Java, source of the English slang for coffee (and a programming language)? An island in Indonesia. Krakatoa, the great volcano that erupted in 1883 and (theoretically) caused a near-extinction event long before that? In Indonesia. History buffs know about the Spice Islands, the source of cloves and other spices for which 16th-century explorers set sail - today they are known as the Maluku Islands. You've also heard of the Komodo dragons and orangutans, of course, both of which live in Indonesia. Ever heard of Bali? It's one of Indonesia's many islands, and probably the only fairly popular one. Australians are an exception to this, as both countries are (rather uneasy) neighbors, and likewise the Netherlands' colonial legacy has left enough Indonesians and Indonesian-born Eurasians (like the Van Halen brothers' mom) in the larger Dutch cities to make a mark. Indonesia is one of those places almost completely unknown to Westerners (at least until the Twitter era) despite its many tourist spots and huge population, as well as a major role in world history. With a population of about 230 million, it is the fourth most populous country in the world, beaten only by the United States, India and China. Indonesia, officially known as the Republic of Indonesia ( Indonesian: Republik Indonesia), is a collection of 17,508 islands located in Southeast Asia.
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