Palangkaraya

Palangkaraya is the capital and largest city of the Indonesian province of Central Kalimantan, situated on the island of Borneo. The city has an official population estimate of 318,247 as of mid-2025 and is the largest city by land area in Indonesia.

What are the landscape and environmental characteristics of Palangkaraya?

The city is situated between the Kahayan and the Sabangau rivers. Most of the area is forested, particularly in the northern districts of Rakumpit and Bukit Batu, which feature protected forests, nature conservation areas, and Tangkiling Forest. Overall, the landscape's soil consists mostly of peat and alluvium in the southern part and podzol in the northern part, with podzol soil dominating 218,486 out of 285,312 hectares of the city's terrain. The topography is mostly flat with a general slope of less than 40 percent, and the city is mostly located around 35 meters above sea level. Despite its protected forests, national parks, nature reserves, and preserved nature areas, the city suffers from environmental problems such as haze, forest fires, and floods.

Palangkaraya serves as the capital and largest city of the Indonesian province of Central Kalimantan. Situated on the island of Borneo between the Kahayan and the Sabangau rivers, the settlement holds an official mid-2025 population estimate of 318,247 residents.

How is the landscape structured across the city?

Palangkaraya holds the distinction of being the largest city by land area in Indonesia, covering a territory roughly four times the size of Jakarta. Despite this vast extent, the municipality is predominantly forested, particularly across its northern districts of Rakumpit and Bukit Batu. These forested zones include protected areas, nature conservation spaces, and the Tangkiling Forest.

Geographically, the terrain is mostly flat with a general slope of less than 40 percent, and the landscape typically sits around 35 meters above sea level. The underlying ground composition varies by region. The southern portions of the city consist largely of peat and alluvium, while podzol soil dominates the northern part, accounting for 218,486 out of the city's 285,312 hectares of soil.

What boundaries and environmental realities define the region?

The city shares land borders with the Gunung Mas Regency to the north, the Katingan Regency to the west, and the Pulang Pisau Regency to the south and east. Land use allocations across the municipality include 10,105.34 hectares designated as protected forest, 90,722.15 hectares for production forest, 63,816.40 hectares of national park, 1,771.13 hectares of nature reserve, and 726.20 hectares of preserved nature.

Despite its planned infrastructure and high Human Development Index rating within Kalimantan, the city's environment faces recurring challenges. The local landscape and population contend with persistent environmental problems, including seasonal floods, forest fires, and haze.