Have you ever visited Indonesia? In today's lesson you will learn some fun facts about this impressive country.

Indonesia is located off the coast of mainland Southeast Asia in the Indian and Pacific oceans. It is an archipelago that lies across the Equator and spans a distance equivalent to one-eighth of Earth’s circumference.

Indonesia is the largest country in Southeast Asia, with a maximum dimension from east to west of about 3,200 miles (5,100 km) and an extent from north to south of 1,100 miles (1,800 km). It shares a border with Malaysia in the northern part of Borneo and with Papua New Guinea in the centre of New Guinea. Indonesia is composed of some 17,500 islands, of which more than 7,000 are uninhabited.

There are over 100 active volcanoes in Indonesia and hundreds more that are considered extinct. 

Indonesia has an enormous and varied insect life that includes many unusual species. Examples include giant walkingsticks that can attain 8 inches (20 cm) in length, leaf insects (walking leaves), huge atlas beetles, elegant luna moths, and beautiful birdwing and swallowtail butterflies.

The Indonesian national motto, “Bhinneka tunggal ika” (“Unity in diversity”), makes reference to the extraordinary diversity of the Indonesian population that has emerged from the ongoing confluence of peoples, languages, and cultures. The country includes more than 300 different ethnic groups and more than twice as many distinct languages, and most of the major world religions, as well as a wide range of indigenous ones.

Bahasa Indonesia is the official language of Indonesia. Over 300 different native languages are spoken in Indonesia. While Bahasa Indonesia is spoken as a mother tongue by only 7% of the total population, it is the national language and is used by 200 million people as their second language.

Indonesia is the only place on earth to observe the Komodo dragon in the wild. The Komodo Dragon is the world’s largest species of lizard and this 3 meter long, fierce, scaly creature exists on just five Indonesian islands – Padar, Gili Motang, Flores, Rinca and naturally, Komodo. 

Indonesia is home to the biggest Buddhist temple in the world. Constructed during the 9th century, the Borobudur Temple, located in Central Java is the world’s largest Buddhist Temple and has 1,460 relief panels on the walls, which is the biggest and most complete collection of Buddhist reliefs on earth. 

Sumatra is one of just two places in the world to observe wild orang-utans. In Indonesian ‘orang’ means person and ‘utan’ means forest and so orang-utan quite literally means, ‘person of the forest’. 

Indonesia is home to the largest volcanic lake and tallest island peak on earth. Puncak Jaya is the tallest summit of Mount Jayawijaya in the Papua Province of Indonesia. Lake Toba is the world’s biggest natural, volcanic lake and is located inside a super-volcano in northern Sumatra in Indonesia.

The world’s biggest flower lives in Indonesia. The Rafflessia Arnoldia, also known as the ‘corpse lily’, due to its foul odour upon blooming, is the largest flower in the world.

Gates of Heaven at Pura Lempuyang is a beautiful Balinese Hindu temple. It is located on the slope of Mount Lempuyang, 600 metres (2,000 ft) above sea level. This location is one of the most sacred natural points in Bali.

Nusa Penida is a beautiful island in southwest Bali. One of the most visited and photographed beaches is Kelingking beach, which has rock formations that resemble the shape of a dinosaur.

Near Nusa Penida you find the Garden Temple, where you can snorkel to see some amazing statues of the Buddha underwater.

Do you know any other interesting facts about Indonesia? Tell us in the comments!

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