About Indonesia

When independence was proclaimed and sovereignty gained, Indonesia had to enact laws to govern the seas in accordance with the geographic structure of an archipelagic state. This, however, did not mean that the country would bar international passage. The laws were necessary instruments for the unity and national resilience of the country, with a territory that embraces all the islands, the islets and the seas in between.
In view of the country's susceptibility to foreign intervention from the sea and from domestic security reasons, on December 13, 1957,  the Indonesian Government issued a declaration  on the territorial waters of the Republic. It stated that all the waters surrounding and between the islands in the territory came within Indonesia's sovereignty. It also determined that the country's territorial  water limit was 12 miles. measured from  a straight baseline  drawn from the outermost  points of the islands.
In the past archipelagic states like Indonesia have unilaterally determined their 200 miles Exclusive Economic Zones. Today, such economic zones are confirmed by the International Convention on the Law of the Sea, which was ratified by the Indonesian Government on October 18, 1983, by Act No. 5 of the same year. This is the legal basis of the Indonesian Exclusive Economic Zones. 



The islands of Indonesia are among the newer pieces of real estate on the globe. They were formed only about fiteen million years ago as a result of shift of  land under the ocean and volcanic eruptions. Indonesia has some 155 centers of active volcanism. Java and Bali are the most volcanically active islands in the world with 20 of their volcanoes having been active in historical times. In addition, 13 older volcanoes have active solfatara (vents emitting hydrogen sulphoide and other sulphurus gases) and fumaroles (vents emitting high pressure steam and other gases).
Some peaks such as Semeru, Merapi and Ciremai have classic shapes, and some, such as Tengger and Batu have dramatic calderas where the peak has been blown off leaving a plain or a lake with smaller peaks within. The Batur complex has been described as one of the world's largest and finest calderas.
Volcanoes have played a crucial role in the geological and human history of Indonesia. Their impact has been positive because they create land through lava flows, ash deposits and mud flows. forming thick layers of fertile sediment. Of the 130 active volcanoes in Indonesia, Merapi is the most active, and has had at least twelve eruptions that killed people. The name Merapi means "mountain of fire".

Complete book of the country's heritage 'Indonesian Heritage Series', released in 1998 is richly illustrated in full colour, with photographs, specially commissioned illustrations, maps diagrams and images drawn from archives in Asia, Europe and the United States. These volumes set out to inform and educate, providing the reader with a broad-based overview of one of the world's largest nations. Each volume has been prepared under the guidance of a volume editor who is an expert on the subject covered. The volumes are arranged in chapters consisting of a series of double-page spreads, each written by a specialist in that field, and may be read in sequence as part of the overall subject, or as individual discussions of a particular topic.
Publisher: Buku Antar Bangsa, Jakarta - Indonesia. Phone: (62-21) 5749147-8.  Email:  bab@dnet.net.id

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