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 East Java is one of
the Republic of Indonesia's 27 provinces, occupying an area of
some 48,000 square kilometres just south of the equator. Including
the island of Madura, it accounts for a little more than a third
of Java's total land surface and supports a population of almost
33,000,000 inhabitants. To the east, across a narrow strait,
lies the island of Bali; to the west are the provinces of Central
Java and the Special Region of Yogyakarta.
The Land
Anyone
who opens a physical map of Java will notice immediately the
high, mountainous ridge extending along the entire length of
the centre of the island. Some of the highest and most active
of these volcanic peaks are to be found in East Java, whose flat,
fertile plains are punctuated by no less than six separate ranges,
becoming progressively higher towards the east. These mountains
are among East Java's principal attractions and some of the more
outstanding include the 3,676 metre active cone of Mt Semeru,
Java's highest peak; the famous sand sea and steaming crater
of Mt Bromo; the sulphureous summit of Mt Welirang, and the strangely
beautiful crater lakes of Ijen and Kelud.
Two main waterways, the Brantas and Solo rivers, are lifelines for much
of East Java's predominantly agricultural community. The former rises
in the highlands to the north west of Malang and follows a circuitous
path before dividing into a number of smaller streams to meet the sea
at Surabaya. The famous Bengawan Solo, longest river in Java, has its
source in the centre of the island and stretches 540 kilometres before
joining the coast at Gresik. Other important rivers include the Madiun,
Konto, Sampeyan and Grindulu.
The Climate
Like
the landscape, East Java's climate is varied, depending upon
altitude. The plains and lower hill regions are hot and humid,
making conditions ideal for wet rice cultivation (sawah).
Further up in the hills the air becomes quite cool, while
in high mountainous areas at night the temperature can drop to
near zero. Hill regions are well suited for the cultivation of
a large variety of fruits and vegetables, which thrive in the
colder climate. Principal crops, aside from rice, include corn,
tobacco, sugar cane, coffee, rubber, kapok, cloves, tea, cocoa,
peanuts soybeans and cotton. In addition, there are extensive
plantations of teak and pine. East Java has a marked wet and
dry season, with rain occurring between October and April. The
wettest months are December, January and February.
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