Borneo, shared by Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, is the world's third-largest island and has one of the world's largest stretches of tropical rain forest. The island is covered in mountains and valleys with large rivers, like the Mahakam, forming the main means of transportation. Borneo is home to primitive societies; men of the Dayak tribe hunt with blow guns and the women weave baskets of rattan. The island is rich with wildlife including orangutans, monkeys, gibbons, flying snakes and 600 species of birds. The rare black orchid and carnivorous pitcher plants are also found on Borneo.
Sumatra, which is about the size of California, is wild and unpredictable. Much of the island is covered by jungle, where orangutans swing in the dense canopy. The population of the island is diverse, with 52 tribal languages spoken; a few pockets of hunter-gatherer tribes remain. The island's terrain varies greatly, with rugged mountains, fertile valleys and abundant rice terraces. Travelers to the island should be prepared for primitive conditions; popular tourist activities include jungle expeditions, scuba diving, hiking volcanoes and swimming in volcanic lakes.
The Dutch began to colonize Indonesia in the late 17th century and ruled the archipelago until World War II, at which time it was occupied by the Japanese. Four years after the war ended, and after the United Nations intervened, the Netherlands granted Indonesia independence. The country soon fell under authoritarian rule, which lasted for four decades. In 1999, Indonesia held its first free and fair elections. Today, the country is the world's third most populous democracy as well as the largest state made up entirely of islands.
Today, Indonesia is one of the world's most densely populated countries, and it is home to the world's largest Muslim population. While the country's democratic government is stable, it faces low-intensity resistance from the separatist Free Papua movement. Although the nation has many natural resources, including petroleum, tin, natural gas, nickel and timber, poverty is widespread. Major issues for the government include alleviating poverty, improving education, preventing terrorism, stemming corruption, consolidating democracy and controlling avian influenza.
