kotamadya (municipality), capital of East Kalimantan (Kalimantan Timur) propinsi (province), eastern Borneo, Indonesia. It is on the Mahakam River, about 30 miles (48 km) above the mouth of its broad delta opening onto Makassar Strait. Samarinda is the centre of the extensive timber and logging industries of East Kalimantan. An important regional trade centre, it is connected by road to the port of Balikpapan to the south. The University of Kalimantan Timur was established at Samarinda in 1962. Pop. (2005) 574,439.