East Kalimantan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids East Kalimantan Kalimantan Timur
Province
Province of East Kalimantan
Coat of arms
Nickname(s):  Benua Etam  (Tenggarong Kutai Malay) "Place of origin"
Motto(s):  روحوي رحايو  (Banjar) Ruhui Rahayu "Perfect harmony by the blessings of God"
Location of  East Kalimantan  (dark red) [Legend]
OpenStreetMap
Capital and largest city	Samarinda
Government
• Body	East Kalimantan Provincial Government
Area
• Total	127,346.92 km2 (49,168.92 sq mi)
Area rank	3rd in Indonesia
Highest elevation (Mount Cemaru)	1,636 m (5,367 ft)
Population  (mid 2023 estimate)
• Total	4,030,488
• Density	31.649670/km2 (81.972269/sq mi)
Demographics
• Ethnic groups	20% Javanese 20% Kutai 19% Malays 18% Buginese 14% Banjarese 9.9% Dayak
• Languages	Indonesian (official) Banjarese, Buginese, Dayak, Kutai Malay (regional)
Time zone	WITA (UTC+8)
GDP (nominal)	2022
- Total	Rp 921.3 trillion (7th) US$ 62.1 billion Int$ 193.6 billion (PPP)
- Per capita	Rp 238.7 million (2nd) US$ 16,075 Int$ 50,162 (PPP)
- Growth	4.48%
HDI	0.786 (3rd) – high

East Kalimantan is a large province in Indonesia, located on the eastern part of the island of Borneo. It's known for its vast rainforests and rich history. As of mid-2023, about 4 million people live here. Its capital city is Samarinda.

East Kalimantan covers a huge area of about 127,346 square kilometers. It's one of the least crowded provinces in Kalimantan. To the east, it has a long coastline along the Makassar Strait and the Celebes Sea. It shares land borders with West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan. To the north, it borders North Kalimantan, which used to be part of East Kalimantan until 2012. It also shares a border with Sarawak in Malaysia.

The province is divided into seven smaller areas called regencies and three cities. The current acting governor of East Kalimantan is Akmal Malik.

Indonesia's New Capital City

East Kalimantan is a very special place because it will be home to Indonesia's future capital city, named Nusantara. This new city is being built between the Kutai Kartanegara and Penajam North Paser areas. The plan is for Nusantara to become the official capital in August 2024. It's a huge project that will help spread development across Indonesia.

History of East Kalimantan

Ancient Times

One of the oldest known animal paintings, a bull, found in the Lubang Jeriji Saléh cave. It's over 40,000 years old!

Long, long ago, East Kalimantan was covered in thick tropical rainforests. Deep inside a limestone cave called Lubang Jeriji Saléh, scientists found some of the oldest known cave paintings in the world! These amazing drawings of animals are over 40,000 years old, maybe even 52,000 years old. Explorers first saw them in 1994, and in 2018, scientists confirmed their incredible age using special dating methods.

Early Kingdoms (4th to 17th Century)

An ancient stone inscription from the Kutai Martadipura Kingdom, dating back to the 4th century.

East Kalimantan was home to some of Indonesia's earliest kingdoms. The first and oldest Hindu kingdom in Indonesia, called the Kingdom of Kutai Martadipura, was founded here in the 4th century AD. Later, in the 14th century, it was followed by the Sultanate of Kutai ing Martadipura. Other kingdoms, like the Sultanate of Pasir, also existed in this region. For a while, parts of East Kalimantan were even connected to the powerful Majapahit empire and later had ties with the Sulu Sultanate and the Sultanate of Makassar.

Dutch Influence (18th to 20th Century)

Starting in the early 1800s, the Dutch East Indies began to take control of East Kalimantan. The local sultans gradually handed over territories to the Dutch. By 1846, the Dutch had set up an office in Samarinda to manage the area. East Kalimantan officially became a province of Indonesia in 1956, after Indonesia gained its independence.

North Kalimantan Splits Off

On October 25, 2012, a new province called North Kalimantan was created. It was formed from the northern parts of East Kalimantan, including four regencies and one city. This made East Kalimantan a bit smaller, but it still remains a very important province.

Geography

East Kalimantan covers a large land area and also includes a significant ocean area. It's located near the equator, which affects its climate. The province is divided into seven regencies and three cities. These are further split into smaller districts and villages.

East Kalimantan is like a gateway to the eastern part of Indonesia. It's famous for its timber and mining resources. Many rivers flow through the province, serving as important ways to travel, especially the long Mahakam River.

The province has hills in almost all its districts and many lakes. The biggest lakes, Semayang and Melintang, are found in the Kutai Regency.

Climate

Like most of Indonesia, East Kalimantan has a tropical climate with two main seasons: a dry season and a rainy season. The dry season usually lasts from May to October, while the rainy season is from November to April. Because it's so close to the equator, the climate is also influenced by monsoon winds. Sometimes, the weather can be a bit unpredictable, with rain when it should be dry, or vice versa.

Temperature and Humidity

East Kalimantan generally has a warm climate. Temperatures usually range from about 21°C to 35°C throughout the year. The air is often quite humid, usually between 83% and 87%, because of the tropical forests and proximity to the ocean.

Rainfall and Wind

The amount of rain in East Kalimantan changes depending on the month and location. On average, the province receives a good amount of rainfall each year. Winds in the region are generally light, usually blowing at speeds between 3 and 4 knots.

Government and Divisions

East Kalimantan Governor Office

When East Kalimantan province was first formed, it had four regencies and two cities. Over time, more cities and regencies were created as the population grew and the area developed.

In 2012, the northern parts of East Kalimantan became the new province of North Kalimantan. This changed the number of regencies and cities in East Kalimantan. Today, East Kalimantan has seven regencies and three cities. These areas are listed in the table below with their populations.

Protecting the Environment

A logging road in East Kalimantan. The forest on the left has been cut down, while the right side shows untouched forest.

Melintan Lake in Kutai Kartanegara Regency

Sadly, a lot of the original forests in East Kalimantan have been cut down due to illegal logging. Less than half of the old forests remain, even in important places like the Kayan Mentarang National Park and the Kutai National Park.

Many groups are working to protect the remaining tropical rainforests. For example, the WWF has projects here. Also, the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation runs a place called Samboja Lestari, where they replant trees and help orangutans get back to living in the wild.

Economy

East Kalimantan GDP share by sector (2022)      Agriculture (7.04%)     Manufacturing (15.05%)     Other Industrial (7.79%)     Mining and Quarrying (53.24%)     Service (16.88%)

East Kalimantan's economy relies a lot on Petroleum and Mining, especially Coal.

East Kalimantan's economy mostly depends on its natural resources. This includes oil, natural gas, coal, and gold. The city of Balikpapan has an important oil refinery that processes crude oil.

Other parts of the economy that are growing include farming and tourism.

One challenge for the economy is that transportation can be difficult. Many people still rely on traditional boats to travel between cities along the coast and on the Mahakam River. However, new projects, like railway lines, are being built to help transport coal and other goods.

People and Culture

Ethnic Groups

Ronggeng Paser Dance from the Paser tribe.

Weaving dance from Dayak Kenyah tribe

East Kalimantan is home to many different ethnic groups. The largest group is the Javanese, who have moved here from other parts of Indonesia. The second largest group is the Bugis, followed by the Banjar people, who are very common in cities like Samarinda and Balikpapan.

The Dayak people are the fourth largest group and live mostly in the inner parts of the province. The Kutai people, who are native to this region, are the fifth largest group. Many people from other islands like Java, Sulawesi, and South Kalimantan have moved to East Kalimantan, making it a very diverse place.

Languages

Most people in East Kalimantan use Indonesian for official things. For everyday talks between different groups, the Banjarese language is often used, especially in cities. You'll also hear Javanese and Buginese because many people from those groups live here.

Other languages spoken in East Kalimantan include Kutai Malay, Paser, Tidung, and various Dayak languages. Some of these local languages are becoming less common, and efforts are being made to protect them.

Religions

Religion in East Kalimantan (2022)      Islam (87.44%)     Protestantism (7.49%)     Roman Catholic (4.44%)     Buddhism (0.39%)     Hinduism (0.22%)     Confucianism (0.01%)     Folk religion (0.01%)

Most people in East Kalimantan are Muslim. There are also many Christians (both Protestant and Roman Catholic), as well as smaller communities of Buddhists, Hindus, and followers of other beliefs. People of different faiths generally live together peacefully.

Images for kids

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  Islamic Centre Samarinda

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  Sangatta Catholic Church

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  Eka Dharma Manggala Buddhist temple