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East Java

geography Maturity 11-13

East Java is a big place.

East Java Province.png
East Java Province.png
It is in Indonesia. It has many islands.
The Beauty of Bromo Mountains.jpg
The Beauty of Bromo Mountains.jpg
You can see big mountains and blue seas. There are many people there. Do you want to see the mountains?

40 words

East Java is a part of Indonesia.

East Java Province.png
East Java Province.png
It sits on the island of Java. It has blue seas on two sides.
The Beauty of Bromo Mountains.jpg
The Beauty of Bromo Mountains.jpg
It also has many islands nearby.

Many people live in this place. Most people follow the religion of Islam. Some people follow other ways to pray.

There are many things to see. You can visit big mountains. You can see pretty beaches and caves.

Surabaya is a very large city. It is a place for work. Many people live there.

East Java is a very busy land. It has many things to find.

100 words

East Java is a province in Indonesia.

East Java Province.png
East Java Province.png
It sits on the eastern part of Java island. The Java Sea is to the north. The Indian Ocean is to the south. A narrow strip of water called the Bali Strait is to the east. This water separates Java from the island of Bali. The province also includes Madura island.
Sub-region of East Java.png
Sub-region of East Java.png
A long bridge connects Madura to Java.

Many different people live here. Most people follow Islam. Other groups follow Christianity, Buddhism, or Hinduism. The capital city is Surabaya.

Central Surabaya view taken from JW Marriott Surabaya.jpg
Central Surabaya view taken from JW Marriott Surabaya.jpg
It is a very large city for business. Almost one quarter of the people live near Surabaya.

There are many beautiful places to visit. You can see tall mountains and bright beaches.

The Beauty of Bromo Mountains.jpg
The Beauty of Bromo Mountains.jpg
You might see the Ijen volcano or Baluran National Park. People have lived in this land for a very long time. Fossils show that humans were here in prehistoric times. Long ago, strong empires like Majapahit ruled this area. They were some of the strongest groups in Southeast Asia.

177 words

East Java is a large province in Indonesia.

East Java Province.png
East Java Province.png
It sits on the eastern third of Java island. To the north lies the Java Sea. To the south is the Indian Ocean. A narrow strip of water called the Bali Strait separates it from Bali.
Sub-region of East Java.png
Sub-region of East Java.png
The province also includes Madura island. A long bridge called the Suramadu Bridge connects Madura to Java. Other small island groups sit further east in the northern Bali Sea.

Many different groups of people live here. The Javanese, Madurese, and Chinese are some of the main ethnic groups. Most people follow Islam, which is practiced by about 94% of the population.

Apel Hari Santri 22 Oktober 2016.jpg
Apel Hari Santri 22 Oktober 2016.jpg
Other religions like Christianity, Buddhism, and Confucianism are also practiced. Some people, like the Tenggerese, follow Hinduism.
The Beauty of Bromo Mountains.jpg
The Beauty of Bromo Mountains.jpg
People use the Indonesian language for official things. However, many people speak Javanese or Madurese in their daily lives.

This land has a very long history. Humans lived here in prehistoric times.

Kertolo Statue 5136 (310d).jpg
Kertolo Statue 5136 (310d).jpg
Scientists found fossils of early humans in places like Mojokerto and Ngawi. Later, powerful kingdoms rose in this region. The Singhasari Kingdom was founded by Ken Arok in 1222. After that, the Majapahit Empire became one of the strongest in Southeast Asia.
Kertolo Statue 5136 (310d).jpg
Kertolo Statue 5136 (310d).jpg
It reached its peak under the rule of Hayam Wuruk and Gajah Mada.

As time passed, new religions and leaders arrived. Islam began to spread across the area.

Ampel Mosque in 2008.jpg
Ampel Mosque in 2008.jpg
By the 16th century, Islamic kingdoms became more powerful. European countries also began to arrive. The Dutch had a presence in the area for a long time. Later, Japan occupied the region during a war.
Surabaya, Netherlands East Indies, under attack, 17 May 1944 (NNAM.1996.488.024.025).jpg
Surabaya, Netherlands East Indies, under attack, 17 May 1944 (NNAM.1996.488.024.025).jpg
After much fighting, Indonesia gained its independence.

Today, East Java is a busy and beautiful place. Surabaya is the capital and the second largest city in Indonesia.

Central Surabaya view taken from JW Marriott Surabaya.jpg
Central Surabaya view taken from JW Marriott Surabaya.jpg
It is a major center for business and industry. The province is also famous for its many natural sights. You can visit the Ijen volcano or Baluran National Park.
Wild Deers near Bama Point, Baluran.jpg
Wild Deers near Bama Point, Baluran.jpg
There are also many caves, beaches, and waterfalls to explore. Many people live in the area, with over 41 million people in 2024.
Juanda Airport Apron.jpg
Juanda Airport Apron.jpg

351 words

East Java is a large province located in the easternmost third of Java island in Indonesia.

East Java Province.png
East Java Province.png
It is bordered by Central Java to the west and the Java Sea to the north. The Indian Ocean forms its southern coast. To the east, the narrow Bali Strait separates the province from the island of Bali. The province also includes Madura island, which is connected to Java by the Suramadu Bridge, the longest bridge in Indonesia. Other island groups, such as the Kangean islands and the Masalembu archipelago, are also part of this region.
Sub-region of East Java.png
Sub-region of East Java.png

Surabaya serves as the capital of East Java. It is the second largest city in Indonesia and functions as a major business and industrial center.

Central Surabaya view taken from JW Marriott Surabaya.jpg
Central Surabaya view taken from JW Marriott Surabaya.jpg
The province is highly populated and growing. In 2010, the population was 37,476,757 people. By 2020, this number rose to 40,665,696. Official estimates for mid-2024 placed the population at 41,914,499 people. This includes 20,848,660 males and 20,965,880 females. Almost one quarter of these residents live within the Greater Surabaya metropolitan area.

The culture of East Java is shaped by many different ethnic groups. These include the Javanese, Madurese, and Chinese people. Islam is the most common religion, practiced by approximately 94% of the population.

Apel Hari Santri 22 Oktober 2016.jpg
Apel Hari Santri 22 Oktober 2016.jpg
Other faiths like Christianity, Buddhism, and Confucianism are also present. These are often practiced by the Tionghoa people and immigrants. Hinduism is practiced by the Tenggerese people in the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. It is also practiced by the Balinese people in the east and Indian Indonesians in Surabaya. While Indonesian is the official language, Javanese and Madurese are used most frequently. The Surabaya dialect of Javanese is common in the capital.

History in East Java stretches back to prehistoric times. Fossil remains of early humans have been found in several locations. These include Pithecanthropus mojokertensis in Mojokerto and Homo wajakensis in Tulungagung. During the Hindu-Buddhist era, the Dinoyo inscriptions from 760 CE recorded political events in the Kingdom of Kanjuruhan. In 1222, Ken Arok founded the Kingdom of Singhasari. This era saw many shifts in power through various rulers. Eventually, the Kingdom of Majapahit was founded by Raden Wijaya in 1294. Under the leadership of Hayam Wuruk and the Mahapatih Gajah Mada, Majapahit became a very strong empire in Southeast Asia.

Kertolo Statue 5136 (310d).jpg
Kertolo Statue 5136 (310d).jpg

Islam began to influence the region as the Majapahit Empire declined. Some experts estimate Islam entered Java around the 11th century. The tomb of Fatimah Binti Maimun in Gresik dates to 1085 AD. This suggests Arab traders frequented the north coast of Java during that time. By the 16th century, Islamic kingdoms had defeated the Majapahit Empire. This led to many aristocrats fleeing to Bali. However, some groups stayed in the mountains. The Tenggerese people continue to practice Hinduism in the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park.

Ampel Mosque in 2008.jpg
Ampel Mosque in 2008.jpg

European influence arrived through colonization. The Portuguese had a limited presence, but the Dutch arrived in 1596. An expedition led by Cornelis de Houtman marked the start of Dutch influence. Later, the British briefly controlled Java in 1811 under Governor-General Sir Stamford Raffles. The region also faced Japanese occupation. During this time, there was significant resistance, such as the PETA uprising in Blitar.

Surabaya, Netherlands East Indies, under attack, 17 May 1944 (NNAM.1996.488.024.025).jpg
Surabaya, Netherlands East Indies, under attack, 17 May 1944 (NNAM.1996.488.024.025).jpg
After the Japanese surrender, a major battle occurred in Surabaya on 10 November 1945. This conflict between residents and allied forces was a key moment in the struggle for independence.

Today, East Java is known for its diverse natural beauty. The province features mountains, beaches, caves, and waterfalls. Tourists visit the Ijen volcano in Banyuwangi and Baluran National Park in Situbondo.

Wild Deers near Bama Point, Baluran.jpg
Wild Deers near Bama Point, Baluran.jpg
The Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park is another major destination.
The Beauty of Bromo Mountains.jpg
The Beauty of Bromo Mountains.jpg
Modern infrastructure, such as the Pandaan–Malang Toll Road, helps people travel through the region.
Ruas Tol Pandaan-Malang..jpg
Ruas Tol Pandaan-Malang..jpg
From major airports like Juanda to busy commuter lines, the province remains a vital part of Indonesia.
Juanda Airport Apron.jpg
Juanda Airport Apron.jpg

636 words
🖼️ Images & Media (20)
File:Kertolo Statue 5136 (310d).jpg
Kertolo Statue 5136 (310d).jpg
File:Ampel Mosque in 2008.jpg
Ampel Mosque in 2008.jpg
File:Surabaya, Netherlands East Indies, under attack, 17 May 1944 (NNAM.1996.488.024.025).jpg
Surabaya, Netherlands East Indies, under...
File:Global Forest Change tree-cover loss year in East Java, 2001-2024.png
Global Forest Change tree-cover loss year...
File:The Beauty of Bromo Mountains.jpg
The Beauty of Bromo Mountains.jpg
File:Frost at Ranu Pani on 4 August 2018 by Susanto Tan.jpg
Frost at Ranu Pani on 4 August 2018 by...
File:Sub-region of East Java.png
Sub-region of East Java.png
File:East_Java_Province.png
East_Java_Province.png
File:Central_Surabaya_view_taken_from_JW_Marriott_Surabaya.jpg
Central_Surabaya_view_taken_from_JW_Marrio...
File:Ruas Tol Pandaan-Malang..jpg
Ruas Tol Pandaan-Malang..jpg
File:Kereta Api Jenggala.jpg
Kereta Api Jenggala.jpg
File:Surabaya Johnny Walker-Anitha-Erlin-Gedung Kuno Syahbandar.jpg
Surabaya Johnny...

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