With a coastline stretching nearly 55,000 km, Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world. There are 17,504 islands in the country, three of which are among the world’s largest: Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Papua.
Indonesian seas contribute 18% of the total number of coral reefs worldwide. You can find 75% of the world's coral reef species in the Raja Ampat Islands, West Papua. Other popular diving and snorkeling destinations include Bunaken, Wakatobi, and Komodo national parks.
Lying on the Ring of Fire, Indonesia is home to over 100 active volcanoes. As a result of the eruptions, you can find stunning volcanic lakes like Lake Kelimutu, Lake Batur, and Lake Toba — the world's largest volcanic lake.
Besides its natural beauty, Indonesia is also famous for its cuisine, which features rich spices and flavors. Some of the must-try dishes include fried rice, pempek, rawon, satay, and rendang, which often makes the list of the most delicious foods in the world.
Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, is a popular destination with many places of interest from amusement parks to art galleries and luxurious shopping malls. With two international airports and several railway stations, it is also an excellent transit city for those who wish to travel to different parts of Indonesia.
Other world-famous destinations are Bali, a tropical island where you can find dramatic cliffside temples and spectacular natural landscapes, and Yogyakarta, a treasure house of cultural attractions like Prambanan Temple and the Palace of Yogyakarta, as well as a point of departure to Borobudur Temple.
All foreign tourists are required to apply for a visa, except for the citizens of Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Some foreign nationals are also eligible for Visa on Arrival for tourism purposes. Visit https://www.imigrasi.go.id/ for the most updated information about Indonesian visas.
Tap water is not considered safe to drink in Indonesia, so it is advised to get bottled water or at least boil the tap water first. Make sure to wear a modest outfit and/or a cover-up sarong when visiting mosques, temples, and other places of worship. Get a prepaid SIM card upon arrival to avoid roaming charges and get Internet access as free WiFi may not always be available in Indonesia.
The official language of Indonesia is Indonesian. It is a standardized variety of Malay and shares many similarities with the Standard Malay used in Malaysia. Aside from that, most Indonesians speak at least one indigenous language. There are more than 700 unique local languages spoken in Indonesia, with Javanese, Sundanese, and Madurese having the most speakers.
Indonesia is composed of some 17.000 islands, around 6.000 of which are inhabited. The five main islands are Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Sulawesi, and New Guinea.
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