Java: the most populated and volcanic island in the world

With more than 45 active volcanoes and a population of more than 141 million Java is the island with the largest population and active volcanism in the world. It is located in the Republic of Indonesia and in it is Jakarta, the capital of the country.

It houses 56.7% of the population of Indonesia. Its surface is 138,793 km2 with a density of 1121 inhabitants per km2.

Formed mainly as a result of volcanic eruptions, the island has a chain of 45 active volcanoes unfolding as a backbone from east to west throughout the island.

It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea to the north, and while it is not the largest island in the country, it is the most politically, historically, and demographically important.

Much of the best known part of Indonesian history took place in Java. It was the center of powerful Hindu and Buddhist empires, Islamic sultanates, and the core of the colonial Dutch East Indies. Java was also the center of the Indonesian struggle for independence during the 1930s and 1940s. Java dominates Indonesia politically, economically and culturally.

Three main languages ​​are spoken on the island: Javanese, Sundanese and Mature, where Javanese is the most widely spoken; It is the native language of some 60 million Javanese in Indonesia, the majority of whom live in Java. Furthermore, most of the residents are bilingual and speak Indonesian (which is the official Indonesian language derived from the Malay lingua franca) as their first or second language. While the majority of Javanese people are Muslim, the Javanese population comprises people of diverse religious beliefs, ethnicities, and cultures. Its capital which is in turn the capital of the country is the city of Jakarta.

Jakarta is located on the northwest coast of the island, it is the center of Indonesian economy, culture and politics with a population of 10,770,487 in the city in 2020 and a metropolitan area (6,392 square kilometers) of approximately 35,934 million (2020 ).

Jakarta has attracted immigrants from all over the Indonesian archipelago, making it a melting pot of numerous cultures.

Established in the 4th century as Sunda Kelapa, the city became an important trading port for the Kingdom of Sunda. It was the de facto capital of the Dutch East Indies when it was known as Batavia. Jakarta is officially a province with special status as a capital region, although it is commonly referred to as a city. Financial institutions such as the Bank of Indonesia, the Indonesian Stock Exchange and the corporate headquarters of numerous Indonesian companies and multinational corporations are located in the city. In 2017, the city's GDP was estimated at US $ 483.4 billion for Jakarta including rapid urban growth, ecological collapse, stagnant traffic, congestion and flooding.

In addition, Jakarta sinks up to 17 cm) per year, which, together with rising sea levels, has made the city more prone to flooding. It is also one of the fastest sinking capitals in the world.

In August 2019, President Joko Widodo announced the transfer of the capital to the province of East Kalimantan on the island of Borneo, causing concern among the native populations of Borneo who see their traditional territories invaded.