a very strong seismic and volcanic activity. those. Indonesia often experiences earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. However, special services can already predict all these cataclysms. In general, there are now about 150 active volcanoes in Indonesia, including the "famous" Krakatau and Tambora.

On the island of Kalimantanu there are three largest rivers in Indonesia - Mahakam, Barito and Kapuas.

Capital

The capital of Indonesia is Jakarta, which is now home to more than 9.7 million people. Archaeologists claim that a human settlement on the site of modern Jakarta existed already in the 1st century AD. However, the city itself was officially founded in 1527.

Official language

The official language in Indonesia is Indonesian, which belongs to the Austronesian language family.

Religion

More than 88% of Indonesia's population is Muslim (mostly Sunni Muslim). About 8% of the population of this country identify themselves as Christians.

State structure of Indonesia

Under the current Constitution of 1945, Indonesia is a parliamentary republic. Its head is the President, elected for 5 years.

The parliament in Indonesia is bicameral - the People's Consultative Congress, consisting of the Council of People's Representatives (560 deputies) and the Council of Representatives of the Regions (132 deputies). The country's parliament has the right to impeach the president.

The main political parties in Indonesia are the Democratic Party, the Golkar Party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, the Justice and Welfare Party, and the National Mandate Party.

Climate and weather in Indonesia

The climate in Indonesia is equatorial with elements of subequatorial. In general, Indonesia is very hot and humid. The average annual air temperature is +27.7C. The average annual rainfall is 1,755 mm. The rainy season in this country is from October to April. However, there are also rains in the so-called. "dry season".

Some travelers like to relax in Indonesia during the rainy season (October-April). At this time, it usually rains in Indonesia in the evening for no more than 2 hours. The rest of the time, Indonesia is very hospitable. During this season, as a rule, hotel prices in Indonesia are much lower than during the dry season.

In Sumatra and Java, the rainy season lasts from November to March (rain falls in the afternoon). Best time for a trip to Java or Sumatra - May-September.

In Bali, the rainy season is from October to March. However, in Bali, there is a lot of sun and bright blue skies between the rain shower. Therefore, in Bali you can relax in the rainy season. The best months to visit Bali are from May to August.

Sulawesi Island, an amazing place for beach holiday, has two opposite climatic zones. In the southwest of this island, the monsoon period lasts from October to March, and in the north - from June to July. On the coast of Sulawesi, the air temperature can reach + 34C, and in the middle of the island, on a hill - + 24C.

Average air temperature in Bali:

January - +26C
- February - +26C
- March - +27C
- April - +27C
- May - +28C
- June - +27C
- July - +27С
- August - +27C
- September - +27C
- October - +27C
- November - +27C
- December - +27С

Ocean in Indonesia

The shores of the Indonesian islands are washed by the warm waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Average sea temperature near Bali island:

January - +29C
- February - +29C
- March - +29C
- April - +28C
- May - +28C
- June - +28C
- July - +27С
- August - +27C
- September - +27C
- October - +27C
- November - +27C
- December - +27С

Rivers and lakes

Some of the Indonesian islands have many rivers. The largest rivers flow through the island of Kalimantan (these are the Mahakam, Barito and Kapuas rivers). On the island of Sumatra is the largest volcanic lake in the world - Lake Toba.

History of Indonesia

On the territory of Indonesia, the ancestors of modern people lived already during the Lower Paleolithic (Javanese ape-man and Flores man). Approximately 45 thousand years ago, Homo sapiens appeared on the territory of modern Indonesia. Moreover, Indonesia was inhabited by representatives of the Negroid and Mongoloid races.

The first states in Indonesia already existed in the 4th century AD. - Kutai and Taruma, and later - Srivijaya. To all these states big influence provided by India and Buddhism.

In the 13th century, the Majapahit empire reached its peak. At the same time, Islam began to spread in Indonesia.

Europeans arrived in Indonesia at the beginning of the 16th century. They were Portuguese sailors. Then the Dutch began to claim Indonesia, who formed the Netherlands East India Company in 1602. At that time, several states existed on the territory of modern Indonesia, among which the Sultanate of Mataram should be distinguished. Gradually, these states became colonies of the Netherlands.

Indonesia became a British colony in 1811. However, after the end of the Napoleonic Wars, Great Britain returned Indonesia to the Netherlands.

In the first half of the 20th century, Indonesians formed several political parties (for example, the Communist Party of Indonesia and the National Party).

In the spring of 1942, Indonesia (Netherlands East Indies) was captured by Japanese troops. The Japanese occupation of Indonesia continued until August 1945. It was in August 1945 that the independence of Indonesia was proclaimed. However, the Netherlands did not want to part with their colony, and unleashed hostilities. The fighting ended only in 1950. Sukarno was elected president of the country.

In March 1968, the People's Consultative Congress elected Sukarto, who had previously commanded the ground forces, as president of Indonesia.

Since 2004, the President of Indonesia has been elected by direct universal suffrage.

culture

The modern culture of Indonesia is the result of the interaction of the traditions of different peoples who live in this country. In addition, Portuguese traders and Dutch colonists had a noticeable impact on Indonesian culture.

In everyday life, Indonesians are guided by the principles of mutual assistance ("gotong royong") and exchange of opinion ("musyawarah"), which helps to come to an agreement ("mufakat").

Indonesian art is under a very strong religious influence. The traditions of the famous dance dramas of Java and Bali date back to Hindu mythology (influence of the Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata can be seen in them).

In Indonesia, we recommend that tourists definitely see the local festivals, which are held everywhere and almost every month. The largest of them are the Galungan festival in Bali, performances of the Ramayana ballet in Java, the Feast of Silence in Bali, the Vesak Buddhist festival in Borobudur, and the Easter Parade on Larantuka Island.

Kitchen

The staple food in Indonesia is rice, but potatoes, corn, sago and cassava are common in the eastern part of the country. Naturally, a very large part in Indonesian cuisine is occupied by fish and various seafood (oysters, shrimps, lobsters, crabs, squids). In addition, Indonesian cuisine cannot be imagined without coconut (oil is made from it, and the pulp is added to many dishes).

As for meat, beef and poultry are popular in Indonesia. Pork is only found in Chinese restaurants or in areas where few Muslims live.

Traditional Indonesian dishes are nasi goring (fried rice), mie goring (fried noodles), and gado-gado (vegetables with eggs in peanut sauce).

Indonesia has a wide variety of exotic fruits (jackfruit, durian, papaya, pineapple and mango).

The traditional alcoholic drink in Indonesia is tuak wine, which is made from palm red sugar. However, most Indonesians drink black tea because Islam forbids alcohol.

Sights of Indonesia

Rest assured that travelers in Indonesia are not bored. Of course, relaxing on the beaches under the Indonesian sky is a great pleasure. But sometimes you want to visit interesting places. There are a lot of such interesting sights in Indonesia. The top ten Indonesian attractions, in our opinion, may include the following:

Cities and resorts

The largest Indonesian cities are Surabaya, Bandung, Medan, Tangerang, Bekasi, Depok, Palembang, Semarang, Makassar, and, of course, Jakarta.

Due to its geographical position, Indonesia has excellent conditions for recreation. Tourists have long appreciated such islands in Indonesia as, for example, Bali and Lombok. However, some other Indonesian islands offer opportunities for have a great holiday nothing worse. We advise you to pay attention to the islands of Papua, Lembongan, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Java.

Almost every hotel in Indonesia offers spa services. In general, many argue that the best spa treatments are done in Indonesia. Spa programs on the island of Bali are especially diverse.

Traditional Indonesian spa services include a milk bath (“Mandi susu”), which is considered the beauty bath of the princesses of Java, “Mandi luhur”, “flower baths” (jasmine, gardenia, hibiscus, magnolia petals are added to warm water), which, as a rule, are the final stage of the spa session.

In addition, Indonesian spas include herbal wraps (used to remove impurities from the body and heal skin blemishes) as well as traditional massages.

Souvenirs/Shopping

Bamboo and coconut products (for example, baskets, rugs), wooden spoons, bowls, figurines, painted ceremonial masks, batik and ikat fabrics (as well as, for example, tablecloths made from these fabrics), Wayang dolls, traditional Indonesian musical instruments (“gamelan”, drums, bamboo flutes), tea are usually brought from Indonesia as souvenirs.

Office Hours

Government agencies:
Mon-Fri: 08:00-16:00