heavy minerals and offshore placer deposits are actively exploited
by bordering countries, particularly India, South Africa, Indonesia,
Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

@Indian Ocean:Transportation

Ports and harbors: Calcutta (India), Chennai (Madras; India), Colombo
(Sri Lanka), Durban (South Africa), Jakarta (Indonesia), Melbourne
(Australia), Mumbai (Bombay; India), Richards Bay (South Africa)

@Indian Ocean:Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: some maritime disputes (see littoral states)

______________________________________________________________________

INDONESIA

@Indonesia:Introduction

Background: The world's largest archipelago, Indonesia achieved
independence from the Netherlands in 1949. Current issues include:
implementing IMF-mandated reforms of the banking sector, effecting a
transition to a popularly elected government after years of rule by
dictators, addressing charges of cronyism and corruption among the
Chinese-dominated business class, dealing with alleged human rights
violations by the military, and resolving growing pressures for some
form of autonomy or independence in certain regions such as Aceh and
Irian Jaya. On 30 August 1999 a provincial referendum for independence
was overwhelmingly approved by the people of Timor Timur. Concurrence
followed by Indonesia's national legislature, and the name East Timor
was provisionally adopted. The independent status of East Timor has
yet to be formally established.

@Indonesia:Geography

Location: Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean and
the Pacific Ocean

Geographic coordinates: 5 00 S, 120 00 E

Map references: Southeast Asia

Area:
total: 1,919,440 sq km
land: 1,826,440 sq km
water: 93,000 sq km

Area - comparative: slightly less than three times the size of Texas

Land boundaries:
total: 2,602 km
border countries: Malaysia 1,782 km, Papua New Guinea 820 km

Coastline: 54,716 km

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands

Terrain: mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior
mountains

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Puncak Jaya 5,030 m

Natural resources: petroleum, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber,
bauxite, copper, fertile soils, coal, gold, silver

Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 7%
permanent pa