Where is the island of Java on the world map. Open left menu java

March 29, 2016 7:34 pm Central Java, East Java, Yogyakarta - Indonesia May 2014

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What do we know about the island of Java, what is Java for us? Tea "Princess Java", the once popular motorcycle "Java"? For people who know enough about Indonesia, this may seem like an inappropriate joke, but for those who are just getting to know the country, you can start from these associations. The Javanese really cannot live without tea, it is brewed very strong, and then diluted with water, the raw materials for such tea are, of course, local - there are several regions with tea plantations on the island. And the princess is also not invented by the creators of the trademark - in Java at different times there were dozens of palaces with their kings, princes and princesses. And the motorcycle ... this is the bearded joke.

And so, the island of Java for a tourist-traveler is a chance to touch the Indonesian reality as it is. These are transport difficulties and beautiful untouched beaches, these are good-natured, open, sometimes meeting foreigners for the first time,

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but also difficulties in understanding with them, since very few people in Java know English or other than local languages ​​(Indonesian Javanese).

Java is a land that keeps the memory of ancient civilizations, a land where people still live, keeping the traditions of Javanese palaces and their unique arts, this is the land wildlife(jungle, rocky beaches, active volcanoes, waterfalls, turbulent rivers). This is a place where everyone who is looking for new experiences should definitely go.

general description.

Java is primarily a geographical name, one of the islands of the Greater Sunda Islands. Its territory is 132,000 km², with a population of 140 million, it is the most populous island in the world. True, in Java sometimes it seems that the row of houses along the road does not end. In addition to the island of Java, it is also a historical region, the land of the Javanese, covers the provinces of Central Java, East Java, Yogyakarta. The island is not known to be inhabited by Javanese, Sundanese and Madurtsi (from the largest ethnic groups) also live on it. In this brief overview of Java, I will focus on the central and eastern parts of the island, where the largest number of places worth visiting (speaking of "Java" I will mean this particular part of the island).

Public transport(transpoprtasi umum)


Avia(plane-pesawat, airport-bandara)

There are 4 international airports in Java, and several more serving only domestic flights. Semarang, Yogyakarat, Surabaya equally suitable for getting to Java from behind the Indonesian border. There is also an airport Surakarta, but it serves much fewer international flights than those mentioned above. In any case, most tourists fly to Yogyakarta to be close to the famous temples of Borobudur and Prambanan. Surabaya is convenient if you want to immediately go to the volcanoes Bromo and Ijen. Semarang and Surakarta can be used as alternative airports.


Sugeng rawuh - welcome in Javanese.

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There are two more large international airports in West Java. Jakarta and Bandung. Jakarta has no equal in Indonesia and is the world's busiest airport. From here you can very easily pick up a flight to anywhere in Indonesia. As for the airports of domestic importance in Java, among them, in addition to those listed, it is also important Malang.

Zheleznodorozhny(train-kereta api, railway station-stasiun kereta api)


Java is the only island in Indonesia where trains are convenient and cover most of the island. Trains are much faster than buses. If, say, a bus travels from Yogyakarta to Probolinggo 10-13 hours, then the train is 8. For this reason, train tickets run out quickly and should be bought in advance. Speaking about possible directions, I advise you to first of all remember the trains and check the possibility of getting to your destination by train. There are economy, business and executive class cars on different routes. Economy class is like a comfortable electric train with soft seats. All the way you will sit on a soft bench with two or one other passenger. It is much more comfortable to travel in business and executive class carriages. There you will sit in separate large chairs. All carriages on long-distance trains are air-conditioned - it won’t be hot, rather, prepare a sweater so as not to freeze. In such trains they sell tea and a standard set for lunch, which is quite fashionable to consider as an option not to remain hungry on an 8-10 hour journey.

Buses. (bus-bis, bus station-terminal bis)

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Buses in Java are a special story. They go fast, but with one caveat - how fast the congestion of the route allows ... and the roads in Java are not wide ... But if you don’t have the opportunity to use the plane or train, then you should not be afraid of buses, you just need to choose them wisely. Tariffs for bus tickets This is the first thing you should pay attention to - there are cheap ones, and there are very cheap ones. If we are talking about distances from 100 km (or flights that follow a route of 100 km or more), then all buses must be air-conditioned and smoking is prohibited in them (yes, all windows and both doors are open in small old buses, you can smoke there - this is Java, real Java). For long distances, you can travel in economy class or business class. Speaking about prices, I will give an example, 100 km from Surakarta to Semarang in economy class cost about $2, business class $4-5. It is best to leave from bus stations, but all buses, even the largest and business class, stop on the road along the route. Local people usually know the places where buses stop in the direction you need. It is enough just to name the city of your destination.

Many cities run public buses varying degrees of comfort. AT big cities like Jogjakarta, Semarang, Surabaya, they are more comfortable and go more often, but in small ones one should hardly rely on them. Even in large cities, they run until 8 pm at most and cover a small part of the city.

Ferries, ships(ferry-kapal ferry, boat-perahu)

The only ferry Which arrives in Java from other islands, runs along the route Bali (Gili Manuk port)-Java (Ketapang port). This is a very popular way among travelers to get to Java or Bali, respectively. For a ridiculous $ 0.6 you will get on a ferry that will moor to the neighboring island in an hour and a half. You can transport a car on the ferry (in general, bus-bus routes from Java to Bali or to other Lesser Sunda Islands also use this crossing).

When traveling around Java and small neighboring islands, you can use ferries or speedboats. For example, if you want to visit a not very popular, but heavenly place with amazing Karimunjawa beaches, then the cheapest way is to take a ferry in the city of Jepara and for $ 5 get on a ferry that will take you to the Karimunjawa archipelago in 5 hours. Ferries also run between Java and Madura Island connecting several ports. These ferries are more likely to serve the local population, but sometimes especially curious tourists get there, far from tourist places.

Moto and cycle rickshaws, motorcycle taxis(trishaw-becak, motorcycle taxi-ojek)

In Java, the traditional form of transport, the rickshaw, is still preserved. In large and small cities, people still actively use the services of such transport. Of course it's fun and interesting to ride a rickshaw. The fare ranges from 10 to 100 thousand, depending on the distance. You are unlikely to pay more than 100 thousand because drivers often simply refuse to drive if the destination is too far away (pedaling with a load of 2 people is not an easy thing), but be careful because drivers like to inflate prices for tourists: do not pay more than 25 thousand for the distance you would walk in an hour.


In Indonesia, another exotic form of transport for us, motorcycle taxis, is very popular. At any bus and railway station, you will definitely be attacked with sentences “ojek, becak”. We have already dealt with bechaks above, but what about ojacks. This transport should not cost more than becak, but it is faster. If you speak Indonesian, you can download the Gojek smartphone app - it's similar to Uber taxis, only instead of motorcycles. For the most part, this mode of transport is very convenient, as motorcycles are more maneuverable and less traffic jams than cars; it's also cheaper than regular taxi.

Transport rental.(car-mobil, motorcycle-scooter-motor)

In some cities in Java, you can rent a scooter or a car. It will not be difficult to do this in Yogyakarta. In other cities and areas, renting a car is easier than a moped, but most likely you will be offered to rent a car by paying driver's fees and gas costs. The cost of renting a moped for a day in Jogjakarta is about $5, a car from $30 per day.

Money and prices.(money - uang, price - harga, how much - berapa harganya)


In the photo, about $ 4,000 or 60.000.000 rupees

As in all of Indonesia, the Indonesian rupiah is used in Java, its approximate exchange rate is $ 1-13,000, but all visitors are happy that by changing $ 100 you become a millionaire. With regard to withdrawing money from bank cards and exchanging foreign currency, it is worth making a few remarks. If you want to change dollars, then you should have 50 and 100 bills with you, you will receive the highest rate for them, 20,10, 5 bills are accepted at a lower rate. It is also important which series of your banknotes - banknotes printed earlier than 1996 do not change anywhere and in any way. ATMs of various Indonesian banks can be found even in the most remote areas. From my own experience and from the stories of others, I know that the least problems occur when withdrawing from CIMB NIAGA ATMs. All ATMs in Indonesia have a limit on cash withdrawals per transaction - sometimes 12,500,000 sometimes 1,500,000 rupees, CIMB has 1,500,000.

How to communicate with people / the Internet to help

Most Javanese do not speak English, but almost all speak Indonesian (the national language of Indonesia)


and a few phrases in Indonesian will be very useful, say, in the market or while looking for transport.
Prices in the market and in souvenir shops for foreigners are, of course, overpriced. Sometimes slightly overestimated, sometimes thrice. In order to get a price close to the original price, it is worth taking time and of course it is better to do this with at least some number of Indonesian words. Of course, the ability to communicate in gestures is a universal skill, but very often Javanese do not know how to count in English, what kind of fruits are called or what else you need .... it's best to download a couple useful applications on the phone, at the same time I strongly advise you to buy a local SIM card and 3G Internet will always be at hand.

From mobile providers that provide 3G Mobile Internet I advise simPati/Telcomcell, by purchasing a SIM card for about $10, with 2GB of internet for a month, you will use the network with the best coverage among all possible operators.

It seems to me very important to point out one feature of the Javanese, which distinguishes them from the inhabitants of the post-Soviet expanse. Javanese people are very soft by nature (like all generalizations, this does not claim to be universal), they are not used to being on knives, even bargaining in the bazaar or resolving a conflict situation. If it seems to you that their service is not of high quality or they are trying to deceive you, you should not attack them, the only thing you will achieve is a break in contact, they will close like snails and you are unlikely to achieve anything. Equanimity helps to resolve the issue in its favor, rather than a request rather than a demand, rather a smile than a grin - even demanding a refund for poor service, it is better to smile and put pressure on the self-esteem of this person than to accuse him and threaten reprisals.

Java is the most populous and diverse island in Indonesia. He took a little bit from different parts of this country, which allows the tourist to collect a lot of impressions in a short time and experience a wide variety of emotions. Java excites, relaxes, amuses, but leaves no one indifferent. Here, large-scale plains and terraces used in agriculture border on bustling cities and dirty towns. The island has very beautiful temples, huge stone Buddhas, mosques, ancient armories and unusual architecture of the colonial era. Numerous stories are not able to convey emotions completely, but they can spur the interest of future travelers.

Geographic features

Java is a large island in the Greater Sunda Islands. Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, is located here. The area of ​​the island is 132 thousand km². It is very densely populated, with over 140 million inhabitants. The island has an elongated shape and is almost parallel to the equator. A third of the territory is occupied by dense jungles of mangrove forests. Mountain ranges stretch along the entire island from west to east, among them 120 dormant and active volcanic craters can be found. The highest point is located on the peak of the volcano Semeru, with a height of 3676 m. More than a quarter of the volcanoes are constantly active. This is not always accompanied by destruction and lava flows, some craters simply release a small puff of steam several times a year. Major eruptions occur once every seven years.

The surface of Java is dotted with rivers that feed huge fields and serve as a source of drinking water. Solo, Chimanuk, Brantas are famous for the largest channels.

Climate

Java is located in the tropical zone, the weather here is unchanged throughout the year. The climate on the island is humid and hot, the air temperature is in the range of +26…+29°C, and its humidity is 75-95%. The largest number rainfall occurs in November-February, but even at this time you should not refuse to travel. There are no prolonged rains and long cloudy weather. All moisture falls to the ground in 1-3 hours. The average rainfall for the island is 1100 mm per year. Moreover, in the east this figure is 900 mm, and in the west it reaches 3000 mm.

Population and religion

The inhabitants of the island are divided into three main ethnic groups:

  • Javanese;
  • Sudanese;
  • Madurese.
They created three eponymous language areas, although most of the inhabitants understand and express themselves in Indonesian. In remote villages, local dialects and dialects are found.

The religious composition in Java is dominated by Muslims (87%), there are also Protestants, Catholics, Buddhists and Hindus. However, in its pure form, none of these religions can be found here. They are very closely intertwined with each other and with ancient animistic beliefs. So, Muslims partially perform the rites of Buddhism or Hinduism. Some temple buildings contain a base in the style of Hindu architecture, while the top and roof are Buddhist. Hindu roofs have settled on some mosques.

Kitchen

On the island, as in most tropical countries, a huge amount of fruit is sold. Their prices are quite reasonable. Local kitchen is considered the most Europeanized, so you will not find much exotic here. The dishes use rice with spices and spices, beef, legumes, vegetables and chicken. Of the drinks, ginger tea, coffee, cane juice, Tuak beer, Arak vodka are popular.

Unique Jakarta

The largest and very interesting city is the metropolitan Jakarta. It is very diverse and densely populated. Here, a variety of buildings, including the era of the colonists, mixed with the local quarters near the picturesque canals. On the central square there are several unusual buildings that come close to the waterways of the city. Expositions nearby historical museum. A little further away is the Wayang Doll Exhibition, Chinatown, Temple and Port.

To continue your acquaintance with the sights of Jakarta, you will have to go to the second city center (Medan-Merdek Square). There is a huge monument and a museum with the largest historical and ethnic collections.

Those wishing to take a break from historical excursions should go south, where several entertainment and educational parks are located at once:

  • Jaya Ancol Park;
  • Water Palace;
  • Ragunan Zoo;
  • entertainment center Taman-Ismail-Marzuki;
  • miniature park Taman-Mini;

Attractions

The hearts and minds of travelers who have traveled beyond the borders of Jakarta are conquered by no less striking sights. The most monumental, striking in its size, is the complex of temples of Borobudur. It is listed as a UNESCO heritage and is the basis of the cosmopolitan Buddhist model. Travelers and pilgrims start their movement in Borobudur from the base of the hill along a long, winding staircase. It offers beautiful views of the terraces and buildings.

Many tourists are attracted by the "valley of the kings" - a plain covered with ruins, in the center of which there is another temple complex- Paramban. This historical monument recognized as the most exquisite on the island.

The Javanese themselves honor and offer tourists to admire the palace of the Sultan in Yogyarta - Kraton. They call it "the navel of the world." Visitors can see how the life of the Sultan was organized, the furnishings of the rooms, and adjacent buildings. In accordance with the preferences of the Sultan, the setting contains many elements of animism and Hinduism.

For lovers of natural parks in Surabaya, there are two natural reserve, which collected 200 species of orchids, many birds and animals.

Tours start from here. active volcano Bromo, from the upper hills of which it is possible to look into the constantly smoking muzzle.

Beaches

Java is a cluster of industry and cultural attractions. In the last decade, beach infrastructure has begun to develop here. Most suitable for beach holiday are the southern and western parts of the island. People come here to swim, sunbathe, dive and windsurf. The beaches are very wide, covered with white fine sand with islands of palm trees. They are washed by transparent azure waves.

Near Badung are the most prestigious beaches: Karang-Bolongi Anyer. A mountain panorama appears before the views of vacationers on the beach of Asnières, and there is also an old lighthouse nearby. Of the entertainment on site, water skiing, parachuting, boat trips are offered.

In the western part of Java, on Tanjung Lesung beach, there are many resort complexes with closed beaches, among which there is also a paid public area. All beaches are well equipped.

privacy lovers and a relaxing holiday like Carita beach. It is quite quiet, protected from strong tides and waves. The territory was chosen by tourists with children and snorkelers. Not far from the shore there are bright fish and small corals. From the beach you can admire the panorama of the Krakatoa volcano, which is beautiful in the midday sun and at sunset. Most vacationers take great pictures from here.

How to get there?

In the capital of Indonesia, Jakarta, there is a large international airport. There are flights from Moscow to Jakarta with transfers in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok or other major cities. Among the offers of airlines, you can choose the one that suits the price, the duration of the flights or the number of transfers. Within the island, there are flights from Jakarta to Surabaya or Yogyakarta. The duration of the flight is about an hour.

To visit Indonesia, citizens of the Russian Federation need to apply for a visa for 30 days according to a simplified scheme upon arrival or in advance at the consulate. You will need a photo and a passport, the validity of which is at least 6 months longer than the end date of the trip.

Java(in Indonesian "Jawa") is the fifth largest island in Indonesia, home to more than half of the country's population. Much of Indonesian history is inextricably linked to this island, where powerful Hindu-Buddhist empires, Islamic sultanates and the colonial center of the Dutch East India Company were founded. Java played a decisive role in the Indonesian struggle for independence in the 1940s. Today, the island occupies a dominant position in the political, economic and cultural life countries. The capital of the state Jakarta (the largest city in Indonesia) is also located on this island.

Tourist attractions of the island

Borobudur- a Buddhist temple of the 9th century, the second largest Buddhist temple in the world after Angkor Wat, has 504 Buddha statues and 2672 stone bas-reliefs. Listed in 1991 world heritage UNESCO. More details in article e Borobudur

Prambanan- a complex of ancient Buddhist and Hindu temples, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. More details in article e Prambanan

Cities

Yogyakarta- popular tourist town in Indonesia, preserving pure Javanese and rich folk traditions. More details in article e Yogyakarta

Story

Since 2000 BC Java was already settled by settlers from the mainland South-East Asia. In the first centuries AD, the Javanese established close trade and cultural relations with the Hindu cultures of India. The discovery of stone stelae (prasasti) with texts and images carved on them testified to the existence of early Hindu kingdoms on the island.

Kingdoms of the Indo-Buddhist period

The small kingdoms of Taruma and Sunda in West Java formed in the 4th and 7th centuries respectively. But the first major state formation on the island of Java was the Kingdom of Mataram (732-1043), founded at the beginning of the 8th century by the rulers of the Sailendra dynasty. The first rulers of the Kingdom of Mataram professed Hinduism, then Buddhism became the dominant religion. From that era to the present day, great Buddhist and Hindu monuments have survived: Borobudur and Prambanan.

At the beginning of the 10th century, the Mataram Kingdom was in decline, the center of power began to shift from the central regions of the island of Java to the east. Mataram finally collapsed around 1043 after a conflict with the growing power of the Kingdom of Srivijaya from the island of Sumatra.

Another powerful state of the Indo-Buddhist period was the Majapahit empire founded in 1293 (1293-early 16th century). The Majapahit Empire reached its peak of power during the reign of Khayyam Wuruk. An important role was played by the talented commander Gajah Mada, thanks to whom the empire of Khayyam Vuruk completely established control over the islands of Java, Bali, Sumatra and Madura.

The economy of previous Javanese kingdoms was based on agriculture. The rulers of Majapahit established control over ports and shipping routes, becoming the first empire to actively patronize trade. With the death of Khayyam Wuruk, the Majapahit empire began to decline and finally collapsed in the early 16th century under the onslaught of the Islamic sultanates.

The spread of Islam and the emergence of Islamic sultanates

The emergence of Islam played a key role in the history of Java and Indonesia. Muslim traders have been visiting the Indonesian archipelago for centuries. With the growth of Islamic trade in the region, the Hindu kingdom of Majapahit began to decline. The Javanese were faced with a choice: fight or convert to Islam, and many ultimately chose the latter. Early 16th century Javanese trading ports in eastern Java, completely moved away from the dying Majapahit empire. Until the end of the 16th century, Islam became the dominant religion on the island of Java. During this period, independent Muslim sultanates of Pajang, Mataram, Cheribon, Bantam were formed. The Sultanate of Mataram (not to be confused with the Kingdom of Mataram) reached the greatest power. The Sultanate reached its peak of prosperity during the reign of Sultan Agung Hanyokro Kusumo (1613-1645). Agung managed to expand the territory of the Sultanate to the regions of Central and East Java, the island of Borneo.

colonial period

In 1596, four ships of the Dutch East India Company visited Java for the first time, and after a short time, the first Dutch trading posts began to appear on the coast of the island. In 1619, the Dutch troops under the command of Peter Cohen attacked and captured Jaykarta (the current capital of Indonesia). The Dutch changed the name of Jaikart to Batavia and rebuilt the city according to the classical canons of Dutch colonial architecture.

Internal conflict prevented the Javanese from forming an effective alliance to counter the Dutch. Beginning in the 1670s, the Dutch East India Company began to wrest control of the Muslim sultanates of Java. The sultanates of West Java recognized the sovereignty of the company in the last quarter of the 17th century, the north-central and north-eastern ones followed suit in 1743. In 1755, what was left of the once powerful Sultanate of Mataram, under pressure from the Dutch, was divided into two vassal states to the Dutch: Yogyakarta and Surakarta. By the end of the 18th century, the Dutch had extended their influence throughout the island.

On December 31, 1799, the government of the Netherlands nationalized the Dutch East India Company and in 1807 officially declared the Indonesian archipelago to be part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The entire territory of Indonesia belonging to the Dutch was ruled by a colonial administration centered in the city of Batavia (present-day Jakarta).

During the Napoleonic Wars in Europe, the Netherlands and its colonies in the East Indies fell under the conquests of the French Republic. In 1811, the British captured Java and the island briefly became a possession of the British Empire under Governor Sir Stamford Raffles. Under the terms of the Treaty of Paris in 1814, the British return Java to the Dutch in 1816.

In the 19th century, under the influence of Europeans, cars appeared, railways and telegraph communication. The Dutch put an end to internecine wars, increased the area under rice cultivation, began to cultivate new crops, primarily cassava and corn, and increased productivity. All this contributed to the elimination of hunger in Java and the rapid growth of the population of the island.

Independence

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Java was the most intensively developing industry and agriculture of all the islands of the Dutch East Indies. Along with the development of capitalist relations, Indonesian nationalism and a desire to achieve independence began to emerge on the island. The first serious uprising of the Javanese in 1825-1830 against the Dutch colonists managed to suppress with great difficulty. Given these factors, the Dutch changed their domestic policy. Beginning in 1903, Javanese began to be allowed to participate in local government, and in 1925 the Indonesians received a majority in the Volksraad ("People's Council").

During World War II, Java was occupied by the Japanese from 1942 to 1945. At the end of the Japanese occupation, a liberation war against the Dutch began on the island. Upon its completion, in 1950, the island became part of the independent Republic of Indonesia.

Geography and landscape

Java island map

Occupying about 150,000 km2 of territory, Java is the 13th largest island in the world and the 5th largest in Indonesia. The length from east to west is 1064 km, the maximum width is up to 210 km. The island is surrounded by the Java Sea in the north, the Sunda Strait in the west, the Indian Ocean in the south, and the Bali Strait in the east. In the west lies the island of Sumatra, Bali - in the east. Borneo - in the north and Christmas Island - in the south.

Java is an island of volcanic origin. A mountain range crowned with volcanoes runs east to west along the center of the island. The highest is the Semeru volcano (3676 m), the most beautiful is Bromo, the most active volcano in Java and Indonesia is Merapi (2930 m).

Java is located at the junction of two tectonic plates. The friction of these two plates causes heating and expansion of gas, magma and steam in the bowels of the earth, followed by an eruption. There are 33 active volcanoes on the island in total and it is part of the so-called "Pacific volcanic ring of fire", in which about 90% of all earthquakes on the planet occur. Volcanoes formed a rugged landscape, culture and religion of the inhabitants, influenced the development of agriculture, the construction of cities and villages.

The longest river of the island is the Solo, almost 600 km long. The river originates from a source on Mount Lavu and flows north to the mouth of the Java Sea near the city of Surabaya. Other major rivers: Brantas, Chitarum, Chimanuk and Serayu. Most of Java's rivers flow in a northerly direction. Large and small rivers serve as a source of water for irrigation of flood fields. major rivers navigable only during the rainy season.

natural environment

Java island map

Java's natural environment ranges from coastal mangrove forests on the north coast to coastal cliffs on the south, from low-lying rainforests to barren volcanoes. The natural environment and climate gradually change from west to east - from wet and humid tropical forests in the west to dry savannahs in the east.

The wildlife world is rich in biodiversity with many endemic species such as the Javan rhinoceros, Javan banteng, Javan pig, Javan hawk, Javan peacock, Javan silver gibbon, gleaming gullman, Javan deer and Javan leopard. The island is home to over 450 species of birds (of which 37 are endemic), 100 species of snakes and over 500 species of butterflies.

But it should be remembered that the island is inhabited by a huge number of people. With a population of over 143 million in 2014, that's more than half of Indonesia's population. With the growth of population, tropical forests were ruthlessly destroyed, surviving only on mountain slopes and isolated hard-to-reach areas. In place of tropical forests, a new landscape with rice terraces, which significantly changed the ecosystem of the island.

Some endemic animal species have already disappeared (Javanese tiger), some are on the verge of extinction. To protect the wildlife from human activities, a number of national parks were founded on the island: Mount Halimun Salak, Mount Gede Pangrango, Baluran, Meru Betiri and Alas Purvo, Ujung Kulon (the latter was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1991).

Administrative division

Administratively, Java consists of 4 provinces (propinsi):

Banten, the administrative center of Serang;
West Java (Jawa Barat), the administrative center of Bandung;
Central Java (Jawa Tengah), the administrative center of Semarang;
East Java (Jawa Timur), the administrative center of Surabaya;

and two special regions:

Jakarta (Special Capital Region);
Yogyakarta (semi-autonomous region).

1. Jakarta Special Capital Region

Officially, Jakarta is not a city, but a province with the status of the capital, therefore it is not governed by a mayor, but by a governor. Being a province, Jakarta consists of 5 municipalities: Central, North, East, South and West (according to the geographical location on the map). It is the only city in Indonesia with the status of a province. The Jakarta Special Capital Region includes the cities of Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi with a population of about 23 million. Until 1527 the city was called Sunda Kelapa, in 1527-1619 Jaykarta, in 1619-1942 Batavia, and from 1942 to the present day Jakarta.

2. Semi-autonomous region of Yogyakarta

The semi-autonomous region of Yogyakarta is located in the south of Java and borders the province of Central Java to the north. Unlike other provinces in Java, Yogyakarta is governed by a sultan who is neither elected nor appointed by a central authority in the capital. The semi-autonomous region consists of 4 districts and one big city Yogyakarta. On the outskirts of Yogyakarta is the most active volcano in Indonesia - Merapi, and two of the most famous temples in Indonesia: Borobudur and Prambanan.

3. Banten Province

Banten Province was formerly part of West Java Province, but since 2000 has received the status of a separate administrative unit. Banten Province is made up of 4 municipalities and 4 cities. Serang - main city province of Banten. Total population 9,351,470 inhabitants (2006). Banten is favorably located on the navigation route of merchant ships between Australia and New Zealand, the countries of Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore), the islands of Java and Sumatra.

4. West Java Province

This province has 17 districts and 9 cities. In 2002, the population of West Java reached 37,548,565. Most of the inhabitants of West Java are Sundanese. The provincial capital is the city of Bandung.

5. Central Java Province

The central province is considered the center of Javanese culture. The majority of the population of Central Java is Javanese. Administratively, the province is divided into 29 municipalities and 6 cities. The population of the province is 32,380,687 inhabitants. The administrative center is located in the city of Semarang.

6. Provinces of East Java

With an area of ​​47,922 km² and a population of 37,070,731 (2005), it is the largest province in terms of territory and the second most populous. The administrative center is located in the city of Surabaya. Includes the island of Maduro with a population of almost 4 million inhabitants.

Demography

With a population of over 143 million (2014) and a density of 1,029 people per km² and above, Java is one of the most densely populated islands in the world. 57% of Indonesia's population lives here. The highest concentration of population is in the west of the island (West Java, Banten and Jakarta), where the population density exceeds 1,400 people per km².

Occupying 7% of total area Indonesia, the island is home to 57% of the country's population. From about 5 million inhabitants in 1815, the population has grown to 143 million in 2014. The five largest and most populous cities in Indonesia are located on the island of Java: Jakarta, Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Semarang and Bandung.

From the 1970s until the fall of the Suharto regime in 1998, the Indonesian government ran a program to relocate Javans to other, less populated islands in the country. During the implementation of this program, conflicts often arose between local residents and recently arrived settlers. From the 1970s until the fall of the Suharto regime in 1998, the Indonesian government managed to resettle about 3 million people.

ethnic groups

Unlike others major islands Indonesia, Java in its own way ethnic composition comparatively homogeneous. The bulk of the population is represented by three main ethnic groups: Javanese (approximately 70% of the inhabitants of the island), Sundanese and Madurese. The Javanese live mainly in the central and eastern part of the island, the Sundanese predominantly in the west, and the Madurese in the east. Historically, the Madurese inhabited the island of Madura off the northeast coast of Java, and immigrated to East Java in the 18th century.

The fourth group are the Betavas (descendants of people living around Jakarta, from the 17th century until 1942 this city was called Batavia). The Betavas originated as a mixture of the local ethnic groups of the island with foreigners: the Portuguese, Dutch, Chinese and Indians. Their culture and language is different from Sundanese and Javanese.

In the region of the Bromo volcano and mountain range Tengger has a population of about 600,000 tenger. Other minor ethnic groups: Badui, Batak, Balinese, Papua.

Of the foreigners, the most common are the Chinese, who control much of the trade on the island.

Languages

Java has 3 main languages: Javanese, Sundanese and Madurese. Other languages ​​include Betavi (one of the Austronesian languages, spoken in the west of the island), Osing (one of the Austronesian languages, spoken in the east of the island), Tengger (Hindus living in the Tengger mountains in the east of the island), Badui (living in mountainous areas Kedang in the west of the island), Balinese (the eastern parts of the island around Banyuwangi, neighboring Bali) and Banyumasan. The vast majority of the population speaks Indonesian - state language countries.

Religion

The Indonesian constitution recognizes 5 "official" religions: Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Protestantism and Catholicism. Previously, Confucianism was also recognized, but in 1979 the Indonesian government removed it from the list of "official religions".

According to the 2000 census, the proportion of Muslims is 86.1%, Protestants - 5.7%, Catholics - 3%, Hindus - 1.8%, Buddhists and adherents of other religions - 3.4%.

There are few places on Earth where the three main religions (Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism) are mixed as deeply as on the Indonesian island of Java. Hinduism and Buddhism were the dominant religion for 1000 years, but they were replaced by Islam in the 16th century. Influenced by Hinduism and Buddhism, Indonesian Islam incorporated the rites of these two religions. Some of the excavated temples in East Java have a Hindu upper part and a Buddhist lower half, and a number of early mosques have Hindu temple roofs. Early mosques were not built in the direction of Mecca, but to the west or east, in the style of Hindu temples. Islam in Indonesia developed under the great influence of the more advanced Buddhist and Hindu religions.

Economy

Java is the most economically developed island in Indonesia. Based on 2012 statistics, Java produces 57.51% of Indonesia's gross domestic product.
Initially, the economy was based solely on rice cultivation. The power of the ancient kingdoms (Taruma, Mataram, Majapahit) largely depended on the yield of rice. The island has been a well-known exporter of rice since ancient times, the cultivation of rich crops of this important agricultural crop has contributed to the growth of the island's population. The hillsides covered with rice terraces still remain characteristic features island landscape.

During the colonial period, the Dutch introduced other crops: sugarcane, rubber, coffee, tea, cinchona. Java was the first of all the islands of the Indonesian archipelago to start growing coffee (1699). In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Javanese coffee gained worldwide popularity. The name "Java" today has become synonymous with good coffee.

Today, two-thirds of the island's land area is occupied by agricultural land. Kapok, sesame, vegetables, bananas, mango, durian, citrus and vegetable oils are produced for local consumption. Tea, coffee, tobacco, rubber, cinchona, sugarcane, kapok and coconuts are exported abroad. The soils of Java are very fertile due to periodic enrichment with volcanic ash.

The need to transport rice, coffee and other commodities from the plantations of the hinterland to ports on the coast spurred the construction of roads. In 1808, the construction of the Great Javanese Road began, connecting the cities of Anyer in West Java and Panarukan in East Java. Developed network toll roads began to be built back in the era of the reign of President Suharto, connecting big cities and industrial centers.

Oil is produced in the Arjuna region near the northwest coast, and processed at refineries in Chilakap and Surabaya. There is also limited mining of manganese, sulfur, phosphates, gold and silver. Small-scale production includes the manufacture of clothes and fabrics with batik painting, iron casting, silver jewelry, agricultural tools, leatherworking, and ceramics. Large-scale production is represented by the textile industry, car assembly, brewing, large-scale production is engaged in the manufacture of shoes, paper, cement and cigarettes. Surabaya and Tanjung Priok (near Jakarta) are the main ports of the island.

Climate

Java's climate is hot and humid throughout the year. average temperature+22 °С +29 °С, average humidity 75%. Maximum temperatures are observed on the plains along north coast, on average, +34 °C in the dry season. The south coast is cooler than the north, with temperatures even lower in the mountainous inland (+22°C on average, but dropping to freezing or even colder in the dry season). Like other areas in tropical island, Java's climate has two seasons: the rainy season (November to March) and the dry season (April to October). Precipitation tends to fall in the afternoon, with the wettest months being January and February. During the dry season from April to October, rain is also possible, but in general the weather is sunny and cloudless.

Precipitation is distributed extremely unevenly, for example, West Java is wetter than East Java, the interior mountainous regions receive much more rainfall. Thus, the annual rainfall in the Parahyangan highlands in West Java is more than 4,000 mm per year, on the northern coast of East Java it is only 900 mm, and in the capital Jakarta, on average, about 1760 mm.

The dry season (April to October) is the best time to visit the island.

In the island Republic of Indonesia, there is the island of Java, which has become the world record holder for population. On the world map, it is located in Southeast Asia. The island of Java is covered with tropical forests, which are adjacent to the stone jungle of the capital of Indonesia - Jakarta.

The island is located in the middle of the Indonesian archipelago in Southeast Asia. On the map, it is located between Eurasia and Australia, next to the island of Sumatra, which is located just north of Java. On the south side, the island is adjacent to the smaller Sunda Islands and Bali, and on the east - the islands of Sulawesi and Malaysia.

Java Island on the world map has the coordinates:

  • Geographic: 7° 17' 56" South 109° 56'06" East.
  • Decimal degrees: longitude -7.298904; latitude 109.942516.

Height above sea level 3675 m.

Length and width of the island, area and shape

The island stretches for 1,000 km in a west-east direction, and is 205 km wide. Its area is about 130 thousand km 2, of which 44 thousand km 2 are covered with tropical forests and impenetrable jungles.

The island has an oblong shape, similar to a horizontally lying boot. The shores of Java are washed by the Indian and Pacific oceans, and from the north by the Java Sea. Java is separated from Sumatra by Sunda Bay.

A significant part of the island's territory is occupied by 120 volcanoes, 30 of which are considered active. The island also has a large number of rivers. But the main source of fresh water is the bed of the Solo River.

The territory of the island is divided into:

  • western;
  • eastern;
  • central.

How to get to the island?

There are several ways to get to the island.

By plane

Java has 6 airports international communications. The largest of them is Soekarno-Hatta in Jakarta, which accepts large-capacity airliners and is also used for transfers when traveling within the country.


You can get to the island of Java by plane from Jakarta.

The remaining 5 terminals near the cities of Bandung, Yogyakarta, Surakarta, Jatiwangi and Surabaya have connection only with the city of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and international airports Thailand. The island of Java can also be reached from the city of Moscow.

Several airlines operate flights to Jakarta:

Airline name Transfer Final destination Frequency of flights per day
Qatar Airways Doha Kuala Lumpur 1-2
thai airway Bangkok Jakarta 1
Singapore Airlines Singapore Surabaya 2
Emirates Dubai Jakarta 1

On average, any flight takes at least 20 hours.

On the ferry of the national shipping company "Pelni"

This type of transportation can be used to get to Java from other islands:

  • Bali;
  • Sulawesi;
  • Sumatra.

Ports in Java are located in the cities:

  • Jakarta;
  • Surabaya;
  • Semerang;
  • Cirebon.

Getting around the island

The island of Java on the world map stands out for its length. It is used for fast movement.

Aircraft

Between the cities of Java, flights are carried out from the airports of the cities of Jakarta and Surabaya by the following companies:

  • Garuda;
  • "Merpati";
  • "Mandala";
  • Batavia.

Railway

There are 4 railway networks on the island of Java:

  • Northern: Jakarta - Chiberon - Semarang - Surabaya.
  • South: Jakarta - Bandung - Yogyakarta - Surakarta - Surabaya.
  • Eastern: Surabaya - Sidoarjo - Bangil - Pasuruan.
  • Western: Jakarta - Tangerang - Serang - Chilegon.

Each electric train has several types of cars:

  • air-conditioned compartment;
  • seat place;
  • economy with a small number of seats.

Bus

You can also travel between cities by bus. It is worth noting that this type of transport on the island is considered the most inconvenient, since flights do not have exact timetable departures and arrivals, and wandering musicians enter the salon along the way, who, after an impromptu concert, require a small payment.

Month Western part of the island Eastern part of the island
Average temperature, degrees Number of rainy days Water temperature, degrees Average temperature, degrees Number of rainy days Water temperature, degrees
Day Night Day Night
January 28 22 15 28 31 24 21 28
February 28 22 15 29 33 22 19 29
March 29 22 12 30 32 24 18 29
April 30 23 11 30 33 26 12 30
May 31 24 9 30 36 27 5 30
June 30 24 5 29 36 28 3 29
July 30 25 5 28 34 27 1 28
August 30 25 2 28 34 28 1 28
September 31 25 5 29 33 26 2 28
October 31 24 11 28 31 27 7 29
November 30 23 12 30 32 27 9 30
December 29 23 15 29 31 26 18 29

The buses also do not have air conditioning, and if they break down, no other transport is provided.

car rental

You can rent a car at the hotel or at rental offices. It should be noted that the roads on the island are practically not being repaired, and in combination with a two-lane road, this makes travel time-consuming, as there are a lot of traffic jams on the island.

Motor rickshaws and motorcycles

The most convenient and popular transport on the island is the rickshaw. Carrier services cost little money. But such a device cannot travel long distances.

Climate and weather in Java island by months

Java Island is located almost parallel to the equator, so the temperature here ranges from 26 ° to 32 ° all year round. The climate of the island is equatorial and subequatorial, so the humidity varies from 70 to 95%. Favorable for rest is the time from March to October, the rest of the time in Java it rains heavily.

The determining factor of climatic conditions are monsoons:

  • northwest wind forms rainy weather;
  • the southeast monsoon determines dry weather.

In different periods, the weather on the island of Java may vary slightly:

Attractions of the island

Java Island occupies a significant area on the world map. It contains most of the sights of the Indonesian Republic. Some of them are included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Bromo-Tenger-Semeru National Park

The attraction is located on the territory of East Java near the city of Malang. The name of the park consists of three words: the names of the two peaks Semeru and Bromo and the names of the local aborigines - Tenggers - living in the territory. The area of ​​the park is about 500 km2. On the territory there are jungles, several lakes.

50 rivers and waterfalls, as well as volcanoes:

  • Bromo;
  • Batok;
  • Kursi;
  • Watangan;
  • Vidodaren.

All volcanoes are surrounded by volcanic ash, which is called the "sea of ​​sand" and forms entire deserts. The entrance to the park is through the rural settlement of Ngadisari around 3-4 in the morning, as the sun sets by 17.00 and the park closes.

In the Bromo-Tenger-Semeru National Park they visit:

  • Mount Bromo, on which the crater of the active volcano of the same name is located.
  • Top of the Seven. They climb the mountain for several days without special devices.
  • Mount Penanjakan. At the top there is an observation deck that offers a wonderful view of Bromo and the Tengger caldera. Most often, sunrise is met at this peak.
  • Top Batok. Batok Volcano is considered inactive and heavily overgrown with jungle. The ascent to the mountain takes about an hour. From the observation platform at the top, the Bromo crater and caldera are clearly visible.
  • Temple Pura Luhur Poten, on the territory of which Yadna Kasada is celebrated - the triumph of teggers.
  • Madakaripura waterfall located inside the rock.

Temple complex Borobudur

Borobudur was built around 800. BC. The temple complex is located in Central Java, about 42 km from Yogyakarta towards the northwest. Borobudur is a 9-tier structure that has over 500 Buddha statues and over 2,000 bas-reliefs.

At the base of the temple there are 6 square slabs of different sizes, and on top there are 3 round platforms. At its very top is a dome surrounded by 72 Buddha statues.

Borobudur received the status of the largest building dedicated to the traditions of Mahayana Buddhism. The area of ​​the temple occupies 55 thousand km2, and the dimensions of the lower slab are 120×120 m. Borobudur temple was restored in 1982 and included in the UNESCO list.

Prambanan temple complex

Prambanan was erected in the 10th century. The complex is located in Central Java, 17 km from Yogyakarta towards the east on the south side of the Merapi volcano. The temple complex was restored in 1950, and in 1991 it was included in the UNESCO list.

The historical monument combines Buddhist and Hindu features and was erected in honor of Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu.

The Prambanan complex includes 200 temples, some of which have not been restored. Its main part is considered to be 3 temples above the center of one of the platforms. Nearby are the shrines of the bull Nandi and the riding bird Garuda.

Not far from them are the temples of Sewu and Lara Jonggrang, which are the main attributes of the Parambanan complex. Between them are smaller structures: Lumbun, Asu and Burakh.

Mount Merapi

The active volcano Merapi is located 22 km from the Borobudur Complex and the city of Yogyakarta. This is the most large volcano on the island: its height reaches 3 km. Merapi belongs to the Pacific volcanic ring.

The volcano is activated every 6-7 years in the form of strong eruptions, and 2 times a year in the form of small ones. In 1673, the volcano destroyed several cities in Java, this eruption was the most powerful in the history of Indonesia. The last major eruption occurred in 2006, when more than 3 thousand people died. Despite the great danger, ascents are made daily on the mountain.

You can climb the volcano from:

  • villages Village;
  • the villages of Kaliurang;
  • suburb of Surakarta.

On the observation decks you can meet the sunrise or watch the sunset.

Old city

Java Island is rich in attractions. On a world map near the city of Jakarta, a territory of 1.5 km 2 is visible called Old city. In Indonesian, it is called Kota Tua and represents the main trading hub of Indonesia.

The old city was founded in the 14th century and in the 3rd century the city received the title of the main port center of trade. By the end of the 18th century, a fortress wall was built around the Old Town. Kota Tua is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city combines many cultures, times and religions. Not far away is Chinatown with the oldest temple in the history of Java - Vihara Dharma.

Museums are also located on the territory of the Old Town:

  • history of Jakarta;
  • Arts and Ceramics.

Taman Sari Water Palace

Taman Sari is a whole complex consisting of:

  • pools;
  • grottoes;
  • channels;
  • palaces.

The palace was built in 1755 by order of the Sultan of Yogyakarta Hamengkubuwono I. Portuguese architects participated in the design.

Taman Sari had many secret passages, cellars and rooms. During the reign of the Sultan, the palace was surrounded by an artificial reservoir, through which it was possible to get to the internal pools. In the center of Taman Sari rises a tower from which Hamengkubuwono I watched over his wives. The castle became famous for its sewage system and fountains, as well as an underground prayer room.

Taman Sari was a place of rest and a fortress at the same time, but in 1867 the castle was destroyed by the eruption of the volcano Merapi. After that, the restoration of the central building and the Sultan's baths was carried out. And in 1995, the Taman Sari Water Palace was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Bogor Botanical Garden

The botanical garden was built in 1817 in West Java near the city of Bogor. It is considered one of the largest gardens in the world. The garden collection includes 14.5 thousand different plants. The number of species includes more than 5 thousand copies. The area of ​​the Bogorsky garden is 88 hectares.

The Botanical Garden has several branches: on the island of Bali and in the city of Chibodas on the island of Java.

Since it belongs to the Scientific Community of the Republic of Indonesia, on the territory of the Bogor branch there are:

  • Museum of Zoology;
  • Botanical laboratory;
  • Chemical laboratory;
  • Pharmacology laboratory;
  • Herbarium;
  • Experimental garden;
  • Laboratory of ichthyological research.

The entire area of ​​​​the central office is divided into many zones, each of which grows certain types of plants.

On the territory of the Botanical Garden are held:

  • relaxation courses;
  • yoga
  • weddings.

Sea of ​​sands

Java Island on the world map is highlighted by a large cluster high mountains and volcanoes:

  • Bromo;
  • course;
  • Batok.

They are located in the Tengger caldera, which is 8 km in diameter. The bottom of this crater is a thick layer of volcanic ash. This place is called the sea of ​​sand. It covers the foothills of all 3 mountains.

Thanks to volcanic eruptions and the accumulation of ash, the landscape of the crater resembles unearthly territories. On the territory of the sea of ​​​​sands, plants do not grow and animals and insects are not found. Officially, since 1919, the attraction has been territorially owned by the Bromsky Reserve and is strictly guarded.

Thousand Islands

There is an archipelago in Jakarta Bay, which consists of 112 islands. These islands have an area of ​​100 thousand hectares. and stretched for 97 miles.

Approximately 100 km 2 of the islands have the status national reserve. This district is located 45 km north of Jakarta and includes 44 islands. The climate of the Thousand Islands is similar to the climate of Java: subequatorial humid with an air temperature of 29-36 ° with an air humidity of 80%. The Thousand Islands amaze with the richness of the animal and flora.

Active types of recreation are popular on the archipelago:

  • fishing;
  • canoeing;
  • water skiing;
  • scuba diving;
  • windsurfing.

On the shores of each of the islands there are zones for playing:

  • Beach volleyball;
  • tennis;
  • golf.

The most popular islands among tourists are:

  • Kotok;
  • Bidadari;
  • Putri;
  • Sepa.

resorts on the island. Names, descriptions, benefits

Java Island is famous not only for sights, but also for resorts.

Anyer

The recreation area is located in West Java.

On its territory are:

  • own sandy beaches;
  • restaurants;
  • hotels;
  • small local market.

Also in Anyera you can see the lighthouse, which was built by Portuguese architects. For a small fee, you can watch the sunset at the lighthouse.

Carita

This resort is suitable for family vacation.

On the territory are:

  • wide embankment;
  • sand beach.

Karita is close to the Krakatua Volcano which provides plenty of options active rest from diving to mountain climbing.

Batu Karas

The shores of this resort are famous for high waves, which allows you to surf all year round.

On the territory are located:

  • Cafe;
  • hotels;
  • "black beach" - a mixture of sand and volcanic ash.

The resort is located near the city of Pangandaran.

Pangadaran

The resort is a beach complex located on a peninsula in South Java.

The resort has:

  • guest houses;
  • Cafe;
  • bus station from which you can leave for Batung;
  • base for surfing;
  • the beach is dark brown in color as it contains sand of volcanic origin.

Pandagaran is characterized by comfort, silence and lack of crowds of tourists.

Panaitan Island

This resort is different from the rest, as it is the property of the Indonesian nation. Entrance to the territory is possible only with the permission of the governor. The island is not intended for tourists: there are no cafes or hotels. The shores of Panaitan are suitable only for surfing or diving.

Sukamade beach

The resort is designed for recreation with tents away from civilization. Not on site cellular communication, electricity and cafes. famous beach sea ​​turtles that lay their eggs on its banks.

Meru Betiri Park is also located on the territory. There is a hotel 5 km from the beach. It is also allowed to pitch a tent near the beach or rent a small cottage.

Resort town of Bandung

Bandung refers to mountain resorts. Excursions to Dago Falls, Tangkuban Praya Volcano and Situpatengang Lake depart from the city. Not far from the city are the beaches of Anyer and Karagan-Bolong, Punchak tea plantations, national park Pendant and safari park.

Karagan-Bolong beach

The resort is not intended for a beach holiday, as from the side indian ocean strong waves come, and sharp stones are located on the shore. On the beach, you can have a picnic and watch the sunset through the arch formed from the coral reef after the tsunami.

Hotels on the island of Java, prices for rooms and meals

Hotel table:

City The name of the hotel Room and services Number of stars Nutrition Beach Average rating of tourists Price for 7 nights, rub
Jakarta Sotis Residence 2-bed deluxe 3 Breakfast Not 8,0 20160
OYO 117 Blueberry Homestay 2-bed standard 2 Not Not 7,8 6772
Badung De Paviljoen Bandung by HIM Hotel 2-seater 4 Breakfast Artificial 8,6 50300
4-seater 55398
Surabaya JW Marriott Hotel Surabaya 2-bed deluxe 5 3 times Not 8,9 46416
2-seater premium 99078
Askhara Guesthouse 2-bed deluxe 2 Breakfast 8,2 9892
Common room for 6 persons Not 4109
jokyakarta Hotel Neo Malioboro 2-bed deluxe 3 Breakfast Not 8,4 22753
Royal Ambarr-ukmo 2-bed deluxe 5 Breakfast No 9,0 33026
2-seater premium 114526
Phangan-daran Mini Tiga Homestay 2-bed standard plus 1 Breakfast There is 9,0 6392
Pondok Wayang 1 local standard 2 Breakfast There is 8,5 5935
2-bed standard plus 10300

A huge number of the main attractions of Indonesia are collected on the island of Java. Java is also rich in landscape diversity: vast areas of tropical forests, mountainous terrain and desert steppes are visible on the world map.

Article formatting: Lozinsky Oleg

Video about the island of Java

All the beauty of the Indonesian island of Java:

The island of Java is part of the Greater Sunda Islands, from which the Malay Archipelago is formed. On the map, it can be found in the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean.

Where the island of Java got its name from is not exactly known. According to one of the existing versions, it came from the proto-Austronesian word for "house". According to another, the consonant name of the island is found in the manuscripts of an early Indian epic. There is also the opinion of some experts, according to which "Java" is a derivative of the word "Jau". From the Sanskrit language, it can be translated as "barley" or "lying in the distance."

Geography

Java Island (see photo below) was formed, according to scientists, about six to seven million years ago. In the same period, the entire Malay Archipelago appeared.

Java is considered the tip protruding above the water. mountain range, which stretches from Burma to the islands of Sumatra, passing through the Nicobar and Andaman Islands. Many years ago, seismic and volcanic processes provoked the subsidence and uplift of the continent that previously existed in this place. As a result of all this, the island of Java appeared. The landscape of its central part is decorated with a mountain range stretching from west to east. In this part of the territory, the island of Java has volcanoes. In total there are more than one hundred and twenty of them, among which there are thirty active ones. by the most high volcano recognized by the Seven. Its height is 3676 m. highest point islands. Other most significant:

Bromo - 2329 m;
- Merapi - 2914 m.

The last of these two volcanoes is one of the ten most active on our planet. In 1006, its catastrophic eruption wiped out life on the island for three centuries. Fertile soils have turned into a desert. Java Island - "Valley of Death". So, no doubt it was possible to call it in those days.

Unfortunately, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions still often occur in these places. The consequences of such seismic activity are very sad. They lead to numerous destructions and casualties.

Unlike the central part of the island, the coastal areas are swampy lowlands. There are a large number of lakes and many rivers flowing here.

Java Island has a rather winding coastline. In its bends there are a large number of convenient bays and bays that allow ships with different landings to moor.

The coast of the island, almost along its entire length, has numerous narrow sandy beaches with small dunes that end in tropical jungle.

Climate

Java Island is located near the earth's equator. Such geographical position significant impact on the climate of the area. It is equatorial, comparatively hot and humid. The weather on the island is characterized by the absence of seasonal temperature differences. All year round it's warm here. The air warms up in the range from twenty-three to twenty-six degrees. Precipitation on the island is usually short-term tropical downpours. Their number during the year can exceed 1000-1100 mm. In the northwestern and northern parts of the island, this figure is slightly higher. Sometimes it reaches 3000 mm.

Population

Today, over one hundred and forty million people live in Java. This makes it the most densely populated island in the world.

The majority of Javans are Indonesians. In addition to them, representatives of a number of ethnic groups live on the island, the list of which includes:

Madurians;
- Sundanese;
- Minangkabau.

Alien peoples from India, China and Indochina also live here. All of them speak Malay, which is recognized as the state language on the island. Often in everyday life you can hear Javanese words. There are also Chinese dialects in the conversation of local residents.

What are the main directions of the national economy, which the island of Java is proud of? The population of rural areas and small towns is busy growing barley, rice, coffee, including such a famous variety as Kopi Luwak. Developed on the island and industry. Its industries such as electronics, processing, mining and textiles employ the population major cities.

Administrative device

In Java, the largest city in terms of population, importance and size is the city of Jakarta. On the map, it can be found in the northwestern part of the island, on the coast itself. This is the largest settlement of the Malay Archipelago, which is also the capital of Indonesia. Jakarta has a population of 9.6 million. The list of major cities located in Java includes:

Semarang.
- Yogyakarta.
- Bandung.
- Serang.
- Kudus.
- Gaff.
- Surabaya.
- Malang and others.
According to its administrative structure, the island is divided into three provinces. These are West, East and Central Java.

Pearl of the Malay Archipelago

Indonesia includes about seventeen thousand islands. However, Java, without any doubt, is among them the real queen. Despite the fact that this is the most densely populated island of our planet, there are a lot of places untouched by man. A trip to Java will appeal to the most adventurous tourists who want to recharge their batteries and get a real drive. The island offers its guests ancient monuments and huge National parks, volcanoes and rice plantations adjacent to dense forests, shroud patches and large cities.

Jakarta

Many tourists who want to get acquainted with Indonesia, first of all fly to the island of Java. The capital of the country - Jakarta, which is a colossal metropolis, serves for many as the starting point from which the path to more interesting and calm routes begins.

This city is very complex and ambiguous. But it is from him, as a rule, that tourists begin to explore the island of Java. Only in Jakarta, after seeing the sights and areas, you can feel the rich history of the country, its diverse culture and unusual architecture.

Listed interesting places Indonesia's capital is home to numerous exhibition centers and parks. But among them there are those that deserve special attention of tourists. This is, for example, the Taman-Mini park. There are 27 pavilions on its territory, each of which demonstrates traditional buildings, interesting decorations and other exhibits presented by various provinces. Here you can admire the miniature, which in all details represents Indonesia.

Attracts tourists and dream park, located in the Anchola area. On its territory you can buy bone jewelry, batik and other creations of local craftsmen.
Interesting for guests of Jakarta and the center "Tamaya Ismail Narzuki". There are many venues on its territory, where five theaters and numerous exhibitions are located. The complex includes a dance hall and a planetarium.

The main attraction of the capital, which the island of Java is rightfully proud of (see photo below), is the National Monument. It is a tower rising more than 130 m above the ground. The material for its manufacture was Italian marble. From above, the National Monument is decorated with an imitation of a flame made of gilding. For Indonesia, this tower is a symbol of the capital.

What else can the island of Java please its guests with? Tourist reviews recommend including the Istiklal Mosque in the list of must-see places. It is the largest Muslim sanctuary located in Southeast Asia.

Borobudur

Numerous tourists tend to visit the temples of the island of Java. Getting acquainted with Indonesia, it is impossible not to visit Borobudur. It is the third largest Buddhist-Hindu temple in the world. In size, Borobudur is second only to the Cambodian Angkor, as well as the Burmese Shwedagon.

The Indonesian temple is a step pyramid, the height of which is 34 m. It rises on an artificially created hill, embodying sacred mountain Meru (according to ancient Indian legends, it is she who is the center of the whole world). According to the teachings, any visitor to Borobudur or a pilgrim begins his ascent "from earth to heaven." Moreover, the road leading to the temple is a spiral. Passing along it, visitors examine the eight terraces of Borobudur and get acquainted with the history of the emergence of Buddhism, carved on one and a half thousand reliefs and stone sculptures.

The architecture of the temple itself indicates the influence of Persian, Greek, Indian and Babylonian architects. This is a majestic building, from the upper levels of which an exciting and grandiose view opens. There is also a sculpture of Buddha. There is a legend that the one who could reach his little finger will certainly be lucky.

Java Island (Indonesia) is rightfully proud of this real wonder of the world. After all, the temple of Borobudur, which was built 1200 years ago, is a beautiful, grandiose and picturesque building. It survived the eruption of the nearby volcano Merapi, the change on the island not only of the political course, but also of religion. It retained its beautiful appearance even after the invasions of treasure hunters.

Prambanan

What else attracts tourists to the island of Java? The sights located on its territory contain another masterpiece on their list, which is one rank lower than Borobudur. This is the Prambanan temple complex. Unlike Borobudur, it is located on a plain, which locals called the "Valley of the Kings". This area is literally littered with the ruins of ancient structures.

The Prambanan complex itself is a collection of three temples, each of which is dedicated to one of the gods - Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva. The walls of these amazingly beautiful buildings are decorated with bas-reliefs, the plots of which are taken from scenes from the ancient Indian epic called the Ramayana.

The end of the construction of Prambanan is considered to be 856. This temple commemorates the victory of the Hindu king Pikatan over the Buddhist king belonging to the Shailendra dynasty.

Kraton

What other temples does the island of Java offer its guests to explore? Attractions that the Javanese are proud of include the Kraton palace complex in their list. Locals consider it the "navel" of the world. The palace was not only the seat of the sultanate for the island. The Javanese believed that the center of the universe was located here.

In Kraton are located:

Chambers of the Sultan himself and members of his family;
- throne room;
- pavilions for various performances;
- mosque;
- chambers for contemplation.

In the 19th century The interior decoration of the palace complex was changed. He was given European features. There were cast-iron columns and Italian marble, furniture and chandeliers in the Rococo style. All these interior details are in strong contrast to the Javanese basis of the Kraton.

Bogor

Not far from the bustling capital of Jakarta is a quiet town. Just an hour from the metropolis by train, and you are in Bogor, famous throughout the island for its huge botanical garden. Here you can see the largest flower on our planet - "titanic amorphophaldus".

The locals call Bogor “the city of rain”. Indeed, every afternoon it is bound to rain here. That is why in botanical garden it is better to walk early in the morning. Visitors will see amazing trees that look like flared trousers. There is a Mexican garden, an orchid garden and much more. In the royal park, which is located next door, deer roam.

Gunung Halimun

It is one of the most national parks in Java. It differs from all the others in that the road to it is relatively simple. It is enough to drive from Bogor just an hour and a half.

Gunung Halimun Park is worth a visit for those tourists who are lovers of fauna and flora. Here you can see a large number of plants, more than a dozen species of birds, as well as mammals (including the endangered West Javanese gibbons).

Malang

This city was founded by the Dutch in the 18th century. Tourists who have chosen it get acquainted with the eastern part of the island of Java. Malang attracts guests with its surroundings, where coffee plantations are comfortably spread. Numerous Hindu temples are also located here, built on the slopes of Mount Penanggungan, which the locals consider sacred. Not far from Malang are the most famous beaches among tourists, the most popular of which is Balekambang. From the city you can quickly reach volcanoes such as Seperu, Bromo and Ijen. Public transport runs to them from Malang.

Taman Sari

There are also special attractions in Java. One of them is Taman Sari. This is a water castle built specifically for the Sultan in 1758. Taman Sari is a whole park of palace complexes with canals and pools. The castle has underground tunnels and special secret rooms.

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