Jakarta, capital
and largest city of the Republic of Indonesia, centrally
located on the northwest coast of Java Island. Jakarta
dominates Indonesia's administrative, economic, and cultural
activities, and is a major commercial and transportation
hub within Asia. The climate is hot and humid year-round.
Rainfall occurs throughout the year, although it is heaviest
from November to May. Average annual precipitation in
Jakarta is 1800 mm (71 in). Average daily temperature
range is 21° to 33° C (69° to 92° F), with little seasonal
variation. It has a total area of 661 sq km (255 sq mi).
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Jakarta developed
as a center of trade and it continues to play an important
role in international and domestic commerce. The metropolitan
region is Indonesia's largest economic center; it attracts
most of Indonesia's domestic and foreign investment and,
as the administrative capital, government expenditures are
also significant. A major positive development is the strong
growth of tourism and Jakarta's role as a gateway to other
areas of Indonesia. Sukarno-Hatta International Airport
opened in 1985 at Cengkareng, west of the city center. Port
facilities are located just north of the city center at
Tanjung Priok. Jakarta's telephone system has improved greatly.
Radio broadcast and television channels stations are numerous.
several , including government-operated station (TVRI &
RRI).
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At the 1990
census, DKI Jakarta had a population of 8,259,266. The 1995
estimated population was 9,160,500. These figures do not
include seasonal residents who may number more than 1 million.
Population growth is high: In 1986 the Jabotabek region
had an estimated population of 14.6 million; the projected
population for 2000 is 25 million. Reducing the rate of
Jakarta's population growth is a national priority. The
population of Jakarta includes people of many ethnic groups.
Sundanese from West Java and Javanese dominate, but others
are well represented. Chinese population is usually divided
into two groups: Peranakans, who are Indonesian-born Chinese
with some Indonesian ancestry; and Totoks, who have only
Chinese ancestry and are usually foreign born. Most people
in Jakarta are Muslims. However, Buddhism, Hinduism, and
Christian are also represented.
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Jakarta has
more than 100 private and public institutions of higher
learning, including the University of Indonesia, founded
in 1950, the nation's oldest university. Jakarta's cultural
institutions showcase a variety of Indonesian art, including
textiles, batik cloth (cloth that is dyed by a technique
using wax), wayang orang (traditional theater with human
actors), and wayang kulit (traditional puppet theater),
painting, and Javanese and Balinese gamelan (drum-and-gong
ensemble) music. Important museums include the Jakarta
History Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the National
Museum.
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