Local Information
Bandung, the capital of West Java province, located about 180 km
(112 miles) southeast of Jakarta, is the fourth largest city in Indonesia with
over 2.6 million population in 2006. Its elevation is 768 metres (2,520
ft)
above sea level and is surrounded by up to 2,400 m (7,874 ft) high volcanic
terrain. The 400 km² flat of central Bandung plain is situated in the middle
of 2,340.88 km² wide of the Bandung Basin; the basin comprises Bandung,
the Cimahi satellite city, part of Bandung Regency, and part of Sumedang
Regency. The basin's main river is the Citarum; one of its branches, the
Cikapundung, divides Bandung from north to south before it merges with
Citarum again in Karawang. The Bandung Basin is an important source of
water for drinking water, irrigation and fisheries, and its 6,147 million m³ of
groundwater is a major reservoir for the city.
The northern part of the city is higher than the rest; the distinguished
truncated flat-peak shape of the Tangkuban Perahu volcano (Tangkuban
Perahu literally means 'up-turned boat') can be seen from the city to the
north. Long-term volcanic activity has created fertile and soil in the
north,
suitable for intensive rice, fruit, tea, tobacco and coffee plantations.
In the
south and east, alluvial soils deposited by the Cikapundung river are mostly
found.
Geological data shows that the Bandung Basin is located on an
ancient volcano, known as Mount Sunda, erected up to 3,000–4,000 metres
(9,850–13,100 ft) during the Pleistocene age. Two large scale eruptions
took place; the first formed the basin and the other (est. 55,000 Before
Present)
blocked the Citarum river, turning the basin into a lake known as "the
Great
Lake of Bandung". The lake drained away; the reason for which is the subject
of ongoing debate among geologists.
Due to its elevation, the climate in Bandung is cooler than most Indonesian
cities and can be classified as humid; the average temperature is 23.6
ºC
(74.5°F) throughout the year. The average annual rainfall ranges from
1,000
millimetres in the central and southeast regions to 3,500 millimetres in the
north of the city. The wet season conforms with other Indonesian regions,
around November to April.
(Updated on Sep. 9)