Kalimantan is a name given to the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo. The spelling of Kalimantan is phonetically written as /kælɪmænˈtæn/, with a stressed syllable on the second syllable (li) and silent letters (k and n) at the beginning and end of the word. It's important to note that Kalimantan is often misspelled as "Kallimantan," "Kalimanthan," or "Kalimanta," but the correct spelling is crucial for communication and understanding when referring to this region.
Kalimantan refers to the Indonesian portion of the island of Borneo, the third-largest island in the world. It is located in Southeast Asia and is divided among three countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. Kalimantan is the Indonesian part, covering approximately 73% of the island's land area.
With a population of around 17 million people, Kalimantan is home to diverse ethnic groups, including the Dayak, Banjar, and Malay peoples. The region is known for its rich biodiversity, vast rainforests, and unique flora and fauna. It encompasses several national parks and protected areas, such as the Kutai National Park and Tanjung Putting National Park.
Historically, the island of Borneo has been an important trading hub due to its strategic location and abundant natural resources such as timber, minerals, and oil. The primary economic activities in Kalimantan include forestry, mining, agriculture, and fishing. Logging and palm oil plantations have had a significant impact on the region's ecosystem, leading to deforestation and loss of habitat for endangered species like orangutans.
Kalimantan's geography is characterized by rugged mountains, large rivers, and low-lying coastal areas. The weather is typically tropical, with high humidity and heavy rainfall throughout the year. Access to different parts of Kalimantan can be challenging due to its remote location and limited transportation infrastructure.
In summary, Kalimantan is the Indonesian portion of the island of Borneo, known for its diverse ethnic groups, rich biodiversity, and abundant natural resources.
The word "Kalimantan" is derived from the Sanskrit language. It is a combination of two words: "kalamanthana" and "kala".
"Kalamanthana" means "burning weather" or "hot season", and "kala" means "time" or "era". It is believed that these terms were used to describe the equatorial climate of the region, with high temperatures and intense seasons.
Over time, the term "Kalamanthana" evolved into "Kalimantan", which became the name for the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo. It refers to the Indonesian provinces of West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, and North Kalimantan.