North Kalimantan, Province on Borneo island, Indonesia
This province occupies the northeastern corner of Borneo, stretching from coastal lowlands to forested hills inland. Large rivers divide the landscape and connect remote communities with coastal settlements along the Celebes Sea.
The government created the province in November 2012 after separating it from the larger neighboring region to the east. Before that, the area shared maritime trade routes with nearby Malay sultanates for centuries.
The province contains multiple ethnic communities, including the Tidung, Bulungan, Dayak, and Bugis peoples, each maintaining their traditional languages and customs.
Visitors arrive through Tarakan Airport or travel by river boat to communities inland. Many roads remain unpaved, so travelers often rely on local guides for overland trips.
The province borders two Malaysian states, making it a corridor for trade and movement between the countries. In some places, travelers can shift between Indonesian and Malaysian villages within a single day.
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