About Indonesia 

General: Located in Southeast Asia, Indonesia is a nation consisting of more than 17,000 islands. This chain of islands straddles 1,100 miles north and south along the equator, dividing the Indian and Pacific oceans and linking the continents of Asia and Australia. The vast archipelago, the world s largest, spans three time zones. Indonesia stretches east to west across the globe some 3,200 miles, the approximate distance from Florida to Alaska.

Principal islands: Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Kalimantan, Papua, Bali, the Moluccas.

Geology: Indonesia is a land of volcanic mountains, coastal lowlands, and high plains. The fertile volcanic soil, humid climate and plentiful rainfall, produces lush vegetation and great tropical forests. Only the lesser Sunda islands closer to Australia, such as Sumba and Timor, have a drier, more barren landscape. Indonesia is also rich in mineral deposits, including gold, copper, tin, coal, diamonds, and uranium.

Mountains and Volcanoes: The country is predominantly mountainous. Situated on the “Ring of Fire,” a crescent of volcanoes circling the globe, Indonesia has more than 400 volcanoes, with about 100 still active. The highest mountain is Mt. Mandala, on the Jayawijaya mountain range, with its snow-covered peaks reaching 15,300 feet.The most famous volcano is Mt. Krakatau off Java’s west coast, which erupted in 1883 with the force equivalent to that of several hydrogen bombs. Today, a smaller volcano stands in its place.