THE LAND
The geography of Indonesia is supported by tropical climate and weather. With an archipelago form, Indonesia maintains
Territorial Waters and Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ). The relief of Indonesia is filled with volcanoes , rivers
and lakes.
Indonesia has great variety of animal species. The Komodo reptile (Varanus Komodoensis) has been designated as
Indonesia National animal, the red fresh water Siluk/Arwana(Scleropage formosus) as the Fascinating animal and
the flying Elang Jawa (Javan Hawk Eagle, Spizaetus bartelsi) as the one of the Rare (endangered) species.
Ttropical plants include the famous Rafflesia Arnoldi, the largest flower in the world, and Amorphophallus Tatinum,
the largest influorescence type of its kind.
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GEOGRAPHY
Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world. It consists of five major islands and about 30 smaller groups.
The total number of islands is 17,508 according to the Indonesian Naval Hydro-Oceanographic office. The archipelago
is on a crossroad between two oceans, the Pacific and the Indian, and bridges two continents, Asia and Australia.
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 6°08' north latitude to 11°15' south latitude,
and from 94°45' to 141°05' east longitude.The Indonesian sea area is four times greater than its land area,
whichis about 1.9 million sq km. The sea are is about 7.9 million sq km (includingan exclusive economic zone) and
consitutes about 81 % of the total area of the country.
ARCHIPELAGO
The five main islands are : Sumatra, which is about 473,606 sq km insize;
the most fertile and densely populated islands, Java/Madura, 132,107sq km; Kalimantan, which comprises two-thirds
of the islands of Borneo and measures 539,460 sq km; Sulawesi, 189,216 sq km; and Irian Jaya, 421,981sq km, which
is part of the world's second largest island, New Guinea. Indonesia's other islands are smaller in size.
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 coasts of Malaysia and Indo China, where the sea depth does
not exceed 700 feet. Irian Jaya which is part of the islands of New Guinea, and the Aru Islands lie on the Sahul
Shelf, which stretches northwards from the Australian coast. Here the sea depth is similar to that of the Sunda
Shelf.
Located between these two shelves is the island group of Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, and Sulawesi, where the sea depth
reaches 15,000 feet. Coastal plains have been developed around the islands of Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan and Irian
Jaya.
The land area is generally covered by thick tropical rain forest, where fertile soils are continuously replenished
by volcanic eruptions like those on the island of Java.
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CLIMATE AND WEATHER
The climate and weather of Indonesia are characterized by two tropical seasons, which vary with the equatorial
air circulation (The Walker Circulation) and the meridian air circulation (The Hardley Circulation). The displacement
of the latter follows the north-south movement of the sun and its relative position form the earth, in particular
from the continents of Asia and Australia, at certain periods of the year. These factors contribute to the displacement
and instensity of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) which is an equatorial trough of low pressure that
produces rain. Thus, the west and east monsoons, or the rainy and dry seasons, are a prevalent feature of the tropical
climate.
The Main Seasons
The climate changes every six months. The dry season (June to September) is influenced by the Australian continental
air masses; while the rainy season (December to March) is the result of the Asian and Pacific Ocean air masses.
The air contains vapor which precipitates and produces rain in the country. Tropical areas have rains almost the
whole year through. However, the climate of Central Maluku is an exception. The rainy season is from June to September
and the dry season from December to March. The transitional periods between the two seasons are April to May and
October to November.
Temperature and Humidity
Due to the large number of islands and mountains in the country, average temperatures may be classified as follows:
Coastal plains : 28°C
In- land and mountain areas : 26°C
Higher mountain areas: 23°C, varying with the altitude.
Being in a tropical zone, Indonesia has an average relative humidity between 70% and 90%, with a minimum of 73%
and a maximum of 87%.
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TERRITORIAL WATERS AND EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE
When independence was proclaimed and sovereignity gained, Indonesia enacted laws to govern the seas in accordance
with the geographic structure of an archipelago state.
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.
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VOLCANOES
The country is predominantly mountainous with some 400 volcanoes, of which 100 are active. Mountains higher than
9,000 feet are found onthe islands of Sumatra (Mt. Leuser and Mt. Kerinci), Java (Mt. Gede, Mt.Tangkubanperahu,
Mt. Ciremai, Mt. Kawi, Mt. Kelud, Mt. Semeru and Mt. Raung), Sulawesi (Mt. Lompobatang and Mt. Rantekombala), Bali
(Mt. Batur and Mt.Agung), Lombok (Mt. Rinjani) and Sumbawa (Mt. Tambora). The highest mountainis the perpetually
snow-capped Mandala Top (15,300 feet) in the Jaya Wijayamountain range of Irian Jaya.
Recorded eruptions of volcanoes over the last two decades are: Sumatra - Dempo 1973, and 1974, Merapi 1978, Sorik
Merapi 1989, Kerinci 1990; SundaStrait Anak Krakatau 1978 and 1979; Java - Bromo 1972, Merapi 1972 and1976, Raung
1978, Semeru 1978 and 1979, Butak Petarangan (Sinila and Sigludar) 1979; Paluweh - Rokatenda 1978, Galunggung 1982,
Slamet 1988, Kelud 1990; Sulawesi - Lokon 1978, 1979 and 1991, Siau - Karangetang 1978 and 1979, Colo 1983, Soputan
1989; Maluku - Dukono 1978, Gamalama Kie Besi 1987, Banda Api 1988; East Nusa Tenggara - Lewotobi laki-laki 1990.
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RIVERS AND LAKES
Many rivers flow throughout the country. They serve as useful transportationroutes on certain islands, for example,
the Musi, Batanghari, Indragiri and Kampar rivers in Sumatra; the Kapuas, Barito, Mahakam and Rejang riversin Kalimantan;
and the Memberamo and Digul rivers in Irian Jaya. On Javarivers are important for irrigation purposes, i.e., the
Bengawan Solo, Citarum and Brantas rivers.
A number of islands are dotted with scenic lakes, like the Toba, Maninjau and Singkarak lakes on Sumatra; the Tempe,
Towuti, Sidenreng, Poso, Limboto, Tondano, and Matana lakes on Sulawesi; and the Paniai and Sentani lakes on Irian
Jaya.
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FAUNA
Indonesia contains one of the world's most remarkable geographical boundaries in its distribution of animals. This
dates back to the glacial period when sea level fell all over the world. During this period the islands of Java,
Sumatra, Kalimantan and Bali on the Sunda Shelf were joined together with one another and with the Asian mainland,
but Irian Jaya, Aru and the Australian continent of the Sahul Shelf were separated. This early geographical separation
explains why the tropical animal species of Java, Sumatra and Kalimantan do not exist in Irian Jaya. For the same
reason, the Kangaroo of Irian Jaya is missing in the other region.
Maluku, Sulawesi and the Lesser Sunda Islands, which lie between the Sunda and Sahul shelves, have a strikingly
different fauna. Most of the eastern fauna do not exist in Sulawesi even though this island is close to Kalimantan,
being just across the Makassar Strait. Similarly, the animal species of Irian Jaya are not found on Seram and Halmahera,
Irian Jaya's closest neighbours.
One possible reason for this is that Kalimantan and Sulawesi might have been separated by a deep straight at one
point, while the great depthof the Banda Sea kept them apart during the glacial period. Some Scientistshave attributed
the phenomenon to three faunal lines. ALFRED RUSSEL WALLACE( 1823-1913) wrote in his book, & quot; The Malay
Archipelago, & quot; that Nusantara was separated into an Oriental ecological area (west side) andan Australian
ecological area (east side) by a Wallace Line that runs from South to North, passing the Lombok and Makassar Straits
and ending in the south eastern part of the Philippines. The Weber line which passes thesea between Maluku and
Sulawesi, and the Lydekker line which starts atthe edge of the Sahul Shelf Sulawesi Island is in a transition zone
known as the Wallace Area. The other two faunal lines are the Weber Line, which passes the sea between Maluku and
Sulawesi, and the Lydekker Line, which starts at the Sahul Shelf and skirts the western border of Irian Jaya and
the Australian continent. Other scientists, however, prefer to call the area a " subtraction transition zone
& quot;.
At the present stage of Indonesia's social and economic development, wildlife is not likely to survive without
protection. To this end, the Directorate General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation has planned to designate
about 10% of the country's land area, or about 18.7 million ha, as reserved areas. Until fiscal year 1991/92 there
were 184 units of nature conservation covering a total area of 8,494,118 ha, 73 units of wildlife reserve with
a total area of 5,586,209 ha, 56 recreational parks with a total area of 263,470 ha, 13 units hunting game with
a total are of 241,387 ha, 7 marine gardens with a total area of 72,930 ha, and 30 units national park covering
a total area of 7,688,640 ha.
The Directorate General has adopted a national strategy on natural conservation whereby the entire ecosystem is
conserved. This is necessary because it is often impossible to preserve wildlife outside its natural habitat. For
example, the orang utan, which literally means & quot; jungleman & quot; (Pongo pygmaeus) and only lives
in the jungles of Sumatra and Kalimantan, is very dependent on a primary forest habitat. For this purpose, the
Directorate General, in cooperation with the World Wildlife Fund (W.W.F.), established & quot; orang utan rehabilitation
centers & quot; to prepare illegally-captured orang utans for return to life in the wilderness.
The Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), the world's largest lizard, can grow to 3 metres long. Its home is on
the Komodo group of reserves, which are comprised of Komodo, Padar and Rinca islands, off the coast of Flores in
the eastern part of the country.
The & quot; babi rusa & quot;, a deer-like pig (Babyrousa, babi russa), and the & quot; anoa, &
quot; a forest-dwelling dwarf buffalo, are among the interesting indigenous animals of Sulawesi. Other indigenous
mammals of Sulawesi are the big civet cat called & quot; musang & quot; (Macrogalidiamusshenbroeki); a
species of the tersier called & quot; binatang hantu, & quot; which literally means & quot; spooky
animal & quot; (Tarsius spectrum)and several species of the black monkey or & quot; monyet hitam& quot;
(Macacanigra).
Among the vast variety of birds in Sulawesi, the Maleo fowl and the shrubhen are two notable species of the megapode
family.
Irian Jaya and Maluku are rich in colorful birds, varying from the big and unable-to-fly cassowaries (Casuarius)
and the brilliantly-plumaged birds of paradise that belong to the family of Paradiseidae andPtilinorhynhidae and
number more than 40 species, to a large variety of birds from the parrot family.
Other members of Indonesia's fauna include the hornbill bird, or & quot;rangkong/enggang & quot; of the
Bucerotidal family, which is noted for its enormous horn-tippedbeak. There are also the Sumatran tiger (Panthera
tigris sumatrenesis) and the almost- extinct Java tiger (Panthera tigris sondaica).
The Mentawai Islands off the west coast of Sumatra are home to the & quot; beruk, & quot; a relatively
large monkey often trained to pick coconuts; and the & quot; lutung, & quot; or black monkey, which lives
on leaves.
The & quot; Badak Jawa & quot; or one-horned rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus)lives in Ujung Kulon National
Park in West Java, but the smaller badak Sumatra, or two-horned rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) has its habitat
in the Mt. Leuser National Park (the largest such park in the country) located around the valley of the Alas river
in Aceh, Indonesia's northern-mostprovince.
Other notable animals are the & quot; banteng & quot; or wild bull of Java (Bos javanicus); the tree kangaroo
(Dorcopsis muelleri) ofIrian Jaya; the fresh water dolphin (Orcacella brevirostris) of the Mahakam river in East
Kalimantan and the proboscis monkey or " bekantan, & quot; also of Kalimantan.
In addition, there is a great variety of birds, including egrets, herons, kingfishers, hawks, eagles and many others.
There are also thousands of species of insects and a large variety of lizards and snakes. To rtoisesand turtles,
as well as exotic species of fish, crabs, mollusks and other aquatic animals, living both in salt and fresh water,
are also found ingreat abundance.
Ornamental Fish
Indonesia is known worldwide for her ornamental fish species whichare exported to the United States, Japan and
Germany. The species most noted for their beautiful colors and shapes include the clownfish (Amphiprion), damselfish
(Dascyllus), wrasse (Coris gaimardi) and the Corisaygula which abounds in the Bali Strait.
The most common species is the green wrasse (Thalasoma lunare). The butterfly fish (Chaetodontidae) has a small
snout, but longsnouted butterfly fish are also found and include the Forcipiger longirostris and Chelmon rostratus.
Another species, the bannerfish (Heniochus acuminatus)has backfins longer than its body length; and the Moorish
idol or Zancluscanescens can measure 20 cm.
Angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator), Pomancanthus semi-circulatus; Pygoplites-diacanthus, and Auxiphipops navarchus,
or Angle fish, whichbelongs to the Pomancanthidae family, are all collected for their beautifulcolors.
Surgeonfish (Acanthuridae) and Paracanthurus hepatus are verypopular because of their distinguished bluish color.
Other beautiful speciesare the Acanthurus leucosternon, Zebrazoma veliferum and Naso literatus. Living a solitary
life is the tiger fish or Balistidae.
Sea horses, or Hippocampus coronatus, of the syngnathidae family are also among the ornamental fish sought. Peacock
fish, so named because of their long fins, include the pterois zebra, brachiopterus, volitans, ruselli, miles and
radiata varieties. They all belong to the Scorpanidae family. There are many more species of ornamental fish in
Indonesia, far too many to mention all.
Pearl Shells
Pearl oysters found in the country include the Pinctada maxima, the P. Margaritifera and the Pteria penquin. These
species grow in the waters around Halmahera Island, the Maluku and the Aru Islands in eastern Indonesia.
The pearls are in great demand because of their large size and highquality. In the Maluku pearl shells are collected
and made into beautiful ornaments.
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FLORA AND FAUNA DAY
To care for animals and plants in the country, the fifth of November has designated a the national Flora and Fauna
Day. To foster the society'slove for its fauna and flora, President Soeharto has designated the Komodoreptile (Varanus
Komodoensis) as Indonesia National animal, the red freshwater Siluk/arwana (Scleropage formosus) as the Fascinating
animal and the flying Elang Jawa (Javan Hawk Eagle, Spizaetus bartelsi) as the Rare (endangered) species. These
decision complement the previous designation of lndonesia's national flowers.
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FLORA
The rich flora of Indonesia includes many unique varieties of tropical plant life in various forms. Rafflesia arnoldi,
which is found only incertain parts of Sumatra, is the largest flower in the world. This parasitic plant grows
on certain lianas but does not produce leaves. From the samearea in Sumatra comes another giant, Amorphophallus
tatinum, the largest inflorescence of its kind.
The insect trapping pitcher plant (Nepenthea spp) is represented by different species in many areas of western
Indonesia.
The myraid of orchids is rich in species, varying in size from the largest of all orchids, the tiger orchid or
Grammatophyllum Speciosum, to the tiny and leafless species of Taeniophyllum which is edible and takenby the local
people as a medicine and is also used in handicrafts. Theforest soil is rich in humus which enables the luxuriant
growth of a multitudeof fungi, including the horse hair blight, the luminescent species, the sooty mold and the
black mildew.
On June 5, 1990, in a ceremony to mark the World Environment Day, President Soeharto declared three flowers as
Indonesia's national flowers : the melati(Jasminum sambac), a small white sweet-smelling flower which playsan important
part in many cultural and traditional ceremonies in Indonesia, as Nations flower; the anggrek bulan or moon orchid
(Phalaenopsisamabilis) , a species with pure white flowers, as the Enchanting Flower; and the Rafflesia arnoldi
, a plant without stems and leaves that grows on the stems and roots of other plants and spreading an odor like
that of carrion, as the Rare (endangered) species. This parasitic plantis named after Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles
and Dr. Arnold who discovered the bloom (the largest in the world) in 1818 in the forest of Bengkulu, southwest
Sumatra, when Raffles was serving as lieutenant governor of Bengkulu under the British temporary rule (1814-1825)
in Indonesia following Holland's occupation by France during the Napoleonic War.
Indonesia's flora also abounds in timber species. The dipterocarp familyis renowned for its timber (meranti) ,
resin, vegetable oil andtengkawang or illipe nuts. Ramin, a good quality timber for furniture production, is produced
by the Gonystylus tree. Sandalwood, ebony, ulin and Palembang timber are other valuable forest products. Teakwood
is a product of man-made forests in Java.
Because the flora is so rich many people in Indonesia have made a goodliving of this natural resource. About 6,000
species of plants are known to be used directly or indirectly by the people. A striking example in this modern
time is the use of plants in the production of traditional herbal medicine or & quot; Jamu & quot;. Flowers
are indispensable in ceremonial, customary and traditional rites.
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INDONESIA STANDARD TIME
As of January 1, 1988, Indonesia's three time zones have been changed as follow:
Western Indonesia Standard Time equals GMT plus 7 hours (meridian 105°E), covering all provinces in Sumatra
and Java, and 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 Bali, 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.
Source : "INDONESIA 1996 : AN
OFFICIAL HANDBOOK", Department of Information, Directorate of Foreign Information Services, Perum Percetakan
Negara RI, 1995/1996 |
