Jakarta

Sister cities

• Amsterdam
• Moscow
• Istanbul
• Jeddah
• Yazd
• Rotterdam
• London
• Los Angeles
• Berlin
• New York City
• Pyongyang
• Seoul

History

The Buni culture was a prehistoric pottery culture found in the coastal areas of northern and western Java. It is dated to roughly 400 BC–AD 100, with evidence suggesting that it may have continued until about AD 500. Written evidence from this period includes the mid-5th century Tugu inscription, found near Tanjung Priok in present-day North Jakarta. The inscription records the excavation of two waterways, the Candrabhaga and Gomati, and attributes the latter to King Purnawarman. However, the relationship between the waterways and the identity of the ruler responsible for the Candrabhaga are uncertain. By the 10th century, the Sunda Kingdom had emerged in western Java and ruled the area around present-day Jakarta. The Chinese work Chu-fan-chi describes Sin-t'o as having a harbour and producing pepper, with the work's translators Friedrich Hirth and William Woodville Rockhill identifying the place meant as Sunda in western Java. By the early 16th century, Kalapa was one of the Sunda Kingdom's leading ports. Tomé Pires described it as Sunda's most important trading port, drawing ships from Sumatra, Malacca, Java and elsewhere. In March 1513, the Portuguese captain at Malacca sent four ships to Java to obtain spices. The Sunda Kingdom concluded a treaty with Portugal on 21 August 1522. It allowed the Portuguese to build a fortress at Kalapa, as Sunda sought Portuguese support amid pressure from the sultanates of Cirebon and Demak. In 1527, Islamic forces captured Kalapa, but sources differ over whether Fatahillah or Sunan Gunung Jati led the conquest. After the conquest, Kalapa became a dependency of the Banten Sultanate and was recorded in foreign sources as Iacarta, Xacatra or Jacatra. Banten later developed into a major maritime power in western Java. In the early…

Geography

Jakarta covers about of land and of sea territory, including the waters around the Thousand Islands. The wider metropolitan region, commonly called Jabodetabek, extends into West Java and Banten and covers about of land. Daily commuting links Jakarta with surrounding municipalities, including Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi. The city lies on Java's northwestern coast at the mouth of the Ciliwung river, facing Jakarta Bay. Except for some hilly areas in the south, Jakarta spreads across low, flat terrain. Much of Jakarta lies on an alluvial plain, with elevations ranging from below sea level to about . Thirteen rivers flow through the city from the south toward Jakarta Bay, including the Ciliwung, Angke, Sunter, and Grogol rivers. The alluvial plain was historically swampy, and seasonal flooding remains common. Heavy rain and runoff from upstream areas cause flooding, which can be worsened by high tides, land subsidence, blocked drains and limited river capacity. Jakarta's flood-control policy has long favoured engineered measures, including canals, dredging, pumping stations and coastal defences. Land subsidence is a major driver of coastal-flood risk in northern Jakarta. Groundwater extraction and the weight of buildings and infrastructure are among the human causes of subsidence. Beyond flooding, Jakarta also faces severe river-water and air pollution, with air pollution imposing substantial health burdens. Jakarta has a tropical monsoon climate with distinct wet and dry seasons. Rainfall is much heavier from December to March, while June to September is relatively dry. Flooding is common during the rainy season. Heavy rain and upstream runoff can overwhelm rivers and drains, while high tides, land subsidence and urban development can further increase flood…

Most-observed species

• Eurasian Tree Sparrow

  Passer montanus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,153
• Spotted Dove

  Spilopelia chinensis (Scopoli, 1786) · Aves
  2,142
• Cave Swiftlet

  Collocalia linchi Horsfield & F.Moore, 1854 · Aves
  2,121
• Javan Pond-Heron

  Ardeola speciosa (Horsfield, 1821) · Aves
  1,609
• Pink-necked Pigeon

  Treron vernans (Linnaeus, 1771) · Aves
  1,327
• Yellow-vented Bulbul

  Pycnonotus goiavier (Scopoli, 1786) · Aves
  1,307
• Pacific Swallow

  Hirundo javanica Sparrman, 1789 · Aves
  1,086
• Golden-bellied Gerygone

  Gerygone sulphurea Wallace, 1864 · Aves
  1,067

Most recent

• M 4.4 — 2026-08-19
  29 km NNW of Sepatan, Indonesia
• M 4.3 — 2026-02-21
  2 km SSW of Teluknaga, Indonesia
• M 4 — 2025-12-09
  75 km NNE of Serang, Indonesia
• M 4.1 — 2025-09-20
  16 km W of Cicurug, Indonesia
• M 4.9 — 2025-08-20
  23 km SSE of Cikarang, Indonesia
• M 4.2 — 2025-07-30
  13 km NW of Kresek, Indonesia