Republic of Indonesia

Geographical Position. Indonesia (= insular India) is one of th« largest countries of Asia. It consists of the islands lying between Asia and Australia, including such large islands as Kalimantan (Borneo), Sumatra, Java and Sulawesi (Celebes! of the Greater Sunda group and a vast number of smaller islands and islets, almost 3,000 in all. The western part of New Guinea (Wes Irian) is also Indonesian territory.
The Republic of Indonesia (West Irian included) has an area o
almost 2,000,000 square kilometres. It is almost 60 times as large a
the Netherlands, whose colony it was for many years. During Worlc
War II it was occupied by Japan. It was only after the defeat o
Japan that the people of Indonesia broke the resistance of the Dutch
colonists and established an independent state.  I The inhabitants of Indonesia consist mainly of the Malayan peoples. Indonesia's population of over 97,000000 makes it a bigl country not only by Asian but world standards. Especially densely populated is Java (about 400 persons to the square kilometre). Leis populated are the rest of the islands, especially their interior moun­tainous regions.
The Indonesians are skilful farmers. Rice, the main food of thfl people, is   cultivated everywhere. Three crops are grown a year.
At any time of the year one can see ploughing, planting and harvest­ing done all at the same time.
Plantations of hevea, a rubber-bearing tree, occupy large areas. The hevea-tree was introduced into Indonesia from South America, here it still grows wild today. In Indonesia the hevea is cultivated on large plantations. Indonesia has become the chief producer of the world's supply of rubber. Nowadays the production of caoutchouc has lost some of its former importance, since many countries now make it artificially from alcohol or petroleum gas.
Another native plant of South America widely grown in Indo­nesia is the cinchona. Its bark is used to make quinine—a medicine lor malaria.
After the overthrow of Dutch rule and the establishment of the vereign Republic of Indonesia, the chief task in hand became Hie independent development of the national economy, theconstruc-I ion of a large-scale industry and the expansion of shipping.
Indonesia is on friendy relations with the Soviet Union. She struggling for peace in the world, disarmament and the liberation of territories still under colonial rule.
The largest city of the Republic is its capital Jakarta (about 3,000,000 inhabitants), situated on the north-western coast of Java.
Questions and Assignments.

• Put down the names of the largest islands of Indonesia on the
  outline map. Mark the mineral resources of the country and its
  capital.
• Compare the natural features of Indonesia with those of the
  Republic of India.