Banjarmasin

Banjarmasin is a big city in Indonesia.

It sits on an island near two rivers. These rivers are the Barito and Martapura.

The land is very flat and low. It is a swampy place. Because it is so low, water can flood the city.

The weather is hot and wet. It rains a lot from November to June. This rain helps the land stay green.

Many people live in this busy place. It is one of the biggest cities on Borneo island. It is a very special part of the land.

Banjarmasin is a large city in South Kalimantan, Indonesia.

It sits on a delta island. This island is near the Barito and Martapura rivers.

The city is part of the island of Borneo. It is the third largest city on that island.

The land in Banjarmasin is very flat and low. It is a swampy area. Much of the land sits below water level. This makes the city prone to floods from the tides.

The weather is tropical and warm. It rains a lot from November to June. The hottest months are March to September. The air can feel very wet during the rainy season.

Many people live here. In 2024, there were about 681,693 people in the city. A much larger area called Greater Banjarmasin has over two million people.

This big area includes nearby towns like Banjarbaru. Banjarmasin was once the capital of the province. Now, the capital is in Banjarbaru.

Banjarmasin is a large and busy city in South Kalimantan, Indonesia.

It sits on a delta island near the meeting point of two rivers. These are the Barito and Martapura rivers.

The city is part of the big island of Borneo. It is actually the third most populous city on that island. Many people know it as a center for Banjarese culture. It was once the capital of the Sultanate of Banjar.

The land here is very flat and low. Most of the ground is just a tiny bit above sea level. Because it is so low, the city is often prone to flooding. This happens when the tides push water into the area.

The ground is made of clay, sandstone, and river sediments. Many smaller rivers flow through the city like branches on a tree. These rivers all connect back to the Martapura or Barito rivers. The weather is tropical and stays warm all year.

The history of the city goes back a very long time. Long ago, people lived in the region using stone tools.

Later, different kingdoms like Negara Daha and Dipa were founded here. The city we know today began with the Sultanate of Banjar. A leader named Raden Samudra helped the port grow into a town. He eventually became Sultan Suriansyah I. This happened after he gained help from the Demak Sultanate. This change brought the religion of Islam to the region.

European traders first arrived in the area around 1596. Many of these traders were from the Netherlands. There were many fights over the nutmeg trade during this time.

Later, the British also had control for a short time. In the 1800s, there was a war over coal mines and power. This war ended the sultanate in 1863. During World War II, the Japanese army occupied the city.

Australian forces eventually arrived to liberate the city in 1945.

Today, Banjarmasin is a major part of South Kalimantan. In 2024, the city had about 681,693 people living in it.

If you include the nearby towns, over two million people live in the Greater Banjarmasin area. This big area is also called Banjarbakula. Banjarmasin used to be the capital of the whole province. However, the capital was legally moved to Banjarbaru on 15 February 2022. Even so, many important government buildings are still located here.

Banjarmasin is a major urban center located in South Kalimantan, Indonesia.

It sits on a delta island near the confluence of the Barito and Martapura rivers. The city serves as a vital cultural hub for the Banjarese people. Historically, it was the capital of the Sultanate of Banjar. Today, it remains one of the most significant cities on the island of Borneo. It is the third most populous city on the island.

The geography of Banjarmasin is defined by its low-lying, swampy terrain. The land is very flat with a slight slope of only 0.13%. Most of the city sits near or even below water level. This makes the area prone to flooding from tidal bores. The ground consists of clay, sandstone, and alluvial sediments from the rivers. A dendritic drainage pattern exists here, meaning small rivers branch out like trees. These smaller waterways all connect to the Martapura or Barito rivers.

The climate in this region is a tropical savanna climate. This means the area experiences heavy rainfall from November to June. Rainfall becomes more moderate between July and October. Temperatures stay warm throughout the year. The average maximum temperature is 32.5°C, while the average minimum is 23.7°C. The hottest months are typically March through September. During the rainy season, sunshine is limited to about 2.8 hours per day. In the dry season, sunshine increases to 6.5 hours per day.

Banjarmasin has a deep and complex history. Archaeological finds by H. Kupper in 1939 revealed prehistoric stone tools. These artifacts suggest a Neolithic culture existed in the region long ago. Before the modern city, several kingdoms inhabited the area. These included Tanjungpuri, Negara Daha, and Dipa. The specific history of Banjarmasin began with the founding of the Sultanate of Banjar. A leader named Raden Samudra fled to the region. He eventually met Patih Masih and grew the port of Bandar Masih.

Raden Samudra later became Sultan Suriansyah I after defeating Prince Tumenggung. He achieved this by allying with the Demak Sultanate. This alliance led to the introduction of Islam to the region. For a time, the sultanate was a protectorate of Demak. However, it became independent between 1546 and 1550 due to the spice trade. European contact began around 1596 through trade in Banten. Dutch traders later sought a monopoly on the nutmeg trade. This led to many conflicts, including the burning of company possessions in 1638.

The 19th and 20th centuries brought significant political changes. A war over coal mines and succession ended the sultanate in 1863. This conflict continued under an emergency government until 1905. During World War II, the Imperial Japanese Army occupied the city.

Australian forces liberated the city in September 1945. Following this, the people fought the Kalimantan Physical Revolution against the Dutch. This struggle ended with Dutch recognition of Indonesia in 1949. The city was later granted official city status in 1959.

Today, Banjarmasin is part of a massive urban agglomeration. This area is known as Greater Banjarmasin or Banjarbakula. It includes the city of Banjarbaru and parts of several regencies. In mid-2024, the population of Greater Banjarmasin exceeded two million people. This accounts for almost half of the total population of South Kalimantan. The city proper had an estimated 681,693 inhabitants in mid-2024.

While the provincial capital moved to Banjarbaru on 15 February 2022, Banjarmasin remains a central hub.