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The island of Bali is part of the Republic of Indonesia.

The island has an area of 5 632 square kilometres (2 175 square miles).

It measures about 100 kilometres from north to south and about 150 kilometres from east to west.

There are six volcanoes on Bali and they stretch in a line from east to west. The highest, Mount Agung, is an active volcano 3 142 metres high.

There are tropical forests, crater lakes and many fast flowing rivers on Bali. White sand beaches in the south and beaches covered with gray or black volcanic sand are popular places for tourists.

Population of Bali

More than 3 million Balinese people live on the island, mostly along the coast in the south. Most are Hindus but there are also many Muslims and some Christians. Most people speak Balinese and Indonesian and many can speak English.

There are many Hindi temples. Lotus grow in the water garden in front of this temple in Ubub © iStock

There are many Hindi temples. Lotus grow in the water garden in front of this temple in Ubub © iStock

Climate of Bali

Balinese kids have fun at the beach. There are many fine beaches surrounding Bali ©iStock

Balinese kids have fun at the beach. There are many fine beaches surrounding Bali ©iStock

All year round the temperature on Bali is between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius. The wet monsoon season is from December to March. The dry, cooler months are from June to September.

Industry in Bali

A rice farmer prepares for planting. photo©kidcyber

A rice farmer prepares for planting. photo©kidcyber

Tourism is the most important industry in the south. There are textile and clothing factories as well as furniture, handicrafts and souvenir producers. The people also make fine silverware and jewellery. On farms these crops are grown: rice, tea, coffee, tobacco, cacao, copra, vanilla, soy beans, chilies, fruit, vegetables. Fishing and seaweed farming are important industries too.

Rice is grown on terraces cut into the hilly country side. ©iStock

Rice is grown on terraces cut into the hilly country side. ©iStock

Fauna and Flora (animals and plants) of Bali

white heron

white heron

Various species of monkeys (mainly long-tailed macaques), civet cats, barking deer and mouse deer live on the island. About 300 species of birds such as blue kingfishers, sea eagles, white herons and egrets live on the island. Dolphins, coral fish, moray eels, and whale sharks live in the sea and in the coral reefs that surround the island.

Once elephants and tigers lived on Bali, but they are now extinct on the island.

One endangered bird is the pretty Bali starling.

Hibiscus is just one of the many flowers that grow in Bali

Hibiscus is just one of the many flowers that grow in Bali ©iStock

 

Banyan, tamarind, clove and acacia trees grow in the south. There are mangroves too. A dozen kinds of coconut palms grow here too.

The Balinese use flowers as decorations and as offerings at their temples.

 

Long-tailed macaques live freely in the Monkey Forest in Ubud, Bali ©iStock

Long-tailed macaques live freely in the Monkey Forest in Ubud, Bali ©iStock

 It’s always a good idea to get information from more than one source!

Read more about Bali

https://kids.kiddle.co/Bali

Watch a video of how children at one school have worked to help save the birds.

You can read more about other places in Indonesia on kidcyber. Find them here.