Land of a thousand islands
Indonesia, often referred to as the "Land of a Thousand Islands", is an archipelago that occupies a prominent place in the geographical and cultural landscape of Southeast Asia. Bordering Malaysia in northern Borneo and Papua New Guinea in central New Guinea, it stands out as the world's largest archipelago, stretching over a distance comparable to that between London and Moscow. If you were to visit a different island every day in Indonesia, it would take you almost 50 years to see them all!
Scattered across the vastness of the ocean, this ensemble comprises over 17,000 islands, ranging from tiny islets to imposing landmasses like Sumatra and Java. Among these treasures, five islands stand out for their importance: Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan (Indonesian part of Borneo), Sulawesi (Celebes) and Papua (Indonesian part of New Guinea). Java, the most densely populated, is the beating heart of Indonesia with over 145 million inhabitants, and is home to Jakarta, the capital, as well as cultural gems such as the temples of Borobudur and Prambanan. Sumatra is Indonesia's largest island, stretching from the northwest to the southeast of the archipelago. Its tropical forests, notably those of Gunung Leuser National Park and Kerinci Seblat National Park, are world-renowned biodiversity reserves. Kalimantan, on the island of Borneo (the 4th largest island in the world), is famous for its dense forests, rivers and rich wildlife, including orangutans. The island of Sulawesi, also known as Celebes, is known for its "K" shape and biodiversity. It is made up of four large peninsulas and is home to unique species thanks to its isolated evolution. Finally, Indonesian Papua is divided into two provinces: Papua and West Papua. It covers an area of some 785,753 square kilometers, making it Indonesia's largest province, home to an incredibly rich flora and fauna, many of which are endemic to the island. Bali, meanwhile, is the queen of tourism, charming over 6 million visitors a year with its bewitching beaches and lush tropical forests. It lies between the islands of Java and Lombok.
Indonesia's geography is intrinsically linked to its tectonic position. It lies at the convergence of two major tectonic plates: the Eurasian Plate and the Indo-Australian Plate. This location places it directly on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", an area known for its intense seismic and volcanic activity. For thousands of years, the movement of these tectonic plates has led to the formation of islands through volcanic activity and sedimentary deposits, and continues to shape the archipelago dynamically.
Yet despite the vastness of the archipelago, only a fraction of the islands are inhabited. Many islands, because of their isolation, remain devoid of transport or supply infrastructures, thus retaining their pristine character. For example, Papua, the largest island with a surface area of 785,753 square kilometers, remains a largely unexplored territory, attracting mainly intrepid adventurers. The smallest, Simping Island, is a tiny 0.2-hectare oasis in West Kalimantan, adorned with a picturesque sanctuary.
