West Kalimantan, Province in Borneo, Indonesia.
West Kalimantan is a province on the Indonesian side of Borneo, covering large areas of tropical rainforest crisscrossed by rivers and mountains. The capital Pontianak sits at the mouth of the Kapuas, one of the longest rivers on the island, while the interior remains mostly dense forest with scattered villages.
The area became part of the Dutch East Indies during colonial rule and received provincial status in 1957 after Indonesian independence. Before that, it was divided into several sultanates and traditional territories organized around major rivers.
Several ethnic groups live side by side, including Dayak in the interior, Malay along the coast, and Chinese descendants in towns, each keeping their own languages and customs. These differences show in clothing, crafts, and food at local markets and during festivals.
Rivers and boats play a central role in moving around, as many places can only be reached by water. Travelers should allow plenty of time because distances can be considerable and roads are often poor or absent.
Lake Sentarum in the northwest changes appearance depending on the rainy season, shifting from a broad wetland into a network of separate water bodies. This yearly transformation affects the life of nearby communities and their fishing practices.
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