Kalimantan

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This article is about the region of Indonesia. For the C. S. Godshalk novel, see Kalimantaan.
Map showing the political division of the island of Borneo.  The southern areas in light yellow show Indonesian Kalimantan and its provinces
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Map showing the political division of the island of Borneo. The southern areas in light yellow show Indonesian Kalimantan and its provinces

Kalimantan is the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo. It occupies the central and southern regions of the island. Kalimantan is bordered to the north by the Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah.

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[edit] Administration

Kalimantan is divided into four provinces:

[edit] Demographics

The indigenous populations of Kalimantan are divided into Dayaks, Malays (particularly in West Kalimantan and along coastal lines), and Banjarese-Malay (in South Kalimantan). There are also many migrants from other parts of the region such as Buginese, Javanese, Madurese, and Chinese who are concentrated in West Kalimantan.

There was a war in the region between the indigenous Dayaks, who follow Kaharingan Hinduism, and Madurese immigrants, who were moved here as part of a government transmigration program that operated, in various forms, from 1905 until 2001. The Dayak fighters are known for their ferocious tactics, such as the beheading and mutilation of their victims.

In the past, Dayaks who converted to Islam were considered Malay or Banjar. They then moved from their ancestral homeland into the country, mainly near rivers. One of the groups is called "Senganan", and they live along the Kapuas river in Sanggau, West Kalimantan. Recently, however, there is an increasing pride among Muslims of Dayak descendants to consider themselves Dayak again.

The Dayaks whose religion is mainly Islam, and who retained their Dayak identity, are Bakumpai who can be found in South Kalimantan and along the Mahakam River, East Kalimantan, as well as Lamandau in Central Kalimantan. East Kalimantan, as well as Lamandau in Central Kalimantan.

[edit] History

The Indonesian Confrontation was a border conflict over the disputed island of Borneo, between British-backed Malaysia and Indonesia in 1962-1966.

[edit] External links

  • WWF Heart of Borneo conservation initiative - Information about the Heart of Borneo - 220,000 km² of upland montane tropical rainforest, where endangered species such as the orang-utan, rhinoceros and pygmy elephant cling for survival.



Provinces of Indonesia Flag of Indonesia
Sumatra: Aceh | North Sumatra | West Sumatra | Bengkulu | Riau | Riau Islands | Jambi | South Sumatra | Lampung | Bangka-Belitung
Java: Jakarta | West Java | Banten | Central Java | Yogyakarta | East Java
Kalimantan: West Kalimantan | Central Kalimantan | South Kalimantan | East Kalimantan
Lesser Sunda Islands: Bali | West Nusa Tenggara | East Nusa Tenggara
Sulawesi: West Sulawesi | North Sulawesi | Central Sulawesi | South Sulawesi | South East Sulawesi | Gorontalo
Maluku Islands and
New Guinea:
Maluku | North Maluku | West Irian Jaya | Papua