Central Java ash makes Central Java highly fertile agriculture land. Paddy fields are extensive, except in the southeastern Gunung Kidul region partly due to the high concentration of limestone and its location in a rain shadow from the prevailing weather. The largest rivers are the Serayu in the west, which empties into the Indian Ocean, and the Solo which flows into East Java. On the eve of the World War II in 1942, Central Java was subdivided into 7 residencies (Dutch "residentie" or plural "residenties", Javanese "karésiḍènan" or "karésidhènan") which corresponded more or less with the main regions of this area. These
Second Battle of the Java Sea discovered that the wrecks of HMS "Exeter" and HMS "Encounter" were missing from the ocean floor. The Guardian newspaper subsequently reported that the wrecks of HMS "Exeter", HMS "Encounter", and part of HMS "Electra", as well as the submarine USS "Perch" were missing and presumed illegally scavenged. Commenting on their removal, one of the men involved in their original discovery is stunned at the magnitude of the salvaging that appears to have taken place. Second Battle of the Java Sea The Second Battle of the Java Sea was the last naval action of the Netherlands East Indies campaign, of 1941–42.