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East Kalimantan is potential enough with tourism, so, although it is still young, becomes the 15th Tourism Destination Location in Indonesia.

The Province of East Kalimantan has 2 municipalities, 4 regencies, and 2 administrative cities:

1). samarinda Municipality, with Samarinda City as the capital of East Kalimantan.

2). balikpapan Municipality, with Balikpapan City as the gate from the Southern area.

3). kutai Regency, with Tenggarong City as the gate from the remote area.

4). pasir Regency, with Tanah Grogot City for the development of Argo Tourism Package and History.

5). berau Regency, with Tanjung Redep City as the development of maritime Tourism and History.

The descendant of King Mulawarman prolonged until the 25 th king whose name was Maharja Derma Setia (13th century) with kutai Ing Martapura Kingdom.

Come close to its fading away, there had existed some kingdom in East Kalimantan, beginning with Kutai Kertanegara Kingdom (At Jaitan Layar), berau bulungan Kingdom and pasir Kingdom.

These waters and the sea have 279 islands in the rivers, 50 on the mouth, and 229 in the sea (Sulawesi Ocean and Makasar Strait). Most of the islands are in bulungan Regency, at rivers, and at the mouth of river, as well as in Sulawesi Ocean (123 islands), among them the farthest are Sipadan island and Ligitan island. The second is in berau Regency. Although most of the islands here are small, it has high potency is fishing as well as in maritime tourism (such as diving with beautiful under water scenery). Berau has 57 islands, the farthest is Sambit Island.

pasir Regency has 6 island, balikpapan Municipality has 2, while samarinda Municipality has none.

East Kalimantan has 162 rivers, spread out over the area. Among these, 44 are the main rivers, 55 are the branches, while 63 are the twigs. The longest main rivers are: Mahakam River (920 Km), Kayan River (576 Km), berau River (292 Km), Sesayap River (278 Km), Sembakung River (278 Km), Kandilo River (191 Km), Telake River (169 Km), Bengalon River (142 Km) and Sebuku (115 Km). While the longest branches area: Bahau River (322 Km), Kedang Kepala River (319 Km), Belayan River (229 Km), Wahau River (198 Km), Telen River (182 Km), Kendang Rantau River (132 Km), Muntai River (128 Km), and Kedang Pahu River (114 Km).

Along its flow, Mahakam River is surrounded by upland and lowland, in addition to a number of lakes which prevent flood. While Kayan River, Berau River, Sembakung River, Sesayap River and Kendilo River are covered with lowlands, which cause flood in Tanjung Redep, Tanjung Selor, Malinau/Tidung Pala, as well as Atap and pasir Belekong when heavy rain falls and comes the tide from the sea. The borders of fresh and salty water of main rivers in East Kalimantan are:

Among the mountains, there exist a number of tops or mounts, while the highest is : bulungan Regency (Mount Makita 2,987 m, Mount Lagaparatu 1,802 m, Mount Todadaun 1,753 m, and Mount Tukuksilo 1,731 m); berau Regency (Mount Kundas 1,670 m, Mount Beriun 1,380 m and Mount Serawan 1,230 m); kutai Regency (Mount Liang Pran 2,240 m, Mount Kong Kiau 2,053 m, Mount Menyapa 2,000 m, Mount Kong Kemul 1,807 m, Mount Badat 1,700 m, Mount Kong Petah 1,684 m, Mount Batu Atan 1,652 m, and Mount Baturrok 1,548 m); pasir Regency (Mount Sarempake 1,380 m, and Mount Lumut 1,236 m).

East Kalimantan has 192 lakes, mostly in kutai Regency. Their width varies from 1-115,000 Ha. The widest are Lake Jempang 15,000 Ha, Lake Semayang 13,000 Ha, Lake Padam Api 12,000 Ha, Lake Melintang 11,000 Ha, Lake Serombong 10,000 Ha, Lake Mesangat 8,000 Ha, Lake Suhui 5,000 Ha, Lake Lega 2,000 Ha, and Lake Tempatung 1,300 Ha, Lake Batu Bumbun Muara Muntai 450 Ha, and Lake Loakang (Kota Bangun) 450 Ha, are determined as fish reservation.

According to the function and the role, transportation is a vital and strategic thing in the development, especially in the area of globalization, transportation facilities become the standard of all activities.

East Kalimantan, as the 15th destination location, in the effort of anticipation of National as well as local Development program, communication sector, especially transportation becomes, the main focus, beside as the stimulation of the growth of informal sector, to omit and decrease the isolation at several regions, as well to accelerate the economic flow and to the facilities, becomes the main requirement. Therefore, with all of the municipalities and regencies being connected, beside function as the means of transportation adds the point credit the facility of transportation needed by the people, especially by foreign and domestic tourists. Some regions are still in the process of finishing.

Therefore, the role of communication sector, especially transportation is continually increased by using technology development, indicated by the addition of communication means and the other supporting facilities.

East Kalimantan contains lowlands, hills, and mountains. To the West spreads out Iban Mountain and Muller Mountain, which constitutes the border with Serawak (East Malaysia). To the South stretches Meratus Mountain which constitutes the border with the Province of South Kalimantan. Furthermore, some mountains and mounts existing in the center part, with some high tops such as Mount Kong Kemul 1,847 m, Mount Makita 2,053 m, Mount Mendam 1,599 m, Mount Kundas 1,670 m, Mount Lagaparatu 1,801 m, and Mount Menyapa 2,000 m, which constitutes the natural border for the regencies and the municipalities.

According to the height above sea level, 13.4% of the area lines between 0-25 m, mostly found in bulungan and kutai : 23.8% of it riches the height of 25 – 100 m, while 62.8% is 100 – 1000 m in height. This description tells us that more than 80% of East Kalimantan is covered by dense forest along the Eastern coast.