Java

views updated

Java Indonesian island, between the Java Sea and the Indian Ocean, se of Sumatra; its largest city is Jakarta. In the early centuries ad, the island was ruled by Hindu kingdoms. Islam began to spread in the 16th century. By the 18th century the island was mainly under Dutch control. It was occupied by the Japanese during World War II. Java is a mountainous country, with a volcanic belt in the s and an alluvial plain to the n. It is thickly forested and has many rivers. It produces rice, tea, coffee, sugar cane, textiles, tobacco, and rubber. Silver, gold, and phosphate are mined in the n. Area: 126,501sq km (48,842sq mi). Pop. (2000) 117,319,419.

More From encyclopedia.com