Balikpapan, Industrial seaport in East Kalimantan, Indonesia
Balikpapan is an industrial seaport in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, with a coastline and hills reaching 80 meters (260 feet). The city links multiple economic zones through roads along the waterfront, connecting residential and commercial areas together.
The discovery of oil in 1897 transformed a small fishing community into a refining hub under Dutch management. Later decades brought further growth of the oil sector and related infrastructure throughout the region.
The name comes from the Bugis phrase for
Sepinggan International Airport connects the city to other major Indonesian destinations and sits about 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the center. Taxis and private vehicles handle most of the inner-city movement.
The Wain River Protected Forest within city limits hosts free-roaming orangutans and sun bears among more than 440 plant species. Visitors can walk trails through this forest and occasionally spot the animals in their natural surroundings.
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