GEOGRAPHY
Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world. It consists of five major islands and about 30 smaller groups. The new figure for the total number of islands is more than 17,000 according to the Indonesia Naval Hydro-Oceano- graphic office. The archipelago is on a crossroad between two oceans, the Pacific and the Indian, and bridges two continents, Asia and Australia. This strategic position has always influenced the cultural, social, political and economic life of the country.

The Indonesia sea area is four times greater than its land area, which is about 1.9 million sq km. The sea area is about 7.9 million sq km (including an exclusive economic zone) and constitutes about 81% of the total area of the country.

The five main islands are: Sumatra, which is about 473,606 sq km in size; the most fertile and densely populated islands, Java/Madura, 132,107 sq km; Kalimantan, which comprises two-thirds of the island of Borneo and measures 539,460 sq km; Sulawesi, 189,216 sq km; and Irian Java, 421,981 sq km, which is part of the world's second largest island, New Guinea. Indonesia's other islands are smaller in size.

CLIMATE AND WEATHER
The climate changes every six months. The dry season (June to September) is influenced by the Australian continental air masses; while the rainy season (December to March) is the result of the Asian and Pacific Ocean air masses.

Due to the large number of islands and mountains in the country, average temperatures may be classified as follows:

Coastal plains : 28-C
Inland and mountain areas : 26-C
Higher mountain areas : 23-C, varying with the altitude. Being in a tropical zone, Indonesia has an average relative humidity between 70% and 90%, with a minimum of 73% and a maximum of 87%.
Capital : Jakarta

LANGUAGES

There are about 583 languages and dialects spoken in the archipelago. These normally belong to the different ethnic groups of the population. Some of the distinctly different local languages are: Acehnese, Batak, Sudanese, Javanese, Minahasa, Toraja, Buginese, Ambonese. The national language of Indonesia is "Bahasa Indonesia".

GOVERNMENT

Indonesia is a republic with a sovereignty vested in the people to be fully exercised by an eleceted People's Consultative Assembly, which is the highest political institution in the state. The Assembly's main is to sanction the Constitution, decree the Guidelines of State Policy, and elect the President and Vice-President for a term of office of 5 years. In the exercise of its duty, the President is assisted by the Vice-President and a cabinet.

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION REGIONS

The Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia is divided into 27 provinces which are sub-divided into 243 districts, 55 municipalities, 16 administrative municipalities, 35 administrative cities, and 3841 sub-districts or kecamatans.

CURRENCY

Indonesia's currency is the rupiah. Notes come in the denominations of 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 1,000, 500, 100 while coins come in denominations of 1,000, 500, 100, 50, 25, 10, and 5.