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NIE ACTIVITY
Geography Connections
This yearlong series is presented in collaboration with the Connecticut Geographic Alliance. For more information about NIE visit www.courantnie.com or call 241-3847.
Indonesia
By: Kristie Blanchard , CGA & Bacon Academy
DID YOU KNOW?
• The world’s largest lizard, the Komodo Dragon, is found in Indonesia.
• The country has more than 17,000 islands and 100 active volcanoes.
• More than 500 languages and dialects are spoken.
• The world’s largest flower, the Rafflesia arnoldii, can grow up to
3 feet across and smells like rotting meat!
• The most violent volcanic eruption in recorded history happened
in Indonesia in 1815 when Mount Tambora exploded.
• It is the 4th most populous country in the world.
Temple of Borobudur
Indonesia is an archipelagic country
located between the Indian and Pacific
Oceans close to the equator. An archipelago
is a group of islands. Indonesia has over
17,000 islands, many of which are volcanic.
The volcanoes located in Indonesia are
part of the Ring of Fire. The largest islands
are Sumatra and Java. The climate of the
country is mostly tropical, but can be cooler
in the highland areas. Indonesia experiences
monsoons, which can bring large amounts of
rain during short periods of time.
Indonesia is home to a large diversity of
cultures and beliefs. The indigenous people
of the islands included many different ethnic
groups. Muslim invaders brought Islam to the
islands in the 13th century. Indonesia now
has the largest number of Muslims in the
world. Europeans arrived during the 1500s
in search of spices. The spice trade led to
the colonization of the islands by the Dutch.
Indonesia, formerly known as the Dutch East
Indies, did not receive independence until
1945.
Today Indonesia is a very popular tourist
destination. People travel to the country
to experience its wide variety of flora and
fauna, beaches and cultural attractions.
The island of Bali is known for its tropical
beaches, reef diving, and Hindu and
Buddhist temples. On the island of Java is
the capital, Jakarta. This island is also the
site of the famous temple of Borobudur, a
UNESCO World Heritage site popular with
both tourists and Buddhist pilgrims.
MAP IT OUT
Indonesia is what political geographer calls a fragmented country, a
country that has several discontinuous pieces of territory. It is a country that
one or several pieces of territory separated from the mainland by water or
another country.
TAKE 5
LOCATION – Indonesia spans both north
and south of the equator for a distance of
about 3,000 miles. Jakarta, the capital, is
located at 6 degrees south, and 106 degrees
east.
PLACE – language: Bahasa Indonesian
(related to Malaysian); religion: Islam. Rice is
a main staple of the Indonesian’s diet. Most
regions have their own traditional cuisine,
and many of the foods are spicy! A famous
landmark is Borobudur, the world’s largest
Buddhist temple built in the 9th century.
HUMAN ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION
– The growth of population and increasing
urbanization is causing deforestation in the
rain forests. Many natural disasters occur in
this area. In 2004 an undersea earthquake
caused a massive tsunami with waves up
to 98 feet high and caused approximately
300,000 deaths.
REGION – located in South East Asia, it is in
a tropical and volcanic region.
MOVEMENT – Due to the large numbers
of people in the country, jobs are scarce.
Therefore, many people emigrate to
Australia, U.S and Canada. Although most
people are Muslim, the island of Bali is an
exception. Hinduism and Buddhism, which
spread throughout the Indonesian islands
between the 4th and 14th centuries, is still
an important part of the local culture today.
On a blank world map find the following places that are an island, part or exclave
(land territory separated from main part of the country) of the following fragmented
countries:
• Hawaii and Alaska(exclave) of the United States
• Nagorno-Karabakh of Armenia
• Cabinda, exclave of Angola, found between Congo and The Congo
• Sumatra Island of the Indonesian archipelago
• Honshu, large island, of Japan
• The Malaysian part of the island of Borneo (Kalimantan)
• South Island of New Zealand
• Cueta and Mellila, Spanish territories in Morocco
Community Connections:
1.The Literacy rate is very high in Indonesia while only ½ of the students
attend secondary school. Research the literacy rate and high school
statistics in the United States and compare that with Indonesia. Write an
essay on your findings.
NEXT PAGE - January 19th
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