10 Things You Should Know About Indonesia

Even though Indonesia is a wonderful nation, few people appear to be very knowledgeable about it. If you've ever been curious about this island country, keep reading to learn 10 interesting facts about Indonesia.

1. It has a Latin and Greek name.

The Latin word indus and the Greek word nesos, which both imply "Indian island," are the origins of the name Indonesia. Because Indonesia was formerly known as the Indian Archipelago or the East Indies Islands. For the people that live in the Indian Archipelago, English ethnologist George Windsor Earl offered the word "Indunesians" because both are rather lengthy. James Richardson Logan, one of his students, used Indonesia as a synonym for the Indian Archipelago in a study that was published.

2. It's Huge!

The majority of people are unaware of Indonesia's size. Flying from North Sumatra in the east to West Papua takes more than 12 hours. 1,919,440 square kilometers make up the entire landmass, which is nearly 8 times the size of the UK.

3. There are A LOT of Islands in it!

Over 18,000 islands make up the tremendous quantity of territory that makes up Indonesia. As a result, it is the world's largest archipelago and guarantees that you will never grow weary of exploring the nation.

The most well-known of these islands is arguably Bali, which receives more than 5 million visitors from abroad each year.

4. There Is A Lot of Coastline!

Indonesia has the second-longest coastline in the world, behind Canada, because of all the islands. The 54,000 kilometers of coastline in the nation are home to everything from majestic cliffs to immaculate beaches and even coastal cityscapes like the capital Jakarta.

5. People have lived there for at least a million years.

On the island of Java, some of the earliest fossilized remains in the world have been discovered. The first discovery, commonly known as Java man, dates back between 700,000 and 1 million years. Since the late 1800s, a great deal more have been discovered and may be even older. This proves that humans have lived in Indonesia for at least a million years!

6. Volcanologists' Dream

There are 127 active volcanoes in Indonesia. Although several of these, such Mount Bromo in Java and Mount Agung in Bali, may seem terrifying, they really draw visitors from all over the world. This does not, however, imply that they are not harmful. Before visiting any of Indonesia's active volcanoes, visitors should be informed of volcanic warnings and safe zones.

7. It is incredibly multicultural

There are more than 300 ethnic groups spread across the 18,000 islands of Indonesia. Every group has its own traditions and customs. While visiting Indonesia, you might come across a variety of great cultural attractions, such as the Balinese Hindu processions, the stunning freediving Bajau people in Sulawesi, or the exquisite Sasak crafts on Lombok.

8. Its Citizens Speak More Than 700 Languages

Over 700 indigenous languages, to be exact, are spoken by these thousands of ethnic groupings. The majority of Indonesians speak at least one foreign language in addition to their native tongue, which is Indonesian. The majority of people use Indonesian at work or school and their native language or mother tongue at home.

9. It Has Sites Recognized by UNESCO

There are 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Indonesia. Komodo National Park, Lorentz National Park, Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra, and Ujung Kulon National Park are four of these. The Sangiran Early Man Site, Bali's Subak System, Prambanan Temple, and Borobudur Temple are the other four cultural sites.

All of these locations are lovely to explore and will provide you with fascinating insights into the past of this amazing archipelago.

10. It was a significant real estate transaction.

Director General of New Netherland Pieter Stuyvesant executed possibly the most well-known real estate transaction in history on September 8, 1664, when most of Indonesia was still governed by the Dutch. With the British, he exchanged the rights to a tiny island called New Amsterdam for the even smaller island of Run in the Banda Sea. New York was given the name after New Amsterdam, and the rest is history. So, New York might have continued to be a Dutch colony if it weren't for the tiny Indonesian island of Run.

Have You Discovered Anything New About Indonesia?

I hope you gained some new knowledge about Indonesia and that it has aroused your curiosity in traveling to this gorgeous region of the world. Were any of these details entirely unfamiliar to you? Tell us in the comments section below.