Borneo » City Info

Borneo, the third-largest island in the world is situated north of Java Island, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia. The giant island is divided into three countries: Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia. According to the political division, up to 73% is Indonesian territory, while 26% of the island is occupied by the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak in the north. However, the remaining 1% of Borneo&rsquo's land area is the sovereign state of Brunei located on the north coast.

With an area of 743,330km², Borneo is the largest island in the Malay Archipelago. The island is beautifully set in nature, surrounded by the South China Sea to the north and northwest, the Sulu Sea to the northeast, the Celebes Sea and the Makassar Strait to the east, and the Java Sea and Karimata Strait to the south. Mount Kinabalu, situated in Sabah, Malaysia, is the highest point of Borneo and the third highest peak in South East Asia. This highest peak makes Borneo the third highest island in the world.

The island enjoys being bestowed with 130 million years old Borneo rainforest, which is around 70 million years older than the Amazon rainforest. Therefore, it has been crowned the title of the oldest rainforest in the world. It is a very rich island because of its excellent biodiversity compared to other regions. There are about 15,000 species of flowering plants, 3,000 species of trees, 221 species of terrestrial mammals, and 420 species of resident birds in Borneo.

Division of Borneo

Brunei

Brunei is officially known as the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace. The place situated in South East Asia is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo. Embodied with prudent beauties, the country is completely surrounded by the state of Sarawak, Malaysia on three sides with one side bordering the South China Sea. It is separated from Malaysia by the border town of Limbang.

Indonesia

officially known as the Republic of Indonesia lies between Southeast Asia and Oceania. It is an archipelago consisting of 17,508 islands. Jakarta is the capital city of Indonesia, which comprises 33 provinces as well, occupies the world’s fourth most populous country’s position. The country shares land borders with Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Malaysia. With an array of islands, you get a chance to know distinct ethnic, linguistic, and religious groups. Above all, the island is richly endowed with natural resources as well supports the world's second-highest level of biodiversity.

Malaysia

Malaysia, a federal constitutional monarchy in Southeast Asia, comprises thirteen states and three federal territories. It is divided by the South China Sea into two similarly sized regions, Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo. Kuala Lumpur is the capital city of Malaysia, whose land border touches Thailand, Indonesia, and Brunei. Putrajaya, the federal administrative centre of Malaysia, is the third federal territory after Kuala Lumpur and Labuan. The city has been named after the first Malaysian Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, where “putra” or “putera” means “prince” while “jaya” means “success” or “victory”.