Editing Bali (section)

== Geography ==
{{See also|List of bodies of water in Bali|List of mountains in Bali}}
[[File:BaliLandsat001.jpg|thumb|Aerial photograph of Bali]]
[[File:Bali2022OSM.png|thumb|Detailed map of Bali]]
The island of Bali lies {{cvt|3.2|km|abbr=on}} east of [[Java (island)|Java]], and is approximately [[8th parallel south|8 degrees south]] of the [[equator]]. Bali and Java are separated by the [[Bali Strait]]. East to west, the island is approximately {{cvt|153|km|mi}} wide and spans approximately {{cvt|112|km|mi}} north to south; administratively it covers {{cvt|5,590.15|km2}}, or {{cvt|5,387.31|km2}} excluding offshore [[Nusa Penida]] District,<ref>{{cite web|title=Kabupaten Klungkung, Data Agregat per Kecamatan|url=http://sp2010.bps.go.id/files/ebook/5105.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004214011/http://sp2010.bps.go.id/files/ebook/5105.pdf |archive-date=4 October 2013 |url-status=live|year=2010|website=Sp2010.bps.go.id}}</ref> which comprises three small islands off the southeast coast of Bali. Its population density was roughly {{cvt|798|/km2|/mi2|disp=preunit|people}} in mid 2024.
[[File:Bali's Gunung Agung seen at sunset from Gunung Rinjani.jpg|thumb|[[Mount Agung]] is the highest point of Bali.]]
Bali's central mountains include several peaks over {{convert|2000|m|ft|abbr=off}} in elevation and active volcanoes such as [[Mount Batur]]. The highest is [[Mount Agung]] ({{convert|3031|m|ft|abbr=on|disp=semicolon}}), known as the "mother mountain", which is an active [[volcano]] rated as one of the world's most likely sites for a massive eruption within the next 100 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.volcanocafe.org/romantic-paradise-destination-the-new-decade-volcano-program-6-bali/|title=Romantic Paradise Destination – The New Decade Volcano Program #6, Bali|date=10 July 2015}}</ref> In late 2017, [[Mount Agung#2017 seismic activity and eruption|Mount Agung started erupting]] and large numbers of people were evacuated, temporarily closing the island's airport.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-42132912|title=Mount Agung: Bali volcano alert raised to highest level|date=27 November 2017|access-date=8 May 2018|work=BBC News}}</ref> Mountains range from centre to the eastern side, with Mount Agung the easternmost peak. Bali's volcanic nature has contributed to its exceptional fertility, and its tall mountain ranges provide the high rainfall that supports the highly productive agricultural sector. South of the mountains is a broad, steadily descending area where most of Bali's large rice crop is grown. The northern side of the mountains slopes more steeply to the sea and is the main coffee-producing area of the island, along with rice, vegetables, and cattle. The longest river, [[Ayung River]], flows approximately {{cvt|75|km|mi}} (see [[List of rivers of Bali]]).

The island is surrounded by [[coral reefs]]. Beaches in the south tend to have white sand, while those in the north and west have [[black sand]]. Bali has no major waterways, although the Ho River is navigable by small ''[[sampan]]'' boats. Black sand beaches between Pasut and Klatingdukuh are being developed for tourism, but apart from the seaside temple of [[Tanah Lot]], they are not yet used for significant tourism.

[[File:Wonderfull Nusa Penida.jpg|thumb|The cliff of [[Nusa Penida]] with Kelingking beach in the foreground]]
The largest city is the provincial capital, [[Denpasar]], near the southern coast. Its population is around 755,600 (in mid 2024).<ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik 2025">Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2025, ''Provinsi Bali Dalam Angka 2025'' [Bali Province In Numbers 2025] (Katalog-BPS 1102001.51)</ref> Bali's second-largest city is the old colonial capital, [[Singaraja]], which is located on the north coast and whose urban area is home to around 150,000 people in 2024.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.express.co.uk/travel/beach/829926/Bali-holiday-travel-tips-beach|title=Picture perfect beaches, romantic sunsets and delicious Asian food: Discover Bali|last=Stafford|first=Stephanie|date=22 July 2017|work=Daily Express|access-date=14 September 2017|language=en}}</ref> Other important cities include the beach resort, [[Kuta, Bali|Kuta]], which is practically part of Denpasar's urban area, and [[Ubud]], situated at the north of Denpasar, which is regarded as the island's cultural centre.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sutcliffe |first1=Theodora |title=Indonesia beginners' guide: Bali, Lombok, Java and Flores |url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2016/apr/09/indonesia-holiday-guide-bali-lombok-java-flores |work=The Guardian |date=9 April 2016 }}</ref>

Three small islands lie to the immediate south-east and all are administratively part of the [[Klungkung]] regency of Bali: [[Nusa Penida]], [[Nusa Lembongan]] and [[Nusa Ceningan]]. These islands are separated from Bali by the [[Badung Strait]].

To the east, the [[Lombok Strait]] separates Bali from [[Lombok]] and marks the [[Biogeography|biogeographical]] division between the fauna of the [[Indomalayan realm]] and the distinctly different fauna of [[Australasian realm|Australasia]]. The transition is known as the [[Wallace Line]], named after [[Alfred Russel Wallace]], who first proposed a transition zone between these two major [[biome]]s. When sea levels dropped during the [[quaternary glaciation|Pleistocene ice age]], Bali was connected to Java and [[Sumatra]] and to the mainland of Asia and shared the Asian fauna, but the deep water of the Lombok Strait continued to keep Lombok Island and the [[Lesser Sunda Islands|Lesser Sunda archipelago]] isolated.

=== Climate ===
Being just 8 degrees south of the equator, Bali has a fairly even climate all year round. Average year-round temperature stands at around {{convert|30|°C}} with a humidity level of about 85%.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bali.com/news_weather.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030609235930/http://bali.com/news_weather.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 June 2003 |title=Climate of Bali |publisher=bali.com |access-date=10 October 2017 }}</ref>

Daytime temperatures at low elevations vary between {{convert|20|and|33|°C|°F}}, but the temperatures decrease significantly with increasing elevation.

The west monsoon is in place from approximately October to April, and this can bring significant rain, particularly from December to March. During the rainy season, there are comparatively fewer tourists seen in Bali. During the Easter and Christmas holidays, the weather is very unpredictable. Outside of the monsoon period, humidity is relatively low and any rain is unlikely in lowland areas.