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Jakarta

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Jakarta is the largest city in Indonesia.

Jakarta Scyscrappers from GBK
Jakarta Scyscrappers from GBK

It is also the country's main political and economic center. The city sits on the northwest coast of Java. Java is the most populous island in the world.

Pantai Ancol - panoramio (1)
Pantai Ancol - panoramio (1)

Jakarta borders the provinces of West Java and Banten. To the north, the city faces the Java Sea.

It even includes the Thousand Islands in the sea. This area is a huge urban center known as Greater Jakarta. It is one of the largest in the world.

The land here is mostly a flat plain. The northern parts are very low coastal plains. Some of these areas sit below sea level. This can lead to problems with flooding.

Rainy Jakarta
Rainy Jakarta

The southern parts of the city are different. They are slightly higher and more hilly. The city sits where the Ciliwung River meets the bay. This location makes it a very important place for trade. It connects the land to the sea.

People have lived in this area for a very long time. Scientists found evidence of the Buni culture here. This group lived between 400 BC and 100 AD.

Later, the Sunda Kingdom used the port of Sunda Kelapa. In 1527, the name changed to Jayakarta. This name meant "complete victory."

Batavia - Townhall 1770
Batavia - Townhall 1770

In 1619, the Dutch East India Company took control. They renamed the city Batavia. It stayed Batavia for over three hundred years.

After World War II, things changed again. The Japanese occupied the city for a short time. Then, Indonesia declared independence in 1945.

Indonesia declaration of independence 17 August 1945
Indonesia declaration of independence 17 August 1945

The city finally took the name Jakarta. It became the national capital in 1950. Since then, it has grown very fast. Many people move there from all over the islands. This makes it a very busy place for business and media.

Jakarta is a place where many cultures meet. There is no single dominant ethnic group there. You can find Javanese, Betawi, and Sundanese people.

Rumah Betawi TMII
Rumah Betawi TMII

There are also many Chinese Indonesians. People mostly speak Indonesian to talk to one another. The Betawi culture comes from many different influences. It mixes local, Chinese, Arab, and European ways.

Baju Demang Betawi
Baju Demang Betawi

Because the city faces challenges like traffic and pollution, the government is moving the capital. The new capital will be called Nusantara. It will be located in East Kalimantan.

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🖼️ Images & Media (22)
File:Replica of the Luso-Sundanese Padrão Monument.jpg
Replica of the Luso-Sundanese Padrão Monument.jpg
File:Batavia - Townhall 1770.jpg
Batavia - Townhall 1770.jpg
File:Indonesia declaration of independence 17 August 1945.jpg
Indonesia declaration of independence 17...
File:Pantai Ancol - panoramio (1).jpg
Pantai Ancol - panoramio (1).jpg
File:Rainy Jakarta.jpg
Rainy Jakarta.jpg
File:Rumah Betawi TMII.jpg
Rumah Betawi TMII.jpg
File:Smutzer Primate Center Terrace.jpg
Smutzer Primate Center Terrace.jpg
File:Jakarta population pyramid.svg
Jakarta population pyramid.svg
File:Baju Demang Betawi.png
Baju Demang Betawi.png
File:Bahasa Betawi.jpg
Bahasa Betawi.jpg
File:Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Indonesia.JPG
Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Indonesia.JPG
File:Jakarta Scyscrappers from GBK.jpg
Jakarta Scyscrappers from GBK.jpg

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