Indonesia is a great island nation and the largest in Southeast Asia. This country is home to stunning beaches, clear waters, and many rainforests. Indonesia is a great place to visit if you’re a keen traveller or just looking for a relaxing getaway. These are 15 amazing facts about Indonesia you need to know before planning your trip.
It IS THE LAST ARCHIPELAGO IN THE GOLDEN WORLD
Indonesia has over 17,000 islands, making it the largest archipelago. It would take approximately 12 hours to fly from one side of Indonesia to the next. This is crazy!
Every island is unique, so it’s important to research before you travel. You can relax on the Bali beaches, hike through Sumatra’s rainforest or climb volcanoes in Java to see the orangutan. We can guarantee you that there will be something for you whatever your travel style is.
It is home to many dragons (OKAY, THEY are technically lizards).
The Komodo dragon is a member of the monitor lizard family. It is found in Indonesia. The Komodo dragon is the largest lizard species globally and can grow up to 3m (around 10ft) and weigh up to 135kg (about 300 pounds).
If the name doesn’t give away, you can find them on Komodo Island and nearby islands. They are venomous and can kill their prey.
INDONESIA HAS THE THIRD HIGHEST NUMBER OF VOLCANOES IN WORLD
The famous Pacific Ring of Fire, a belt of active volcanoes and earthquakes that runs from Chile to Southeast Asia, is where Indonesia is found. With 139 volcanoes scattered across the islands, Indonesia is home to the most volcanic eruptions in the world. At the moment, 79 of these volcanoes remain active.
Two of the most destructive volcanic eruptions ever recorded in Indonesia are Tambora and Tambora. The eruption of Tambora in 1815 had such a profound impact on the climate that it prevented Europe from having a summer in the year 1816. Another was the 1833 eruption of Krakatau. The magnitude of the eruption caused two severe tsunamis. The disaster claimed the lives of between 30,000 and 40,000 people. Many people live close to volcanoes due to the number of volcanoes within Indonesia.
IT HAS NINE WORLD HERITAGE SITES FOR YOU TO VISIT
There are nine sites of world heritage in Indonesia that you can visit. These include:
- Borobudur temple compounds
- Prambanan temple compounds
- Sumatra’s tropical rainforest heritage
- Komodo National Park
- Lorentz National Park
- Ujung Kulon National Park
- Sawahlunto’s Ombilin coal mining heritage
- Sangiran early man site
- The cultural landscape of Bali Province: The Subak system is a manifestation of Tri Hita Karana philosophy
Each one of these sites is unique and has something to offer. It would help if you visited as many as possible during your trip.
INDONESIA HAS THE WORLD’S LARGEST FLORAL.
It is the Rafflesia, also known as the largest flower in the world. It’s an aromatic scent that is often smelled before you see it. It has a very unpleasant odour, so it’s nicknamed the “corpse flower”.
They only bloom once a year, and nobody seems to know why. They only bloom for a few days or even a week at most. If you do see one, it is very rare. They can grow to up to 3 feet in height and weigh up to 10kg.
