East Java

Jawa Timur (East Java) is one of the Indonesia's 28 provinces located on the eastern part of Java island. It also includes Madura island & Bawean island. The administrative center of the province is located in Surabaya, the second largest city in Indonesia.

Major cities:

Surabaya (Provincial Capital)
Malang
Gresik
Bangkalan (Located in Madura Island)
Sumenep (Located in Madura Island, famous for its salt manufacturing)
Banyuwangi (Known well as transit city for those that want to go to Bali island)

Other cities : Bojonegoro, Blitar, Bondowoso, Jember, Jombang, Kediri, Lamongan, Lumajang, Madiun, Magetan, Mojokerto, Nganjuk, Ngawi, Pacitan, Pamekasan, Pasuruan, Ponorogo, Probolinggo, Sampang, Sidoarjo, Situbondo, Tuban, Tulungagung, Trenggalek

Demography

According to the result of 2000 census, East Java ranks in second place for provincial population. Its more than 34 million inhabitants is only superseded by West Java. People of East Java includes: Javanese, Madura, and some minorities, such as Chinese, Indians, and Arabs. They speak hybrid Indonesian language, which has several influences from Java language.

Major religion is Islam. Gresik itself is known for its Islamic influence.

Natural resources

Salt (Madura Island)
Marble (Tulung Agung)
Chalk (Gresik, the city is also famous of its cement industries.)
Tobacco (Bojonegoro)

Education

Jawa Timur hosts some famous universities in Indonesia, such as: Airlangga University, Brawijaya University, and Surabaya Institute of Technology. There are also several private universities, including STTS (Technical College of Surabaya), Petra Christian University, and many more.

One of major newspaper company in Indonesia, Jawa Pos Group, is based in Jawa Timur.

National parks

Meru Betiri National Park - Between Jember and Banyuwangi districts, this park covers 580 sq km. Hard to get to , it contains fantastic coastal rainforest and scenery and is home to abundant wildlife.

Alas Purwo National Park - This 434 sq km park is formed by the Blambangan Peninsula (south eastern Java). Comprised of mangrove, savanna, lowland monsoon forests and excellent beaches, the park's name means First Forest in Javanese. Javanese legend says that the earth first emerged from the ocean here.

Baluran National Park - This 250 sq km national park is located in north east Java, once known as Indonesia's little piece of Africa, the parks formerly extensive savanna has been largely replaced by Acacia.

History

Jawa Timur has history account dated back to centuries ago, with its famous kingdom of Singosari which is now a city, and it is located near Malang. Majapahit kingdom also had originated from Jawa Timur.

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This article is incomplete, and it is always under construction. Please contribute.