Difference between revisions of "Indonesia"
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'''Republic of Indonesia'''(Indonesian: Republik Indonesia) is a country and huge [[archipelago]] lying between South-East [[Asia]] and [[Australia]]. The population is about 250 million. Indonesia is predominantly (88%) [[Islam]]ic, with small numbers of [[Hinduism|Hindus]], [[Buddhism|Buddhists]] and Christians. The capital of Indonesia is Jakarta. | '''Republic of Indonesia'''(Indonesian: Republik Indonesia) is a country and huge [[archipelago]] lying between South-East [[Asia]] and [[Australia]]. The population is about 250 million. Indonesia is predominantly (88%) [[Islam]]ic, with small numbers of [[Hinduism|Hindus]], [[Buddhism|Buddhists]] and Christians. The capital of Indonesia is Jakarta. | ||
Revision as of 22:26, April 4, 2007
Republic of Indonesia(Indonesian: Republik Indonesia) is a country and huge archipelago lying between South-East Asia and Australia. The population is about 250 million. Indonesia is predominantly (88%) Islamic, with small numbers of Hindus, Buddhists and Christians. The capital of Indonesia is Jakarta.
The major islands of the Indonesian archipelago include Sumatra, Java, Borneo (shared with Malaysia and Brunei), New Guinea (shared with Papua New Guinea), Bali, Flores, Lombok, Sulawesi, Sumba, Sumbawa, part of Timor, and thousands of smaller islands.
History
Historically known as the Spice Islands for its famed production of pepper, cloves and nutmeg, Indonesia was a Dutch colony up until World War II, when it was invaded by Japan, declaring its independence at the war's end. Indonesia is today an important world producer of oil and rubber.
Natural History
Indonesia is home to much interesting (and frequently threatened) wildlife, including tigers, the Javan and Sumatran rhinoceroses, the orang-utan, the Komodo dragon, birds of paradise and the coelacanth.
Indonesia is prone to natural calamities. There are many volcanos, most famously Krakatoa, and earthquakes, mudslides, tsunamis and typhoons are all common events.
