Geography of Indonesia. Indonesia

Republic of Indonesia, Island state V South-East Asia, which includes more than 13.6 thousand islands (according to some sources, more than 17.5 thousand), of which only approx. 1000 have a permanent population. Indonesia is separated from Western Malaysia and Singapore by the Strait of Maluku, the Sulu and Sulawesi Seas from the Philippines, and the Timor and Arafura Seas from Australia. In Kalimantan, Indonesia borders East Malaysia, on the island. New Guinea- with Papua New Guinea.

Territory: 1904.5 thousand, km2 (with East Timor).

Administrative-territorial division: 25 provinces, capital and “special region” - Yogyakarta (27 in total).

Borders: in the north with Malaysia (on Kalimantan Island), in the east with Papua New Guinea(New Guinea Island), in the north it is washed by the waters of the Sulawesi Sea and the Pacific Ocean, in the south by the Arafura Sea, in the west by the Indian Ocean.

Time: ahead of Moscow by 5 hours in winter and 4 hours in summer.

Population: In 2004, Indonesia's population was estimated at 238.5 million. According to this indicator, the country ranks fourth in the world after China, India and the United States. Indonesia's population began to increase rapidly from the early 19th century. In the 1960-1970s, the growth rate was estimated at approximately 2% per year, in 1990-1995 it decreased to 1.7%. In the late 1990s, Indonesia's population grew by about 3 million people annually. The country is inhabited by more than 150 peoples; people here speak more than 1,000 languages ​​and dialects and are at very different stages of cultural development; some tribes have retained the features of a communal clan system, and there are those who live in the Stone Age, do not know agriculture, and are engaged in gathering and hunting. Tribes of sea nomads live at the mouths of rivers in Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi, and the Papuan tribes of New Guinea have preserved primitive communal relations almost intact.

Location and population density. The population is unevenly distributed across the country's more than 13 thousand islands. For example, in Java, which occupies only approx. 7% of Indonesia's area, contains almost 60% of all the country's inhabitants. In 1995, Java and the nearby island of Madura had an extremely high population density of approx. 870 people per 1 sq. km.

Capital: Jakarta (more than 10 million inhabitants). Another Big City: Surabaya (more than 2 million inhabitants).

Official language: Indonesia ranks second in the world in terms of the number of living languages. 728 languages ​​and dialects are spoken here. The official language is Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia). In 1945, a single national language was adopted - Bahasa Indonesia. It is based on Malay, which at one time acted as the main language of trade and communication between the inhabitants of the archipelago. Bahasa Indonesia is taught in all schools and is the language spoken by educated and urban Indonesians. In rural areas, in a relaxed home environment or when talking with friends, languages ​​such as Javanese, Sundanese and Madurese are often used.

Mr. religion: Islam, Christianity (Protestantism and Catholicism), Buddhism, Hinduism, Animism, Confucianism coexist in Indonesia, covering different linguistic and social groups of the population. The vast majority of Indonesians (almost 90%) are Muslim. Although in some parts of Indonesia (Sumatra, west Java and south-east Kalimantan) Muslims strictly observe Islam, in other places the religion is generally heavily influenced by Buddhism and animist beliefs. Almost without exception, the inhabitants of Bali profess Hinduism, influenced by Buddhism, while the majority of the Chinese remain adherents of Buddhism and Confucianism. In the interior of the islands, animism is widespread - the belief that the world is filled with all kinds of spirits hiding in volcanoes, wind, rivers, trees, rocks, graves, daggers, gongs, drums, etc.
In the 1990s, Christians - Catholics and representatives of Protestant churches - made up almost 10% of the population. Christians are scattered throughout the country, but are concentrated mainly in the provinces of North Sumatra, North Sulawesi, East Nusa Tenggara, Central Java, Irian Jaya, as well as in the capital region.

National characteristics: Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim country, and therefore the following rules should be observed: you cannot wear shorts or skirts that are too short, sunbathe without a swimsuit top, or speak loudly during religious ceremonies. It's too much to clap unless you're at a show organized for tourists. In government offices and mosques, clothing must cover the knees. You should not point your finger at anyone or touch their head. Avoid displays of affection in public, cross your legs, pointing your leg in one direction, talk about politics, shout and get angry.

Currency: The national currency is the Indonesian rupiah. There are banknotes in denominations of 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000 and 50,000 and coins: 25 and 50 rupees. Banks are open from 08.00 to 16.00 on weekdays, from 08.00 to 11.00 on Saturdays. The difference in currency exchange rates at the airport and hotels is small. Large hotels, banks and shops accept credit cards, but not everywhere. Very high inflation rate. Dollars issued in 1997 are not accepted for exchange; problems may also arise with the exchange of banknotes issued in 2001.

Customs regulations: The import and export of foreign currency is not limited; amounts over $11 thousand are declared. Import of national currency in quantities of more than 100 million rupees is possible only with the permission of the Central Bank of the country (amounts over 5 million rupees must be declared). Persons over 18 years of age are allowed duty free import up to 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, or 100 g of tobacco; up to 1 liter of alcoholic beverages, perfumes - within the limits of personal needs, as well as gifts and souvenirs worth no more than $250 per person or $1000 per family.

Video cameras, portable radios, audio players, tape recorders, binoculars and sports equipment must be declared for subsequent export from the country. Cameras are imported only under the conditions of their subsequent export (they are included in the passport). Videos, CDs/DVDs and other media (including software) must be presented to customs for their contents to be assessed.

The import of weapons, drugs, explosives, pornography, cordless phones, medicines of Chinese origin, as well as printed publications on Chinese. There are also restrictions on the import of fruits, vegetables, meat, fish and plant products.

The export of rare animals and birds, wood carvings from the island of Bali, as well as objects and things of historical and artistic value and without special permission is prohibited. The import of birds from European countries(primarily poultry and parrots). The import of all types of animals and birds into the territory of a number of states is completely prohibited.

State tuning: parliamentary republic.

Head of State: president, elected for a term of 5 years.

Climate: equatorial, there is no clear change of seasons. The country has two rainy seasons - April and November. Bali has a tropical climate and enjoys good sunny weather all year round. The air temperature in Indonesia does not change all year round, ranging from 25 to 27 °C on the plains; The water temperature in the seas does not fall below 27 °C. It is cooler in the mountains, and frosts even occur above 1500 m. Short but heavy rains fall almost every day, and in Bogor on the island. Java number of thunderstorm days is highest on globe- 322. True, in the eastern part of Java and the Lesser Sunda Islands there are dry (May-October) and wet seasons.

Electricity: Mains voltage is 220 V. (On the island of Bali - 220 and 110 V. There are power outages.)

Connection: Country code +62; City codes: Jakarta - 21, Bali island - 361.

Airport tax: all passengers flying from Densapara airport pay an airport tax of 100 thousand rupees ($11), on local flights 40 thousand rupees ($4.5). Payment is accepted in rupees only.

Indonesia visa: Government of the Republic of Indonesia since January 26, 2010 changed the rules for obtaining a visa on arrival. Visas on arrival for 7 days are no longer issued. Now visas are issued upon arrival only for a period of 30 days. The cost of a visa is 25 US$. 30 days tourist visa can be extended for another 30 days (for an additional fee), but cannot be changed to another type of visa, such as a business visa, temporary residence permit, etc.
Official requirements for obtaining a 30-day visa on arrival: the passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry into Indonesia, and you must also present a ticket for departure from Indonesia. Entry and exit is possible through one of 15 airports and 21 seaports officially designated as “international gateways” by the Indonesian Immigration Department. We recommend that all tourists prepare the exact amount to pay for the visa in order to avoid delays at the visa counter.

Holidays and non-working days: Only have a fixed date official and national holidays : January 1 - New Year, April 21 - Kartini Day,
August 17 - Independence Day, October 1 - Defense Day, October 5 - Armed Forces Day, October 28 - Youth Oath Day, November 10 - Heroes Day, December 25 - Christmas.

Religious holidays (their dates are determined by lunar calendars: Muslim - according to the Hijri, and Hindu-Buddhist - according to the “Saka” and “Wuku” calendars:

• January-February - Ramadan (Buluan-Puasa);
• March-April - Nyepi holiday;
• March-April - commemoration of the death of the prophet Isa;
• April-May - Ascension of Isa;
• April-May - Muslim New Year, Muharram;
• April-May - Idul-Adha;
• May - Vesak;
• July - Birthday of the Prophet Mohammed;
• December - Isra Miraj Nabi Mohammed, ascension of the Prophet Mohammed, etc.

Festivals and holidays in Indonesia that are recommended to see:

• Galungan Festival (variable date, lasts for 10 days).
• Spring festival in the Pura-Besakih temple.
• Festival of Silence - accompanied by many independent ceremonies (purification of temple deities Melasti, expulsion of evil spirits Pengrupuk, Ngembak Nyepi (Forgiveness Sunday), etc.).
• Ceremonial festival of Pura Meru.
• Full Moon Festival at Chakranegara Temple (June).
• Perang-Ketupat Rain Festival (October-December).
• One of major holidays- (the date of the event is determined according to the Saka calendar, usually March) - is very quiet (on this day from 6.00 to 6.00 the next day it is not customary to leave the house or make any noise at all - almost all establishments are closed, the streets are empty and almost all life comes to a standstill - local residents This holiday is celebrated with fasting and meditation).
• Jakarta Fair (June and lasts approximately three weeks).
• Jalan Jaksa Street Fair (August).
• International cultural performance (May).
• Mbale hosts theatrical performances in February and March that harken back to the era of internecine warfare.
• Larantuka Island hosts a dramatic Easter Parade (April-May).
• In Rutenga and Flores - fights with whips (August).
• In Sulawesi, the “funeral banquets” of Torayan (August-October) are interesting.
• In Java, colorful performances of the traditional "Ramayana ballet" are held in the open theater of the Prambanan temple complex twice a month from May to September.
• The island of Madura hosts bull races (August-September), ending with a colorful final race in Pamekasan (September).
• The four-day Vesak Buddhist festival in Borobudur celebrates the enlightenment of Buddha. Thousands of pilgrims take part in the procession from Mendut Temple to Borobudur, followed by dance performances and arts and crafts exhibitions.

Purchases: From Indonesia we recommend bringing:
-anything made from wood, especially sandalwood,
-paintings made on cloth or batik,
-wooden masks (the scarier the better) - to scare away evil spirits (placed at the entrance to a room or house).
Bali is famous for its masters of wood and stone carving; the masterly execution of the most intricate ornaments and sculptures will not leave anyone indifferent. Numerous shops and shops offer a wide selection of products, from cute trinkets for $1 to sculptural compositions that can adequately decorate any interior.
Batik is a real work of art - hand-painted fabric, subjected to repeated dyeing and heat treatment, turns into an artistic canvas, the rich colors of which are resistant to either moisture or the scorching sun.
Handmade decorative items made of silver and jewelry made of natural pearls deserve special attention. You will be pleasantly surprised by the variety and cost of products.

Indonesia is a country located on many tropical islands. Each Indonesian island has its own unique culture, architecture, people and traditions. Indonesia has it all - jungle, 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 consisting of more than 17.5 thousand islands of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, including Kalimantan, Sumatra, Java, and New Guinea (only 6 thousand of them are inhabited). Indonesia borders Malaysia, East Timor and Papua New Guinea. Other nearby countries are Singapore, Philippines, Palau and Australia. total area this country – 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 Puncak Jaya on the island of New Guinea, whose height reaches 4,884 meters.

Geographical position Indonesia is due to the fact that this country has very strong seismic and volcanic activity. those. Indonesia experiences frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. However, special services can already predict all these disasters. In general, in Indonesia there are now about 150 active volcanoes, including the “famous” Krakatoa and Tambora.

On the island of Kalimantan there are three most big rivers 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 human settlement on the site of modern Jakarta already existed 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 consider themselves Christians.

Indonesian government

According to 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 Regional Representatives (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 Struggle Party, the Justice and Welfare Party, and the National Mandate Party.

Climate and weather in Indonesia

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

Some travelers like to vacation 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 (rains fall in the afternoon). Best time for a trip to Java or Sumatra - May-September.

On the island of Bali, the rainy season is from October to March. However, in Bali, between the rain showers there is a lot of sun and bright blue skies. Therefore, you can relax in Bali even during the rainy season. The best months to travel to Bali are from May to August.

Sulawesi Island, 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, at higher elevations - +24C.

Average air temperature on Bali:

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

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:

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

Rivers and lakes

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

History of Indonesia

Ancestors in Indonesia modern people lived already during the Lower Paleolithic (Javanese ape-man and Flores man). About 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 existed already in the 4th century AD. - Kutai and Taruma, and later – Srivijaya. All these states were greatly influenced 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. These were Portuguese sailors. Then the Dutch began to lay claim to Indonesia, forming the Netherlands East India Company in 1602. At this time, there were several states on the territory of modern Indonesia, among which the Sultanate of Mataram should be highlighted. Gradually these states became a colony of the Netherlands.

In 1811, Indonesia became a British colony. 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(eg Indonesian Communist Party and 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 declared. However, the Netherlands did not want to part with their colony and launched 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

Modern Indonesian culture is the result of the interaction of traditions of different peoples who live in this country. In addition, Portuguese traders and Dutch colonists had a significant influence on Indonesian culture.

IN Everyday life Indonesians are guided by the principles of mutual assistance (“gotong royong”) and exchange of opinions (“musyawarah”), which helps to reach agreement (“mufakat”).

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

In Indonesia, we recommend that tourists must see 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 Festival of Silence in Bali, the Vesak Buddhist festival in Borobudur, and the Easter parade on the island of Larantuka.

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 of Indonesian cuisine is occupied by fish and various seafood (oysters, shrimp, lobsters, crabs, squid). In addition, it is impossible to imagine Indonesian cuisine 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 can only be found in Chinese restaurants or in areas where few Muslims live.

Traditional Indonesian dishes include 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).

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

Sights of Indonesia

Rest assured that travelers will not get bored in Indonesia. 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. In our opinion, the top ten best Indonesian attractions 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 location, Indonesia offers excellent holiday conditions. Tourists have long appreciated islands in Indonesia such as Bali and Lombok. However, some other Indonesian islands offer opportunities for have a wonderful holiday no worse. We advise you to pay attention to the islands of Papua, Lembongan, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Kalimantan, and 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 varied.

Traditional Indonesian spa services include 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, they are the final stage of a spa session.

In addition, Indonesian spas use herbal wraps (used to remove impurities from the body and treat skin blemishes) as well as traditional massage.

Souvenirs/shopping

Products made from bamboo and coconut (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) are usually brought as souvenirs from Indonesia. , Wayang dolls, traditional Indonesian musical instruments (gamelan, drums, bamboo flutes), tea.

Office hours

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

Indonesia (indon. Indonesia), official name- The Republic of Indonesia (Indian: Republik Indonesia) is a state in Southeast Asia. The population, according to the results of the 2010 census, is more than 237.5 million people (according to estimates as of July 2011 - more than 245.6 million people), the territory is 1,919,440 km?, by both of these indicators it is the largest country in the region. It ranks fourth in the world in terms of population and fourteenth in terms of territory.

The capital is Jakarta. The official language is Indonesian.

Unitary state, presidential republic. It is divided into 34 administrative-territorial units, 32 of which are provinces and 2 are special districts, equal in status to provinces.

Located on the islands of the Malay Archipelago and the western part of the island of New Guinea. It is washed by the waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans. It is the largest island state in the world. A significant part of the islands belongs to the Sunda Islands, which in turn are divided into the Greater Sunda and Lesser Sunda Islands. It has land borders with Malaysia (on the island of Kalimantan), Papua New Guinea (on the island of New Guinea) and East Timor (on the island of Timor).

It is distinguished by significant ethnocultural diversity. About 88% of the population is Muslim, making Indonesia the country with the largest Muslim population in the world.

An agrarian-industrial country with a dynamic developing economy. The volume of GDP at purchasing power parity for 2011 amounted to 1.125 trillion US dollars (about 4,700 US dollars per capita). The currency is the Indonesian rupiah.

The country's independence was declared on August 17, 1945. In 1942-1945, it was under Japanese occupation, and before that it was a colonial possession of the Netherlands, which began its development in the first half of the 17th century and united most of the territory of modern Indonesia under their rule by the beginning of the 20th century.

Population. According to the results of the national census conducted in May - June 2010, the population of Indonesia was 237,556,363 people, and according to estimates derived from the calculation of the current population growth rate, by July 2011 its number increased to 245,613,043 people. Indonesia is therefore the most populous country in Southeast Asia and has the fourth largest population in the world.

The average population density is (based on the 2010 census) about 124 people per km2, and the population is extremely unevenly distributed: 57.5% of Indonesians live on Java, which makes up less than 7% of the territory, making it one island from the most densely populated places on the planet (more than 1000 people per km?). The lowest density is on the Moluccas - 0.8% of the population (34 people per km?). Among the administrative-territorial units, the highest population density is registered in the Special Capital District - more than 14,400 people per km?, the lowest - in the province of Papua - less than 8 people per km?.

To ensure a more even distribution of the population throughout the country, since the 1950s, the Indonesian authorities have been implementing a large-scale transmigration program - relocating residents of densely populated areas (Java, Madura, Bali) to sparsely populated islands (Kalimantan, New Guinea, the Moluccas). As part of this program, by the beginning of the 2000s, at least 5.5 million people were resettled, of which almost half were resettled in the 1970s and 1980s.

The share of the urban population is 44%. As of 2010, 11 cities have populations of more than 1 million, the largest of which is the capital Jakarta with a population of 9,607,787.

Growth rates, age and gender structure. Over the entire period of Indonesia's independent development, it was characterized by fairly high population growth, which has decreased slightly since the 1980s as a result of the implementation of state program family planning. According to estimates for 2011, the population growth rate was 1.069% (110th in the world) with a birth rate of 18.1 (104th in the world) and a mortality rate of 6.1 (155th in the world). According to the forecasts of relevant UN experts, in the coming decades the population growth rate in Indonesia will gradually decline and, reaching its maximum in 2055 (295 million people), the population of Indonesia will begin to decrease (Table 1.).

Table 1. Population growth dynamics in Indonesia

The age structure of the population is typical for developing countries: the main feature is the high proportion of young people - the average age of an Indonesian resident is 28 years. 27.3% of Indonesians are under 15 years of age, 66.5% are aged 15-65 years and 6.1% are over 65 years of age.

The gender composition of the population is almost equal, the sex ratio is 1.01 in favor of men. Changes in this indicator in different age groups generally consistent with the global trend: 1.05 at birth, 1.04 for those under 15 years of age, 1.01 for those 15 to 64 years of age, and 0.79 for those over 65 years of age. At the same time, its fluctuations in different regions of the country are quite noticeable: if in the provinces of Papua and West Papua it is 1.12-1.13, then in the province of the Western Lesser Sunda Islands it is 0.94.

Economy. The monetary unit is the Indonesian rupiah (Indonesian Rupiah), the average rate for 2010 is 9170 rupees per 1 US dollar. The unit of exchange is the sen (Indon. sen), one hundredth of a rupee. Money issuance is carried out by the country's central bank - Bank Indonesia.

The inflation rate at the end of 2011 was 5.4% (140th place in the world). The volume of national gold and foreign exchange reserves as of July 2011 amounted to 122.7 billion US dollars.

The economy, given its market nature, is characterized by an active role of the state: it owns approximately 140 large enterprises in various sectors of the national economy, and also controls prices for a number of goods, including basic food products and fuels and lubricants. In terms of GDP, the share of industrial production in 2010 is 47%, the service sector - 37.6%, and agriculture - 15.4%. At the same time, 12.8% are employed in industry, in agriculture- 38.3% and in the service sector - 48.9% of the working population. The total working-age population is 116.5 million people (5th place in the world), the unemployment rate is 7.1% (70th place in the world).

The population is characterized by significant socio-economic stratification, with the income of the top 10% being almost 11 times higher than the income of the bottom 10% of Indonesians. More than 13% live below the poverty level.

Corruption is a serious economic problem - in the rankings compiled by Tranparency International, Indonesia has been ranked at the top of the second hundred for a long time.

Industry. In 2010, the share of industrial production in the structure of GDP was 47%, more than two-thirds of this volume is accounted for by manufacturing industries. At the same time, the number of people employed in industry is relatively small - less than 13% of the working population. The growth rate is noticeably lower than for the economy as a whole - about 4.3% in 2010.

In 2009, more than 25 thousand enterprises with the status of large or medium-sized enterprises and more than 3.2 million small enterprises and home-based producers were registered in the manufacturing sector. The most significant industries are the food industry (about 19% of all non-primary production, almost 6,000 large and medium-sized events), the chemical industry (16%, about 900 enterprises), the textile industry (7%, about 2,000 enterprises), the tobacco industry (7%, more than 1600 enterprises), production of machinery and equipment (7%, about 600 enterprises), automotive industry (6%, more than 270 enterprises), pulp and paper industry (6%, more than 530 enterprises), production of ready-made clothing (4%, more 2000 enterprises). Most small enterprises and cottage industries operate in various branches of the light and food industries, including traditional crafts: the production of batik, ceramics, weaving mats, the production of wood and bone carvings, and other popular souvenir products.

The mining industry is dominated by large national companies, a significant part of which are state-owned, as well as Western resource corporations. The largest of the national companies is the state monopoly Pertamina, which controls oil production and refining.

Oil production (as of 2009) amounted to more than 1.02 million barrels per day (37th place in the world), natural gas - 85.7 billion cubic meters per year (8th place in the world). Also, all the mineral resources listed in the section “Relief, inland waters, minerals, soils” are mined on an industrial scale.

Foreign trade and foreign investment. The volume of foreign trade in 2010 amounted to 285.3 billion US dollars with a positive balance of 31.1 billion dollars. The volume of exports was 158.2 billion dollars, imports were 127.1 billion dollars (for both indicators - 30- e place in the world).

The main export items are gas, oil, electrical equipment, textiles, wood, plywood, and rubber. The main imports are machinery and equipment, oil, chemical and oil refining products, and certain types of food. At the same time, since the mid-2000s, the volume of imported oil has increasingly exceeded the volume of exported oil - this was the reason for Indonesia's exit in 2008 from OPEC, which it had been a member of since 1962.

The volume of foreign direct investment in the Indonesian economy in 2010 is about $85.6 billion (38th place in the world). Indonesian investors have placed more than $33 billion abroad (37th place in the world).

Having studied the economic and geographical characteristics of Indonesia, we can draw the following conclusion: the economic and geographical position of Indonesia is quite favorable, however, there are a number of problems there. Economic development Indonesia is complicated by many remnants of its colonial past. Indonesia continues to remain an underdeveloped country with relatively low industrial potential. The absence of major manufacturing industries has created a constant need to import industrial equipment and consumer goods. All this predetermined Indonesia's dependence on foreign markets.

Countries. Here about 1/2 of all cultivated areas of Indonesia; This region accounts for over 50% of the harvest of rice and sweet potatoes, over 70% of cassava, over 75% of peanuts, about 85% of soybeans, 3/4 of tea, almost all of sugar, kapok and cinchona bark. Java has about 2/3 of the total number of cattle (including buffalo) and over 80% of sheep and goats. Java accounts for all the teak and about 1/4 of the fish catch. Among all the islands of Indonesia, Java stands out for its relatively developed manufacturing industry. About 80% of the total population employed in industrial production, about 70% of enterprises and over 85% of all workers in the factory industry are concentrated here (1964). Main centers of manufacturing industry: , Yogyakarta, Surakarta, . Mining of oil (Chepu and Surabaya region), manganese ore (Karangnungal and West Progo deposits in West and Central Java), (near Cheribon), sulfur (West and East Java), gold and silver (Chikotok deposit). Java accounts for about 1/6 of Indonesia's total exports and 2/3 of its imports

“Elephant Cave” near Bedulu (Bali Island). Around 13th century

O. Sumatra is the second most economically developed region of Indonesia after Java. It has important mineral and agricultural resources. raw materials for export (up to 2/3 of total exports). More than 10% of the entire territory is cultivated. Sumatra is the main plantation area (60% of Indonesia's plantation area). This region accounts for 2/3 of the total export of rubber, over 9/10 of the production and entire export of palm oil and palm kernels, 2/3 of the production and export of coffee and hard fibers, 1/2 of the export of copra, 1/4 of the export of tea, 9/10 of Indonesia's pepper production and export Sumatra is the main mining region of Indonesia (almost all tin ore and bauxite production, up to 90% of oil production and about 80% of coal). Main and years Medan, and.

Banga Bay near Padang (Central Sumatra).

O. Kalimantan. The largest but underdeveloped region of Indonesia. On its territory, equal to 1/4 of the entire area of ​​​​Indonesia, only 4% of the country lives. Less than 3% of the area is cultivated (75% of the area - ). Logging (up to 1/3 of exports, 40% rattan and dammars), oil production (Tanjung), coal (Parapattan field), diamonds (Pelaihari region).

O. Sulawesi. Agrarian region with pockets of mining. Less than 10% of the area is cultivated (50% - ). Extraction of nickel ore, asphalt, sulfur. Basic shopping mall and - the city of Makassar, with which the Lesser Sunda and.

Lit.: A., Elimination of the economic positions of the Dutch in Indonesia, M., 1962; Antipov. In Indonesia, Indonesia (Economic and geographical characteristics), M., 1961; his, Indonesia. Economic-geographical regions, M., 1967; Arkhipov. In Ya., Indonesia in the struggle for economic independence, M., 1963; him, and Indonesia (1945-1968), M., 1971; Review of mineral resources of the countries of the capitalist world (capitalist and developing countries) M., 1969; Hicks G. L., McNicoll G., The Indonesian economy, 1950-1967: bibliographic supplement, ; L'é conomie indonesienne, “Documentation franç aise. Notes et é tudes documentaires" 1971, 16 aout, No. 3808-3809; Statistical pocket book of Indonesia, Djakarta, 1958, 1963, 1964-67; Sensus penduduk, 1961. Republik Indonesia, Djakarta, 1962.

Current time - Indonesia, Bali:

Indonesia is the largest country in Southeast Asia and the largest island country in the world. Its entire territory is spread over thousands of islands.

The nature of Indonesia is rich and varied. Tropical rainforests, amazing flora and fauna, majestic volcanoes and blue lagoons, long beaches and tropical gardens.

Traveling around Indonesia gives you the opportunity to see several historical eras. Some islands of Indonesia are inhabited by tribes that are still unknown to scientists. With all this, Jakarta - the capital of Indonesia - is a modern city.

This country will not leave you indifferent. Indonesia surprises with its national color: an endless number of flowers, warm smells of oriental spices, folk rituals and ceremonies - all this makes up the amazing atmosphere on its islands.

Indonesia has one of the best beaches on earth, and hotels meet both international quality standards and simple consumer requirements for quality service. You can also stay in a cozy cottage.

State structure

Indonesia - unitary republic, consisting of 27 provinces. The state philosophy of Indonesia - Pancasila - consists of five basic principles: belief in one God, in the unity of Indonesia, in humanity, democracy and social justice. The country's coat of arms is Garuda Pancasila, a mythical bird carrying symbols of the state ideology, Pancasila, and the motto of Indonesia: “Unity in diversity.”

The capital of Indonesia, Jakarta, is a modern metropolis with an active political and economic life.

Population

Indonesia is not just a country, but the whole world, similar and different at the same time. More than 190 million people representing more than 300 ethnic groups live on its territory.

The inhabitants of the islands are very friendly and treat tourists well.

Language

The country's population speaks 500 languages ​​and dialects. However, there is one national language, Indonesian, which is understood throughout the country, from North Sumatra to Irian Jaya. Most Indonesians come from Malayan ethnic groups with the addition of Melanesians and Negroid races. Traveling around Indonesia, you can feel like you are in several historical eras at once. Prehistoric rites and rituals have been preserved here; on some islands live tribes whose languages ​​have not yet been studied by scientists.

Religion

Indonesia is called the maritime crossroads of Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam. Almost 90% of the population is Muslim. The remaining 10% is distributed between Christians and Buddhists. Despite being the most common religion, Islam has not become the state religion in Indonesia. The national philosophy of Pancasila presupposes one God and guarantees freedom to practice any religion.

Geographical position

The Republic of Indonesia is located on the largest archipelago in the world and consists of 17,508 islands, more than 5,120 kilometers on either side of the equator. Land borders Indonesia separates it from Malaysia and Papua New Guinea, but the country's borders are mainly maritime. Water separates Indonesia from Singapore and Malaysia in the northwest. From the Philippines in the north and from Australia in the southeast.

Climate

The climate in Indonesia is equatorial (the equator crosses the islands of Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi and the Maluku Islands) and subtropical monsoon. But these climatic characteristics are moderated by the influence of the sea.

Indonesia has almost as many climate types as there are islands. On the same island, there may be a rainy season on one slope, and a dry season on another at the same time. The situation may change if the wind changes direction. The ideal time to visit Indonesia is our northern summer, but, for example, on the Molluk Islands this time of year is the most bad weather(storms and storms).

In addition, the amount of precipitation depends on forests. The larger the forest area, as in Sumatra and Borneo, the more often it rains. 4 m of precipitation per year is the record for Pontianak and Padang.

In lowland areas, the temperature most of the year is between 26-27 C, in mountainous areas it is somewhat cooler. In the southern and eastern regions it is hotter and the climate has quite distinct seasons - rainy (September-May) and relatively dry (May-October). Sunny weather persists almost all year, as most of the precipitation falls in mountainous areas, mainly early in the morning or at night. Total precipitation is more than 3000 mm. in year.

Difference in time

There are several time zones in Indonesia: in Sumatra and Java, time is 4 hours ahead of Moscow in winter (3 in summer), Bali and Sulawesi are 5 hours ahead of Moscow (4 in summer).

Currency

Indonesian rupiah, 9.5 RUP = 1 USD, exchange rate may vary.

Visa

To enter Indonesia for citizens of the Russian Federation for a period of up to 30 days, a visa is issued at the airport upon arrival.

Customs

The import of drugs, weapons, pornographic products, printed publications in Chinese and Chinese medicines is prohibited. The import of alcohol and cigarettes is limited (no more than 2 liters of alcohol and 200 cigarettes). The export of antiques, rare plants and animals is prohibited.

Main attractions

Indonesia has many attractions. Each of the islands that make up it is interesting in its own way.

The main attraction of the town Bangli- the very highly revered temple of Pura Keneh. Large and imposing, it rises in terraces along a sheer slope above the road.

Gianyar is famous for the production of elegant endek fabrics, which are sold directly from factories in the western part of the city. The Cap Cili and Cap Togog factories are almost entirely focused on serving tourists, where you can observe the entire fabric manufacturing process from start to finish and purchase the fabric itself or finished products.

Denpasar- the passionate southern heart of Bali. From here all roads to the mysterious and romantic world islands. The name of the city means "next to the market", and the main market is called "Pasar Budung". They say that it is the largest and noisiest on the island.

Jakarta is the capital of Indonesia, a city home to almost 9 million Indonesians. Jakarta plays a leading role in the country. Jakarta is located on the northwestern coast of Java, at the mouth of the Chi-liwung River, where in the 16th century there was a thriving port, the center of the spice trade of Jayakert.

Yogyakarta (Yogya) on the southern slope of Mount Merapi, where many cultural monuments have been preserved, because there were two Central Javanese Mataram empires here (one in ancient times, the other in modern times).

Klungkung- a restless trading city, with many interesting attractions. The most significant of these are the ruins of the royal palace, known as Taman Gili ("Island Garden"), with ancient ceiling paintings in the Kerta Gosa courtroom. These frescoes are the only surviving examples of classical painting in Bali.

Main treasury Pezheng, the state archaeological museum Museum Purbakala consists of four small pavilions housing an eclectic selection of objects found at Pezhenga.

Singaraja, the second largest city in Bali after Denpasar. The city's most famous landmark is Gedong Kirtya, the world's only library of lontar manuscripts. These are ancient texts written on specially treated leaves of the lontar palm tree.

Islands:

Bali- the most brilliant decoration among the amazing treasures of the Indonesian archipelago. This small island - part of a latitudinal volcanic mountain arc - is dampened by tropical rainfall and literally bathed in bright sunshine. Bali is a green masterpiece of nature. The Balinese have done a lot to benefit from the benefits of nature. Bali has gained fame earthly paradise. In the southern part of the island there are three Bali resorts, international Airport And main city- Denpasar.

Bintan is a short speedboat ride from Singapore. Bintan Island is a wonderful world filled with lush tropical vegetation with strange plants and amazing flowers, unprecedented exotic animals and birds.

Irian Jaya- so called West Side islands of New Guinea. The territory, formerly called Netherlands New Guinea, was annexed by Indonesia in 1963 after a short but brutal military campaign by President Sukarno. Today, Irian Jaya is considered the most isolated region from the rest of the world. Mangrove swamps make large sections of the coast impassable, and dense jungle and high mountains (some snow-capped peaks reach a height of 5000 m) completely isolate parts of this territory from each other. There are almost no roads and extremely undeveloped air and sea communications.

Kalimantan- this is no longer the forgotten place it once was. Daily flights connect its main cities with the Indonesian capital. Thanks to its huge reserves of oil, gas, timber, diamonds (the word Kalimantan means “diamond river” in Malay), Kalimantan supplies a large number of natural raw materials to other countries and largely meets Indonesian needs for raw materials. Geologically, Kalimantan is one of the most ancient islands of the Malay Archipelago. There are no volcanoes on it, and it represents a fold of the earth's crust - a heavily weathered mountain range.

On Komodo The rarest and most mysterious animals have survived and are living - the descendants of prehistoric predatory lizards that became extinct on earth 160 million years ago. These are the largest amphibious giant lizards - monitor lizards. Wild boars, deer, wild horses and even buffaloes become its prey. But they are not at all disdainful of carrion. Possessing a highly developed sense of smell, they find it very quickly and here again gather in large groups. The dragon has a difficult relationship with humans.

Krakatoa located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. The nearest international airport is in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, and the volcano can be admired from the air or from the sea. Krakatoa stands where two tectonic plates meet: the plate that forms the floor of the Indian Ocean is being pushed under the Asian plate. Along the entire length (3218 km) of the border between the two plates there are volcanoes, of which the most famous is Krakatoa. We know that the eruption of this volcano caused the death of the local population in 416 AD. Century after century, Krakatoa continued to grumble, and by 1680 the main cone was joined by two new ones on the island of Rakata, with an area of ​​44 square meters. km.

Lombok is a small island, one of Indonesia's finest holiday islands, often described as the "Bali of yesterday", lying to the east of its more famous neighbor and separated from it only by a narrow strait. This is where the transition from western to eastern Indonesia begins in its flora and fauna, the changes becoming more noticeable the further you go East. The northern part of the island is hilly and covered in greenery with tall trees and bushes. Administrative center Mataram province. Lombok's three main towns - Ampenan, Mataram and Chakranegara - are located close to each other, within a six-kilometer strip stretching from the western coast of the island to the east.

Sumatra- the “backbone” of the country - has important economic, strategic and political significance. In terms of population (over 30 million people), the island ranks second in Indonesia, in terms of export volume (oil, natural gas, rubber, tin, palm oil, etc.) - first, and in terms of attractiveness for tourists - third (after Bali and Me you). The south of Sumatra is the richest in natural resources and at the same time the least developed. In the forests of Lampung province, which provides the state with 40% of revenues from the sale of oil and rubber abroad, man-eating tigers still roam - literally next to major highways. A major developing city in southern Sumatra, Palembang is located on the Musi River.

Java- a paradise for rugged individualists who enjoy searching for ancient temples or taking in breathtaking views from a ledge at the very mouth of a volcano. For five centuries from 930 onwards, the Brangas valley was the heart of power and civilization on the island, and the principalities of that era left a rich heritage in architecture, literature, music and theatre. The island's volcanic eastern promontory is home to many secluded nature reserves, and the mountains are distinctive unique beauty. The North Coast, where once the liveliest and richest trading ports Java is currently one of the centers of handicrafts and the focus of many attractions.

Kitchen and its features

Indonesians consider rice to be the food of the gods. Rice (nasi) is steamed, without salt or oil, and served separately. Nasi is the basis for other dishes, of which the most famous is fried rice, seasoned with vegetables, small pieces of meat, fish, and shrimp.

Noodles, originally a Chinese dish, have found a strong foothold in Indonesia. Sauces and seasonings give it a unique taste. Here, just like in China, they believe that noodles are a symbol of a long and happy life.

Various spices are popular. Black and white pepper, tamarind, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, hot red or green capsicum, peanuts, ginger, soy, garlic are essential components of hot seasonings.

Among the meat dishes, the most popular are Indonesian kebabs (sate) made from lamb, beef or chicken. Indonesian men love ox testes satay because they believe it supports male potency. You can taste sate not only in a restaurant, but also right on the street. They are prepared in specially equipped roasters on a bicycle or motorcycle. In the evenings on the streets of Indonesian cities you can hear the calling cry “sate!”, and you just have to shout back and numerous sellers of this delicious dish will rush to you.

Frog legs fried in dough are also prepared. Very often in the evenings near the city ditches you can see boys with flashlights in their hands - they are catching frogs. But the most delicious frogs, of course, are those grown specifically for the kitchen. They are sold alive, tied in several pieces, at local markets.

A special place is occupied by swallow's nests cooked in chicken broth. It is not only a delicacy, but also a medicine - for purifying the blood, treating asthma, and regenerating muscle tissue. Every year, hundreds of collectors flock to the caves of the island of Kalimantan, where swallows build nests from their saliva. Risking their lives, they climb long, rickety bamboo ladders with flashlights in their teeth. Some fall from dizzying heights and die. But the temptation is too great - swallow's nests are incredibly expensive, collecting them gives a decent income.

On Bali favorite dish- lavar. These are finely chopped vegetables seasoned with fresh chicken or pig blood. Lavar made from turtle meat and blood is considered a delicacy and at the same time a dish that prolongs life. Often crushed turtle shell is mixed into the meat. To keep the blood fresh, lemon juice is added to it.

Spicy foods are usually washed down with cold water and ice. Soft drinks are also consumed: coconut milk with rice and palm sugar “bajitur”, crushed ice with sugar syrup and beans, a drink made from sugar cane juice “air tebu”, ginger tea. Coconut milk is served directly in the coconut, with the top cut off. They drink through a straw, and use a long spoon to scrape out the tasty white pulp from inside.

Most Indonesians are Muslim and therefore do not drink alcohol. Indonesia produces very good "Isabella" and rice wine "Bram", similar to port, the local wine is Hatten, it is produced on the island of Bali. The local palm vodka is called “arak”, served alone or with honey (as a liqueur) and is well absorbed by the body. For the sake of exoticism, you should definitely try “tuak” - beer made from the juice of palm flowers.

For dessert, fried banana “pisang goreng”, cookies made from rice flour, fruit and sugar “dolol”, and banana bread are prepared. A special place is occupied by the traditional Javanese cake made of white and yellow rice in the form of a truncated cone, symbolizing the well-being of the family. However, the best dessert, of course, is the numerous fresh fruits, ranging from bananas to exotic durian.

The food is served on a banana leaf. They eat with their right hand without cutlery. True, now they often use a spoon and fork, but never a knife! Before and after eating, the right hand is washed in a special vessel with water with a slice of lemon.

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