Jakarta
This article discusses Jakarta, Indonesia. If you are looking for the Jakarta Project, click there.Jakarta, also Djakarta, is the capital city of Indonesia, located on the island of Java. It has the area of 650 kmē and the population of 11.5 million (1995 estimate).
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2 Government 3 Problems 4 Transportation 5 Education 6 Places 7 Sports 8 External Links |
Jakarta began as a small harbor located near the mouth of Ciliwung river in about 15th century. Several European writers reported a settlement called Kalapa. It was a major port for the hindish kingdom of Sunda, with its capital Kalapa, about 40km to the south of Kalapa, near today city of Bogor. The Portuguese was reported to be the first european that visited the port of Kalapa. The port is still being called Sunda Kelapa today.
The city was then attacked by a young warrior Fatahillah (or Faletehan) from a nearby kingdom. Fatahillah changed the name Kalapa into Jayakarta at 22 June 1527. This particular date is the official birth date of Jakarta. The Dutch came to Jayakarta in the end of 16th century and then at 1619 the forces of the Dutch East India Company, led by Jan Pieterszoon Coen conquered the city. They then renamed Jayakarta into Batavia.
When the Japanese arrived in 1942, to gain local favor they renamed the city to Jakarta.
Unlike other cities in Indonesia, Jakarta earns a special province status. The city is headed by a governor, not by a walikota. Jakarta is divided into five district of kotamadya headed by walikotamadya.
Like every big cities in developing countries, Jakarta suffers from major urbanization. The population has exploded from 2.7 million in 1960 to 11.5 million in 1995. The rapid population growth has outgrown the ability of the government to provide basic need of the city's residents. Jakarta also attracts a large number of workers from its neighboring area. The population during work hours are almost double the population during the night.
Because of inability to provide an adequate transportation for its sheer size of population, Jakarta also suffers from severe traffic jams that occur almost every work days.
In rainy season, sometimes Jakarta also suffers from a flood. This primarily caused by the opening of rainforests to the south of Jakarta near Bogor and Depok. It is also caused by inadequate efforts of the local government to prevent it.
There are railways throughout Jakarta, however they are inadequate to provide transportation for citizens of Jakarta. In peak hours, the amount of train passengers simply overloaded the capacity provided. The railroad tracks also connect Jakarta to its neighboring cities: Depok and Bogor to the south, Tangerang and Serpong to the west, and Bekasi, Karawang and Cikampek to the east. The major rail stations are Gambir, Jatinegara, Manggarai and Jakarta Kota.
Buses and transport cars (local language: Angkot, angkutan kota) are also popular. Like trains, they are also becoming overloaded on peak hours. In 2003, the government formed Busway, it serves the route from Jakarta Kota all the way to Blok M. Normally it took more than one hour from Jakarta Kota to Blok M during peak hours. Taking busway, it is now taking less than half an hour. The second phase of busway will be constructed in 2005 serving route from Pulogadung to Kalideres.
To prevent traffic jams, some major roads in Jakarta have the three in one rule. It is forbidden for at least four wheeled vehicles that carry less than three passenger to enter the designated road during work hours. The roads that have three in one rule include: Jalan Hayam Wuruk, Jalan Gajah Mada, Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, Jalan M.H. Thamrin, Jalan Sudirman, Jalan Sisingamangaraja, Jalan Gatot Subroto.
Jakarta's transportation also depends on tollroads. The major tollroad is the inner ring road from Tanjungpriuk-Cawang-Grogol-Tanjungpriuk. The outer ring road is now being constructed and partly operational from Cilincing-Cakung-Pasar Rebo-Pondok Pinang-Daan Mogot-Cengkareng. The tollroads also connect Jakarta to the International airport of Soekarno-Hatta to the northwest, to the port of Merak and Tangerang to the west, to Serpong to the southwest, to Depok and Bogor to the south, and to Bekasi, Cibitung and Karawang, Purwakarta and eventually to Bandung to the east.
Two monorail tracks are being constructed: green track serving Semanggi-Casablanca-Kuningan-Semanggi and blue track serving Kampung Melayu-Casablanca-Tanah Abang-Roxy.
The government is also considering waterbus (local language: 'bus air') for cheaper type of transportation along the water canals inside Jakarta.
Jakarta is the home of several universities:
Jakarta is the home of popular soccer team Persija Jakarta, which regularly holds its matches in stadium of Lebak Bulus. The biggest stadium is Gelora Bung Karno. With capacity of more than 100,000 seats, it is one of the biggest stadiums in the world.
The Senayan sports complex is comprised of several sport venues, which include: Gelora Bung Karno soccer stadium, Stadion Madya athletic stadium, Istora senayan, a shooting range, a tennis court, a golf driving range and several others. There are also Hotel Mulia and several shopping center such as Plasa Senayan, STC Senayan and Ratu Plaza.
History
Government
The islands of Seribu (Kepulauan Seribu) to the north of Jakarta is also part of Jakarta, it has the status of kabupaten and headed by a bupati.Problems
Transportation
Education
Places
Sports
External Links
Provinces of Indonesia'''
Sumatra:
DI Aceh |
North Sumatra (Sumatera Utara) |
West Sumatra (Sumatera Barat) |
Bengkulu |
Riau |
Riau Islands (Kepulauan Riau) |
Jambi |
South Sumatra (Sumatera Selatan) |
Lampung |
Bangka-Belitung
Java:
DKI Jaya |
West Java (Jawa Barat) |
Banten |
Central Java (Jawa Tengah) |
DI Yogyakarta |
East Java (Jawa Timur)
Kalimantan:
West Kalimantan (Kalimantan Barat) |
Central Kalimantan (Kalimantan Tengah) |
South Kalimantan (Kalimantan Selatan) |
East Kalimantan (Kalimantan Timur)
Bali and Nusa Tenggara:
Bali |
West Nusa Tenggara (Nusa Tenggara Barat) |
East Nusa Tenggara (Nusa Tenggara Timur)
Sulawesi:
North Sulawesi (Sulawesi Utara) |
Central Sulawesi (Sulawesi Tengah) |
South Sulawesi (Sulawesi Selatan) |
South East Sulawesi (Sulawesi Tenggara) |
Gorontalo
Maluku and Papua:
Maluku |
North Maluku (Maluku Utara) |
Irian Jaya Barat | Papua