Geography of Indonesia

Situated in the Southeast Asian region, Indonesia lies between the Malay Archipelago and the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. The location of the country is considered to be very strategic as it connects to the different parts of the hemispheres quite easily. The complex physical environment of Indonesia has even played an important role in shaping up of the local culture. The Geographical coordinates of the country are 5°00?S to 120°00?E.

Indonesia covers an expansive area stretching up to 5,120 kilometers from east to west and 1,760 kilometers from north to south directions. Out of the staggering over 13,000 islands in the archipelago only 6000 of them are inhabited and as many are named. But out of them all only five are considered to be important as they contain the basic facilities of life sustenance. They are Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Irian Jaya. Other constituents of Indonesia are the two major archipelagos of Nusa Tenggara and the Maluku Islands along with sixty smaller archipelagos. Among them three islands are shared by different neighboring countries.

The topography of the country is dominated by the bays, plain lands, natural forests and many more. The variation in the topography has led to the presence of a varied flora and fauna in the country. Indonesia is home to a combined animal and plant life common to Asian and Australian origin.

The flora life of Indonesia ranges from the tiny orchid to the huge "Rafflesia" plant which blooms a flower with a diameter of 3.2 feet, the largest flower in the world. It also includes various other species of plant life.

The animal kingdom in Indonesia is famous for the Komodo dragon, the last living species of Dragons on earth and various other animals.