|
GEOGRAPHY
Indonesia is the
largest archipelago in the world with the total number of 17.508 islands
according to the Indonesian Naval Hydro Oceanographic office. The
archipelago is spread over on a crossroads between two oceans. The Pacific
and the Indian ocean. And bridges two continents Asia and Australian.
The Pacific Ocean, on
the east and on the north by the South China Sea. The Asian continent in the
north and the Australian continent in the south. This strategic position has
always influenced the cultural, social, political and economic life of the
country.
The territory of the
Republic of Indonesia stretches from 6º 08’ north latitude to 11º 15’ south
latitude, and from 94º 45’ to 141º 05’ east longitude. The Indonesian sea
area is four times greater than its land area. Which is about 1.9 million
sq. km. The sea area is about 7.9 million sq. km (including an exclusive
economic zone) and constitutes about 81% of the total area of the country.
The archipelago is
divided into three groups. The islands of Java, Sumatra and
Kalimantan, and the small islands in between,
lie on the Sunda Shelf which begin on the coast
of Malaysia and Indo China, where the sea depth does not exceed 700 feet.
Irian Jaya which is
part of the island of New Guinea, and the Aru
Island lie on the Sahul Shelf, which stretches
northwards from the Australian coast. Here the sea depth is similar to that
of the Sunda Shelf.
Sumatra, which is
about 473.606 sq. km, in size; the most fertile and densely populates
island, Java/Madura, 132,127 sq. km;
Kalimantan, which comprises two-third of the
island of Borneo and measures 539.460 sq. km; Sulawesi,
189,216 sq. km; and Irian
Jaya, 421,981 sq. km, which is part of the world’s second largest
island, New Guinea, are the country’s bigger islands in size. Indonesia’s
other islands are smaller in size.
Indonesia is formed
from the past as the “Ring of Fire” that girds the Pacific Ocean. Volcanoes
have not only brought earthquake and disasters, but also fertility to the
ground and abundant supply of mineral deposits.
The most famous
Indonesian volcano is the Krakatau,
situated in the Sunda Straits between Sumatra
and Java. Its huge explosion in 1883 had a wide impacts on other islands,
and its smoke was blown far away to Europe. Mount
Agung in Bali exploded in 1963, but later brought more fertility
to the island. The Balinese venerate the mountain as the abode of the gods,
and mother – temple of Bali at Besakih nestles
on its slopes.
Mount
Merapi in Central
Java is active. Its crater-lake is a potential danger every time when the
volcano becomes active and its waters boil. During lulls, the cooled down
lava flows can be followed almost to the top.
Mount
Rinjani on the
island of Lombok is another favourite
destination for climbers. And Mount Kelimutu
in Flores hides lakes with three different colours, marine blue, aqua marine
green and coca-cola brown red, reflecting the colour or their various silt
deposits.
Although located in
the tropics, the Jaya
Wijaya in Irian Jaya
is an all year – round snowclad mountain. Treks
across wild Irian Jaya
are a favourite with German and French visitors. Where rivers have cut the
foothills into the georgeously created the
beautifully picturesque Ngarai
Sianok canyon on the edge of the town of
Bukit-tinggi.
Lake
Maninjau in West
Sumatra offers a majestic scene of clear blue waters and looming mountain
sides. Wacth out for hairpin bends that wind
down all the way to the lake’s shores. West Sumatra, with its beautiful
landscapes and distinct Minangkabau cultures is
ideal for mountain biking.
Further north, the
extinct volcanoes of North Sumatra are a pleasure to see and to trek.
Where, volcanoes have formed lakes, deep and powerful waterfalls and long
rivers. Lake Toba is the dramatic
centrepiece of the sea, nestled in the Bukit
Barisan ranges with 100 km long, as the largest
lake in Southeast Asia and one of the deepest and highest in the world.
The island of
Samosir, situated in central the lake, is equal
in size to the island of Singapore. Where is the heart of
Batak culture, the ethnic group that inhabits
this stunning highland of hills and waterfalls. On the island there are
megalithic monuments, artefacts and traditional Batak
villages, that can be visited on scenic boat trip.
The longest rivers in
Indonesia is Kapuas River located in West
Kalimantan around 1.143 km. The other rivers are
Musi River in Palembang,
South Sumatra, Batanghari River in
Jambi Province, Asahan
River in North Sumatra, Bengawan Solo River and
Berantas River in Central and East Java and
Memberamo in West Papua.
Volcanoes, with year
round sunshine cooling rains and warm weather have made these Indonesian
islands fertile grounds for plants and animal life.
Indonesia has a
tropical monsoon-type climate, characterized by slight changes of season and
temperature, low winds, high degree of humidity and periodical heavy
rainfall.
It has two monsoons.
The East Monsoons or dry season runs from May to September and is influenced
by the Australian continental air masses. The west monsoon or rainy season
runs from December to March and is influenced by the Asian continental and
Pacific Ocean air masses.
Average temperatures
area are classified as follows: Coastal plains: 28º
C; inland and mountain areas: 26º
C; higher mountain areas: 23º
C, varying with the altitude.
Indonesia has an
average relative humidity between 70% and 90% with a minimum of 73% and a
maximum of 87%.
TERRITORIAL WATERS AND EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE
When independence was
proclaimed and sovereignty gained, Indonesia had to enact laws to govern
the seas in accordance with the geographic structure of an archipelagic
state. This, however, did not mean that the country would bar
international passage. The laws were necessary instruments for the unity
and national resilience of the country, with a territory that embraces
all the islands, the islets and the seas in between.
In view of the country's
susceptibility to foreign intervention from the sea and for domestic
security reasons, on December 13, 1957, the Indonesian Government issued
a declaration on the territorial waters of the Republic. It stated that
all the waters surrounding and between the islands in the territory came
within Indonesia's sovereignty. It also determined that the country's
territorial water limit was 12 miles, measured from a straight baseline
drawn from the outermost points of the islands.
In the past, archipelagic
states like Indonesia have unilaterally determined their
200-mile-Exclusive Economic Zones. Today such economic zones are
confirmed by the International Convention on the Law of the Sea, which
was ratified by the Indonesian Government on October 18. 1983. by Act
No. 5 of the same year. This is the legal basis of the
Indonesian-Exclusive Economic Zone.
INDONESIA STANDARD
TIME
As of January 1, 1988,
Indonesia's three time zones have been changed as below:
-
Western Indonesia Standard Time equals GMT
plus 7 hours (meridian 105°E), covering all provinces in
Sumatra and Java. the provinces of West and
Central Kalimantan.
-
Central Indonesia Standard Time equals GMT plus 8 hours (meridian
120°E), covering the provinces of East and South Kalimantan, all
provinces in Sulawesi, and the provinces of West and East
Nusatenggara and East Timor.
-
Eastern Indonesia Standard
Time equals GMT plus 9 hours (meridian 135°E), covering the
provinces of Maluku and Irian Jaya.
|
