Javanese Landscape

Also spelled Djawa , or Jawa island of Indonesia lying southeast of Malaysia and Sumatra, south of Borneo (Kalimantan), and west of Bali. Java is only the fourth largest island in Indonesia but contains more than half of the nation's population and dominates it politically and economically. The capital of Java and of the country is Jakarta (formerly Batavia), which is also Indonesia's largest city.

Administratively, Java is composed of three propinsi (provinces)—West Java (Jawa Barat), Central Java (Jawa Tengah), and East Java (Jawa Timur)—as well as Jakarta Raya (Greater Jakarta) daerah khusus lbukota (special capital district) and Yogyakarta daerah istimewa (special district), both of which are administratively considered provinces. Area including nearby islands, 49,926 square miles (129,307 square km). Pop. including nearby islands, (2005) 127,540,500.

Mount Bromo (foreground) and Mount Semeru (background), two active volcanoes in eastern Java, Indon.
Mark Lewis—Stone/Getty Images

Java is 661 miles (1,064 km) long from east to west and ranges in width from about 60 miles (100 km) at its centre to more than 100 miles (160 km) near each end. A longitudinal mountain chain, surmounted by many volcanoes, runs east to west along the island's spine and is flanked by limestone ridges and lowlands. Java is highly volcanic, yet serious eruptions are few; only 35 of its 112 volcanoes are active. In the west the volcanic peaks are clustered together, becoming more widely spaced in the central and eastern parts of the island. The highest volcano is Mount Semeru, at 12,060 feet (3,676 metres). A series of discontinuous plateaus lies south of the volcanic belt and reaches an elevation of about 1,000 feet (300 metres).

Most rivers in Java run northward, since the central mountains that form their watershed lie somewhat closer to the southern than to the northern coast. Some rivers do run southward, however. The largest rivers on the island are the Solo and the Brantas, in Java's eastern portion. These and many smaller rivers are a source of water for irrigation but are navigable only in the wet season, and then only by small boats.

Java's climate is generally hot and humid throughout the year. Maximum temperatures are found in the plains along the northern coast, but in the mountains it is much cooler. The high humidity often makes the climate debilitating. The northwest monsoon season, from November to March, is rainy and cloudy, while the southeast monsoon, from April to October, brings some rain but generally is sunny. Annual rainfall at Jakarta averages about 69 inches (1,760 mm). The average daily maximum temperature at Jakarta is 86 °F (30 °C), and the minimum is 74 °F (23 °C). At Tosari (elevation 5,692 feet [1,735 metres]) in the interior highlands, the highs and lows average 72 °F (22 °C) and 47 °F (8 °C). Java's soils are very fertile because of periodic enrichment by volcanic ash.

Java's rich vegetation is southern Asian, with Australian affinities; more than 5,000 species of plants are known. Dense rainforests abound on the damp slopes of the mountains, while thick bamboo woods occur in the west. The island's fruit trees include banana, mango, and various Asian species. Teak, rasamala, and casuarina trees and bamboo occur in forest stands, together with sago palms and banyan trees. Teakwood is one of Java's major exports.

Among the island's fauna are the one-horned rhinoceros and banteng (wild ox), though these species are now restricted to only the more remote areas, notably Ujung Kulon National Park, at the island's western tip (designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991); the Javan tiger is now extinct. The island is also home to monkeys, wild pigs, and crocodiles; about 400 species of birds; 100 species of snakes; 500 species of butterflies; and many types of insects.