Description and Explanation

COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: Indonesia is an independent republic consisting of more than 17,500 islands spread over 3,400 miles along the Equator. The main islands are Java, Sumatra, Bali, Kalimantan (Borneo), Sulawesi (Celebes), Papua, Halmahera, and Seram. The capital city of Jakarta lies in the lowlands of West Java, the most populated island. The country has approximately 246,000,000 people and more than 300 ethnic groups.
Indonesia's geographic location and topography make the country prone to natural disasters, especially seismic upheaval due to its location on the "Ring of Fire", an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin. Indonesia is a developing country with a growing economy and severe infrastructure shortcomings. Half of the population lives on under U.S. $2 per day. However, it has many tourist destinations associated with the country's cultural diversity and natural resources. To have a safe and pleasant stay in Indonesia, U.S. travelers and residents must be aware of their surroundings, take personal responsibility for their wellbeing and be prepared to care for themselves in an emergency. Read the Department of State Background Notes on Indonesia for additional information.

RESPIRATORY
How does a Bird's Lungs Work?
By: Petey & Petunia
Birds have extremely delicate respiratory systems. Whatever
a bird breathes is circulated through the bird's body.
The lungs in birds operate quite differently than those in humans
and other animals.
Birds have two relatively small lungs and in the lungs are bellows-like
air sacs. These air sacs keep the lungs perpetually inflated.
Bird lungs have an opening on each end through which air flows
into the interconnected air sacs in the neck, chest, and
abdomen. Most birds have four paired air sacs, plus a single
unpaired sac for a total of nine. Some of the air sacs also
enter into bones.
Birds require two complete inspirations and two complete
expirations to circulate air through their respiratory tracts.
Humans, by comparison, require one inhalation and one exhalation.
There is a one way flow of air in their lungs...thus the lungs receive
fresh air during inhalation and again during exhalation
In the bird's respiratory system, air first flows through air sacs
that direct fresh, oxygenated air into the lungs where gas
exchange occurs, both when the bird inhales and when it exhales.