Surabaya, << `sur` uh BAH yuh >> (pop. 2,874,314), sometimes spelled Surabaja, is one of the largest cities in Indonesia. Surabaya lies on the northeast coast of the island of Java at the mouth of the Kali Mas, a river. It is the capital of the province of East Java and is Indonesia’s second busiest port, after Jakarta. Indonesia’s navy has a major naval base in Surabaya.
Surabaya is a major industrial center. Its industries include shipbuilding, motor assembly, textile production, and rubber processing. The city is the home of a large university and a major technical school. It has a mixture of modern and traditional housing.
Surabaya’s founding date is uncertain. But the city has been the chief trading and shipping center of eastern Java since the 1300’s.
