Introduction to Bali

Bali, a province of Indonesia, is comprised of several islands: Bali, Penida, Ceningan, Lembongan, and Menjangan. Bali covers an area of 5,632.86 square kilometres with a population of 3,021,247. These averages out to 517 inhabitants per km2.

The Bali strait separated Bali from East Java on the western side. Meanwhile, the Lombok strait on the eastern side separated Bali and Lombok. Administratively, the Province of Bali is divided into 9 districts (8 regencies and 1 municipality), 51 sub districts, 565 villages, and 79 local political districts.

Geographically, Bali is located at 80-30’-40" to 80-50’-48" south of the equator and 1140-25’-53" to 1150-42’-40" east longitude.

Bali's relief and topography have their main features of a mountain range that transverse the island from west to east. Among those mountains are two of significant sizes: Agung ( 3,140 m ) and Batur (1,717 m).

Bali also has four lakes: Beratan (375.6 Ha), Buyan (336 Ha), Tamblingan (11 Ha), and Batur (1,607.5). Rivers, which have their sources on these lakes as well as forests, flow to the southern side of the island. Among these rivers are: Ayung, Ho, Loloan, Pakerisan, Petanu, Pulukan, and Unda.

Bali has a tropical climate, which is influenced by seasonal wind pattern and alternate every six months. There are two seasons: the dry season (April - October) and the wet season (October - April). Temperatures vary from 24 °C to 30.8 °C. Rainfall during the last five years ranged between 893.4 mm and 2,702.6 mm.

Humidity averages are 90 %, during the wet season as high as 100 % and in the dry season around 60 %.