Java (island)

I

Introduction

Java (island), island of the Malay Archipelago, southern Indonesia, bounded on the north by the Java Sea, on the east by Bali Strait, on the south by the Indian Ocean, and on the west by Sunda Strait.

Java extends in a generally easterly and westerly direction for a distance of about 1050 km (about 650 mi). The maximum width of the island, which lies about midway between the 5th and 10th parallels of south latitude, is about 204 km (about 127 mi). Jakarta is the largest city of Java and the capital of Indonesia. Other important cities in Java are Yogyakarta, Bandung, Semarang, Surabaya, Cirebon, Pekalongan, Sukabumi, Malang, and Surakarta. The area of Java is 134,045 sq km (51,755 sq mi). The population of Java (1995 estimate) is 114,733,500 (figure includes the population of the nearby island of Madura).

II

The Land

Java is traversed from east to west by a volcanic mountain chain. This longitudinal uplift has approximately 110 volcanic centers, including about 35 active craters. Semeru (3676 m/12,060 ft), situated in the eastern portion of the island, is the highest volcano and one of the most active. Elevations in western Java are generally lower, rarely exceeding 1737 m (5700 ft). Besides Semeru, the most active volcanoes of Java include Bromo, Kawah Ijen, and Tangkubanperahu. A low coastal plain, with a maximum width of about 64 km (about 40 mi), adjoins the central mountain chain on the north. The southern part of the island is occupied by a series of limestone ridges, which form a precipitous coastal escarpment. The rivers of Java are generally swift, narrow, and shallow. The Solo River, about 540 km (about 335 mi) in length, is the largest stream. The best natural harbors are on the northern coast.

Java has been the scene of a number of disastrous volcanic eruptions, notably that of Mount Ringgit in 1686, when about 10,000 lives were lost, and that of Papandayan in 1772, when about 3,000 people were killed. A devastating earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale caused widespread destruction in central Java in May 2006. The epicenter of the quake—which left an estimated 5,800 people dead, more than 20,000 injured, and about 200,000 homeless—was located near the town of Bantul, around 37 km (23 mi) to the southwest of the city of Yogyakarta.

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III

Climate

Temperatures as high as 37° C (99° F) occur at midday in the coastal and lowland regions of Java, and the relative humidity often exceeds 80 percent. During the rainy season, from November to April, ocean breezes and frequent thunderstorms have a cooling influence. At elevations above 610 m (2000 ft) temperate climatic conditions prevail, and temperatures as low as -2° C (27° F) occur at extreme elevations. The mean annual precipitation is about 2030 mm (about 80 in). Wide regional variations occur, however, with extremes ranging from an annual maximum of about 4215 mm (about 166 in) at Bogor to an annual minimum of about 890 mm (about 35 in) at Assembagus.

IV

Plants and Animals

The vegetation of Java is luxuriant, particularly along the lower slopes of the central mountain chain and on the coastal plain. In addition to a broad variety of plants, numerous species of trees, including palms, bamboo, acacia, rubber, and teak, abound in this zone, which is confined largely to the area below 518 m (1700 ft). The teak forests, one of the most valuable natural resources of Java, are extensive. Among the trees common to the higher slopes of the central uplift are the magnolia, rasamala, oak, elm, laurel, maple, and chestnut. Stands of timber occupy approximately 23 percent of the total surface of the island. Java also has a numerous and diversified fauna. Noteworthy animals are the one-horned rhinoceros, tiger, leopard, banteng (wild ox), wild pig, flying lemur, and several species of ape. The island is the habitat of more than 400 species of birds, including the red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus), the green peacock, 2 species of parrot, the swift (Collocalia), 10 species of pigeon, 2 species of cuckoo, and 11 species of heron. Among the reptilian fauna are the great python (Python reticulatus), cobra, a species of adder, and the crocodile. Some crocodiles attain 9 m (30 ft) in length. The coastal and inland waters teem with fish, including many edible varieties. Crabs, crayfish, and lobsters are numerous.

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