Madura

Madura is a warm island.

It sits near the big island of Java. A narrow strip of water sits between them.

The land is very flat. It has low, round hills. The island is often dry and warm.

Many people live on the island. Most people speak the Madurese way of talking. They also grow tobacco and cloves.

People there are good at sailing. They also like to race bulls. A boy can ride a sled pulled by bulls.

Madura is a very special place.

Madura is an island in Indonesia.

It sits near the coast of Java. A narrow strip of water called the Madura Strait separates them. The island is part of the East Java province.

The land on Madura is mostly flat. It has low and round limestone hills.

These hills are rougher than hills in Java. The weather is warm and dry. This is because the island is near the equator.

About four million people live on Madura and its nearby islands. Most people are ethnically Madurese. They speak the Madurese language. Many people also live in parts of East Java.

Madurese people are known as excellent sailors. They also enjoy bull racing. In these races, a young boy rides a wooden sled. Two bulls pull the sled very fast.

The soil is not very good for growing food. Farmers grow maize and tobacco there. They also grow cloves.

Madura is a major place for making salt. Some people also raise cattle to make money. The west end of the island has more industry near the city of Surabaya.

Madura is a large island located in Indonesia.

It sits just off the northeastern coast of Java. A narrow strip of water called the Madura Strait separates the island from the mainland. Madura is part of the East Java province. The island is mostly flat with very little change in height. It is made of limestone, which forms low and round hills.

These hills are rougher than the hills found in northern Java. Because it is close to the equator, the weather is warm and dry.

The island has a long and busy history. In 1624, Sultan Agung of Mataram conquered the island. For a long time, the Cakraningrat family ruled the island. In 1705, the Dutch gained control of the eastern half of Madura. Later, in 1743, a treaty gave full control of the island to the Dutch. The Dutch used the island to find colonial troops.

In the late 1800s, the Dutch took direct control of the whole island. From 1948 to 1950, it was even known as the State of Madura.

Life on the island is shaped by the land and the sea. The soil is not very fertile for growing many types of food. Because of this, many people work in small-scale farming or fishing. Farmers grow maize, tobacco, and cloves on the island.

Madura is also a very important place for making salt. Many people have moved away to find work in other parts of Indonesia. However, the western end near Bangkalan is growing quickly. It is now a place for industry and people who work in Surabaya.

About four million people live on Madura and its nearby islands. Most of these people are ethnically Madurese. They speak the Madurese language, which is part of the Austronesian language family. Many Madurese people also live in the "Horseshoe" region of eastern Java. The population is quite crowded, with many people living in the main island area. Some people live on smaller islands like Sapudi or the Kangean Islands. Most people on the island follow the Sunni Muslim faith.

Madurese culture is full of energy and movement. One of the most famous traditions is bull racing, called karapan sapi.

In these races, a young boy rides a wooden sled pulled by two bulls. The bulls run very fast across a short course. People also enjoy music and theatre, such as loddrok theatre. Some people play the gamelan, which is a type of orchestra. The Madurese are also known as excellent sailors who use traditional vessels to travel the seas.

Madura is a significant island located in Indonesia.

It sits just off the northeastern coast of Java. The Madura Strait, a narrow body of water, separates the island from the mainland. Administratively, Madura is part of the East Java province. The island is composed of a main landmass and several outlying islands. These include the Sapudi Islands, the Kangean Islands, and the Masalembu Islands. The Sumenep Regency manages many of these smaller islands to the east and north.

Geologically, Madura is part of the northern limestone mountains of Java. The topography is relatively flat with no significant elevation changes. This makes the landscape a badland. The limestone hills here are lower, rounder, and rougher than those in northern Java.

The history of Madura involves many shifts in political control. In 1624, Sultan Agung of Mataram conquered the island. This brought the government under the control of the Cakraningrat family. This single princely line often opposed Central Javanese rule. Following the First Javanese War of Succession, the Dutch gained control of eastern Madura in 1705. This happened after Pakubuwono I signed a treaty with the Dutch. In 1743, another treaty saw Pakubuwono II cede full sovereignty of the island to the Dutch. This move was contested by Cakraningrat IV. The Dutch later took direct control of the entire island in the 1880s. They governed it as the Madoera Residency.

Between 1948 and 1950, it was known as the State of Madura.

Madura is home to a large and distinct population. About four million people live on the island and its nearby islands. Most residents are ethnically Madurese. There are approximately seven million Madurese people in total across Indonesia. Many live in the "Horseshoe" region of eastern Java. The Madurese language is an Austronesian language. It is spoken on the main island and many of the 66 outlying islands. The population density is quite high. In mid-2024, the main island had 862.3 people per km2. The total administered area had 773 people per km2. Most residents follow the Sunni Muslim faith, though there is a large Shia minority.

The economy of Madura is shaped by its unique environment. The island is one of the poorest regions in East Java. Unlike the mainland, the soil is not fertile enough for major agriculture. This has led to high unemployment and poverty. Consequently, many Madurese people have emigrated to other parts of Indonesia. Many participated in government transmigration programs to find work. Subsistence agriculture remains a mainstay for many families. They grow maize on small landholdings. Cattle-raising is also critical for income. This practice also supports the island's famous bull-racing traditions.

Madura has several important export industries. Tobacco farming is a major contributor to the local economy. The soil is well-suited for tobacco and cloves. These are used in the domestic kretek, or clove cigarette, industry. The island is also a major producer of salt.

Since the Dutch era, salt has been a key export for the archipelago. In the west, Bangkalan has seen more industrial growth since the 1980s. It serves as a suburb for commuters traveling to Surabaya. The Surabaya-Madura Bridge, opened in 2009, helps increase economic interaction with the region.

Cultural traditions are vibrant and deeply rooted in Madurese life. One famous tradition is karapan sapi, or bull racing.

In these races, a young boy acts as a jockey. He rides a wooden sled pulled by two bulls. The bulls race over a 100-meter course in ten to fifteen seconds. Music and theatre are also vital for community building. Topeng theatre uses masks to perform stories like the Ramayana. Loddrok theatre is more common and does not use masks. The gamelan orchestra is also played in former royal courts. Additionally, tongtong music uses wooden or bamboo drums to accompany events.

The Madurese are also recognized as excellent sailors. They have a long history of maritime trade. Traditional vessels include the golekan, leti leti, lis-alis, and janggolan. These ships once carried wood from islands like Borneo. They traveled between Indonesia and Singapore. This seafaring skill connects the island to the broader maritime systems of Southeast Asia.