Indonesia - Geography, History, and More

Indonesia is the worlds largest archipelago with 13,677 islands (6,000 of which are inhabited). Indonesia has a long history of political and economic instability and has only recently begun to grow more secure in those areas. Today, Indonesia is a growing tourist hotspot because of its tropical landscape in places such as Bali. Fast Facts: Indonesia Official Name: Republic of IndonesiaCapital: JakartaPopulation: 262,787,403Â  (2018)Official Language: Bahasa Indonesia (official modified form of Malay)Currency: Indonesian rupiah (IDR)Form of Government: Presidential republicClimate: Tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlandsTotal Area: 735,358 square miles (1,904,569 square kilometers)Highest Point: Puncak Jaya at 16,024 feet (4,884 meters)Lowest Point: Indian Ocean at 0 feet (0 meters) History Indonesia has a long history that began with organized civilizations on the islands of Java and Sumatra. A Buddhist kingdom called Srivijaya grew on Sumatra from the seventh to the 14th century, and at its peak, it spread from West Java to the Malay Peninsula. By the 14th century, eastern Java saw the rise of the Hindu Kingdom Majapahit. Majapahits chief minister from 1331 to 1364, Gadjah Mada, was able to gain control of much of what is present-day Indonesia. However, Islam arrived in Indonesia in the 12th century, and by the end of the 16th century, it replaced Hinduism as the dominant religion in Java and Sumatra. In the early 1600s, the Dutch began growing large settlements on Indonesias islands. By 1602, they were in control of much of the country (except East Timor, which belonged to Portugal). The Dutch then ruled Indonesia for 300 years as the Netherlands East Indies. By the early 20th century, Indonesia began a movement for independence which grew particularly large between World Wars I and II. Japan occupied Indonesia during WWII; following Japans surrender to the Allies, a small group of Indonesians proclaimed independence for Indonesia. On August 17, 1945, this group established the Republic of Indonesia. In 1949, the new Republic of Indonesia adopted a constitution that established a parliamentary system of government. It was unsuccessful, though, because the executive branch of Indonesias government was to be chosen by parliament itself, which was divided among various political parties. Indonesia struggled to govern itself in the years following its independence, and there were several unsuccessful rebellions beginning in 1958. In 1959, President Soekarno re-established a provisional constitution that had been written in 1945 to provide broad presidential powers and take power from the parliament. This act led to an authoritarian government termed Guided Democracy from 1959 to 1965.In the late 1960s, President Soekarno transferred his political power to General Suharto, who eventually became Indonesias president in 1967. The new President Suharto established what he called the New Order to rehabilitate Indonesias economy. President Suharto controlled the country until he resigned in 1998 after years of continued civil unrest. Indonesias third president, President Habibie, then took power in 1999 and began rehabilitating Indonesias economy and restructuring the government. Since then, Indonesia has held several successful elections, its economy is growing, and the country is becoming more stable. Government of Indonesia Indonesia is a republic with a single legislative body that is made up of the House of Representatives. The House is split into an upper body, called the Peoples Consultative Assembly, and lower bodies called the Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat and the House of Regional Representatives. The executive branch is comprised of the chief of state and the head of government, both of which are filled by the president.Indonesia is divided into 30 provinces, two special regions, and one special capital city. Economics and Land Use in Indonesia Indonesias economy is centered on agriculture and industry. The main agricultural products of Indonesia are rice, cassava, peanuts, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, copra, poultry, beef, pork, and eggs. Indonesias largest industrial products include petroleum and natural gas, plywood, rubber, textiles, and cement. Tourism is also a growing sector of Indonesias economy. Geography and Climate of Indonesia The topography of Indonesias islands varies, but it consists mainly of coastal lowlands. Some of Indonesias larger islands (Sumatra and Java for example) have large interior mountains. Because the 13,677 islands that make up Indonesia are located on the two continental shelves, many of these mountains are volcanic, and there are several crater lakes on the islands. Java alone has 50 active volcanoes.Because of its location, natural disasters—especially earthquakes—are common in Indonesia. On December 26, 2004, a 9.1 to 9.3 magnitude earthquake struck in the Indian Ocean, which triggered a large tsunami that devastated many Indonesian islands. Indonesias climate is tropical with hot and humid weather in lower elevations. In the highlands of Indonesias islands, temperatures are more moderate. Indonesia also has a wet season that lasts from December to March. Indonesia Facts Indonesia is the worlds fourth most populous country (behind China, India, and the United States).Indonesia is the worlds largest Muslim country.Life expectancy in Indonesia is 69.6 years.Bahasa Indonesia is the countrys official language but English, Dutch, and other native languages are spoken as well. Sources Central Intelligence Agency. CIA - The World Factbook --Indonesia.Infoplease. Indonesia: History, Geography, Government, and Culture - Infoplease.com.United States Department of State. Indonesia.