| Negara River Sungai Negara, Sungai Bahan | |
|---|---|
  Mouth location in Kalimantan (Borneo) | |
| Etymology | taken from the name of Negara District (formerly the center ofNegara Daha Kingdom) |
| Location | |
| Country | Indonesia |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | confluence of Tabalong River and Balangan River |
| • location | Tabalong,South Kalimantan,Borneo |
| Mouth | Barito River |
• location | Marabahan, Barito Kuala |
• coordinates | 2°59′12″S114°46′03″E / 2.9867°S 114.7674°E /-2.9867; 114.7674 |
| Basin size | 250,000 hectares (620,000 acres) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • right | Amandit River; Batang Alai River |
TheNegara River (Indonesian:Sungai Negara orSungai Bahan) is a river ofBorneo, Indonesia.[1] It flows in the southeast region of the island, within theNegara District, province ofSouth Kalimantan.[2] It is the second longest river in the province after theBarito River, which the Negara River flows into.
This river is atributary of theBarito River. It rises in theMeratus Mountains,Tabalong Regency. The river mouth is located on the border ofTapin Regency andBarito Kuala Regency, where the small city ofMarabahan (historic name:Bandar Muara Bahan) is located.
The Negara River has become the source of life for the people ofSouth Kalimantan, especially in the northern region, both for the source of water and for transportation. Locations of interest along the Negara River include Margasari inTapin Regency and Negara District inHulu Sungai Selatan Regency.
The river's name is taken from theNegara District (formerly the center ofNegara Daha Kingdom). During the Negara Daha (pre-Islamic) period, the river was calledSungai Bahan (Bahan River). The watershed of Negara is calledBatang Banyu area.
The river flows in the southeast area ofBorneo island with a predominantlytropical rainforest climate (designated asAf in the Köppen-Geiger climate classification).[3] The annual average temperature in the area is 24 °C (75 °F). The warmest month is September, when the average temperature is around 26 °C (79 °F), and the coldest is November, at 23 °C (73 °F).[4] The average annual rainfall is 2,767 millimeters (108.9 inches). The wettest month is February, with an average of 366-millimeter (14.4 in) rainfall, and the driest is September, with a 75-millimeter (3.0 in) rainfall.[5]
This area can be reached using the road connectingBanjarmasin andBalikpapan, throughKandangan andAmuntai. With an area of around 250,000 hectares, this valley is one of the most fertile in Borneo (Kalimantan), resulting in a higher population than in other parts of Kalimantan. "Rawa Negara" ("Negara Swamp") is located between theBarito River andMeratus Mountains, with open surface and deep water, stretching to the lakes area (Lake Bangkau, Lake Panggang, and Lake Sembujur) forming a plain with seasonal flood and protecting the downstream area from flood or salt-water intrusion. The local people are mostly of theBanjar ethnic group, who have an interesting land use system that combines various rice types that grow on the surface (floating),water buffalo, andduckhusbandry. The main habitat is thepeat swamp forest,riparian forest,Melaleuca/Combretocarpus swamp forest, various open swamps with floating vegetation or grassy swamps, open water bodies, and agricultural land. The people use this area to find wood, cut trees to make furniture, create farmlands, and engage infishery and bird hunting.[6]