East Kalimantan
("Perfect harmony the blessing from God")
[Legend]
18% Bugis[3]
52.4% other[2]
East Kalimantan (Indonesian: 
Kalimantan Timur), is a province of Indonesia. Its territory comprises the eastern portion of Borneo. It has a population of about 3 million,[4] and its capital is Samarinda.
East Kalimantan has a total area of 245,238 square kilometres (94,687 sq mi)[5] and is the second least densely populated province in Kalimantan.[6] The majority of the region shares a border to the east with West Sulawesi and North Sulawesi; its former northernmost region is now North Kalimantan; its south East Kalimantan borders the South Kalimantan. East Kalimantan's coastline faces the Makassar Strait and the Celebes Sea.
East Kalimantan is divided into 10 regencies and 4 cities. Awang Faroek Ishak is its governor and Farid Wadjdy as its vice governor.[7]
Contents |
History []
This province is the location of the oldest Hindu kingdom in Indonesia, Kutai, the existence of which is attested to by a stone manuscript, or Prasasti, which is now kept in the National Museum in Jakarta. The manuscript is written in the Pallava alphabet and the Sanskrit language. The replica of this manuscript can be seen in the Governor's Office in Samarinda.
Inscriptions on seven stone pillars (yupa posts) erected in the fifth century BCE on the command of a local ruler, King Mulavarman, records his victories, his generosity to Brahmins, his princely genealogy.[8]
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1971 | 733,797 | — |
| 1980 | 1,218,016 | +66.0% |
| 1990 | 1,876,663 | +54.1% |
| 1995 | 2,314,183 | +23.3% |
| 2000 | 2,455,120 | +6.1% |
| 2010 | 3,553,143 | +44.7% |
| Source: Badan Pusat Statistik 2010 | ||
Administration []
East Kalimantan was divided into 10 counties and 4 cities. Tarakan and 4 counties split off to form North Kalimantan. The new area is 133,357.62 square km, with the balance of 3,026,060 for the 2010 census (retroactively).
| Name | Area (km2) | Population 2005 estimate |
Population 2010 Census |
Capital |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paser Regency | 11,603.94 | 174,420 | 231,593 | Tanah Grogot |
| North Penajam Paser Regency (Penajam Paser Utara) |
3,333.06 | 120,508 | 142,693 | Penajam |
| Balikpapan City | 503.30 | 469,884 | 559,196 | Balikpapan |
| West Kutai Regency (Kutai Barat) |
33,052.00 | 151,227 | 165,934 | Sendawar |
| Kutai Kartanegara Regency | 27,263.10 | 490,607 | 626,286 | Tenggarong |
| Samarinda City | 574,439 | 726,223 | Samarinda | |
| Bontang City | 497.57 | 120,348 | 140,787 | Bontang |
| East Kutai Regency (Kutai Timur) |
35,747.50 | 174,018 | 253,904 | Sangatta |
| Berau Regency | 34,127.47 | 148,437 | 179,444 | Tanjung Redeb |
| Totals | 2,840,874 | 3,550,586 | Samarinda |
On the 22nd of October 2012, the Indonesian House of Representatives agreed to the creation of a new province named North Kalimantan out of the 4 counties in East Kalimantan, namely Malinau Regency, Nunukan Regency, Tana Tidung Regency, Bulungan Regency, and 1 city, Tarakan.
Ecology []
Illegal logging has removed much of the original forests of the province. Less than half the original forest remains in places such as the Kayan Mentarang the Kutai national parks.
The projects that supports tropical rainforest conservation includes a WWF project [9] and Samboja Lestari lodge, one of Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation's reforestation and orangutan rehabilitation projects.[10]
Economy []
East Kalimantan's economy heavily depends on earth resources such as oilfield exploration, natural gas, coal and gold. Balikpapan has an oil refinery plant that was built by Dutch governance before World War II, destroyed during World War II, and rebuilt after Indonesian independence.
Other developing economic sectors include agriculture and tourism.
Obstacles to economic development include a lack of transportation infrastructure. Transportation depends on traditional boats connecting coastal cities and areas along main river, Mahakam River.
In 2012, Russia's state railway firm Joint Stock Company (JSC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the East Kalimantan Governor over railway lines to transport coal and other freight. The first stage will connect an area near Balikpapan port to West Kutai Regency in a 183-kilometer line and is estimated to cost about $1.8 billion. It will commence in 2013 and by 2017 it is hoped that it carry 20 million tons of coal annually. The second phase will connect a line to Murung Raya in Central Kalimantan with a 60 kilometer line, which will cost an estimated $600 million.[11]
Tourist sites []
In addition to Derawan Islands, East Kalimantan has a unique natural site, Labuan Cermin Lake at Biduk-biduk district which features fresh water on top with about 2 meters thickness and sea water underneath it. Both fresh water fish and sea water fish live in the lake inhabiting their respective habitat layer. "Cermin" means mirror in Indonesian language and the lake was named so due to the clarity of the water.[12]
North Kalimantan Province []
North Kalimantan Province is the 34th province of Indonesia will be formally initially run on April 15, 2013. The new province is a part of current of north of East Kalimantan Province and Irianto Lambrie will be acting as the governor of it until a new governor is choosen by their people in the election.[13]
References []
- ^ Central Bureau of Statistics: Census 2010, retrieved 17 January 2011 (Indonesian)
- ^ a b "Statistics Kaltim – Population by immigration category and country background. Absolute numbers" (in (Indonesian)). kaltim.bps.go.id.
- ^ "BPS -". Kaltim.bps.go.id.
- ^ "Population". Statistics Kaltim. 2011-01-01. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
- ^ "Peran Jasa Transportasi Dalam Pemulihan Ekonomi di Kalimantan Timur". LIPI.
- ^ "Hasil Sensus Penduduk 2010 Data Agregat Per Provinsi". Badan Pusat Statistik.
- ^ "Organisasi". Kaltimprov.go.id. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
- ^ Taylor, Jean Gelman (2003). Indonesia: Peoples and Histories. New Haven and London: Yale University Press. p. 19. ISBN 0-300-10518-5 [Amazon-US | Amazon-UK].
- ^ http://www.panda.org/heart-of-borneo/ WWF Heart of Borneo conservation initiative - orang-utan, rhinoceros and pygmy elephant cling for survival.
- ^ http://www.sambojalodge.com/
- ^ "Russian firm signs MoU to build $2.4 billion railway". February 8, 2012.
- ^ http://www.mediaindonesia.com/mediatravelista/index.php/read/2011/06/28/2818/2/Air-Laut-dan-Tawar-Menyatu-di-Danau-Labuan-Cermin
- ^ "Provinsi Kalimantan Utara Diresmikan 15 April". March 22, 2013.
