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Banjarmasin

geography Maturity 5-7 Next article →

Banjarmasin is a large and busy city in South Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Pasar Terapung di Kota Banjarmasin
Pasar Terapung di Kota Banjarmasin

It sits on a delta island near the meeting point of two rivers. These are the Barito and Martapura rivers.

Pinggiran Sungai Martapura di Kota Banjarmasin
Pinggiran Sungai Martapura di Kota Banjarmasin

The city is part of the big island of Borneo. It is actually the third most populous city on that island. Many people know it as a center for Banjarese culture. It was once the capital of the Sultanate of Banjar.

Patung Bekantan Banjarmasin
Patung Bekantan Banjarmasin

The land here is very flat and low. Most of the ground is just a tiny bit above sea level. Because it is so low, the city is often prone to flooding. This happens when the tides push water into the area.

Siring Banjarmasin at night
Siring Banjarmasin at night

The ground is made of clay, sandstone, and river sediments. Many smaller rivers flow through the city like branches on a tree. These rivers all connect back to the Martapura or Barito rivers. The weather is tropical and stays warm all year.

Flyover Banjarmasin
Flyover Banjarmasin

The history of the city goes back a very long time. Long ago, people lived in the region using stone tools.

Komplek Makam Sultan Suriansyah
Komplek Makam Sultan Suriansyah

Later, different kingdoms like Negara Daha and Dipa were founded here. The city we know today began with the Sultanate of Banjar. A leader named Raden Samudra helped the port grow into a town. He eventually became Sultan Suriansyah I. This happened after he gained help from the Demak Sultanate. This change brought the religion of Islam to the region.

European traders first arrived in the area around 1596. Many of these traders were from the Netherlands. There were many fights over the nutmeg trade during this time.

1. ZM Stoomschip Celebes in gevecht met een Kota Mara 6 aug 1859 Poeloe Kananat opgenomen
1. ZM Stoomschip Celebes in gevecht met een Kota Mara 6 aug 1859 Poeloe Kananat opgenomen

Later, the British also had control for a short time. In the 1800s, there was a war over coal mines and power. This war ended the sultanate in 1863. During World War II, the Japanese army occupied the city.

Japanese attack on Borneo, 1941-1942
Japanese attack on Borneo, 1941-1942

Australian forces eventually arrived to liberate the city in 1945.

Today, Banjarmasin is a major part of South Kalimantan. In 2024, the city had about 681,693 people living in it.

Duta Mall Banjarmasin
Duta Mall Banjarmasin

If you include the nearby towns, over two million people live in the Greater Banjarmasin area. This big area is also called Banjarbakula. Banjarmasin used to be the capital of the whole province. However, the capital was legally moved to Banjarbaru on 15 February 2022. Even so, many important government buildings are still located here.

Kantor Wali Kota Banjarmasin
Kantor Wali Kota Banjarmasin
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🖼️ Images & Media (17)
File:Komplek Makam Sultan Suriansyah.jpg
Komplek Makam Sultan Suriansyah.jpg
File:1. ZM Stoomschip Celebes in gevecht met een Kota Mara 6 aug 1859 Poeloe Kananat opgenomen.jpg
1. ZM Stoomschip Celebes in gevecht met...
File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Het bezoek van de Gouverneur-Generaal mr. Dirk Fock aan Bandjermasin tijdens zijn rondreis door de Zuider- en Oosterafdeling van Borneo 1924-04-00 TMnr 60013434.jpg
COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Het bezoek van de...
File:Japanese attack on Borneo, 1941-1942.jpg
Japanese attack on Borneo, 1941-1942.jpg
File:Kantor Wali Kota Banjarmasin.jpg
Kantor Wali Kota Banjarmasin.jpg
File:Gedung BCA Banjarmasin.jpg
Gedung BCA Banjarmasin.jpg
File:Patung Bekantan Banjarmasin.jpg
Patung Bekantan Banjarmasin.jpg
File:GKE Eppata Banjarmasin.jpg
GKE Eppata Banjarmasin.jpg
File:Gerbang Klenteng Soetji Nurani Banjarmasin.jpg
Gerbang Klenteng Soetji Nurani Banjarmasin.jpg
File:Gedung baru UNISKA MAB.jpg
Gedung baru UNISKA MAB.jpg
File:Rumah Sakit Umum Daerah Ulin.jpg
Rumah Sakit Umum Daerah Ulin.jpg
File:Pasar Terapung di Kota Banjarmasin.jpg
Pasar Terapung di Kota Banjarmasin.jpg

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