Indonesia is made up of more than 13,000 islands which so far only less than 1500 having a name. The heart of the archipelago is Java, that is not only the location of

Jakarta, Indonesia's capital and largest city, but it also puts up a very big part of the population. Actually, Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country after China, India and the United States. Indonesia is also the largest muslim state. Although the islands are home to more than 100 ethnic groups, most Indonesians are of mixed Malay origins and practice Islam.

Be sure to visit at least Bali and if you have some more time, try to make it to Sumatra, with its impressive natural beauty. The smaller islands of Indonesia include Madura, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores and Bali.

Indonesia's greatest distance from north to south is about 1,900 km (about 1,200 mi) and from east to west about 5,100 km (about 3,200 mi). The country's total land area is 1,904,443 sq km (735,310 sq mi).