Sumatera Island
Sumatera is the
world’s fifth largest island and the second largest of Indonesia. The distance between it’s
northernmost and southernmost points is 1,750 kilometers, and that along the
line of it’s greatest width is 400 kilometers.An island of grand dimensions,
Sumatera is also an island of great natural beauty and natural wealth. It is a
major source of tin, coal, oil, bauxite and gold, rubber, palmoil and a host of
other products. Sumatera is an old land. It is believed to
once have been the northeastern rim of an ancient continent whose southern and
gradually segged to form the Indian Ocean. The island’s volcanic spine, the
Bukit Barisan range, is part of the chain that extends from the Sotheast Asian
mainland over Sumatera, Java and the islands towards the east until it reaches
the arch of islands which partly encircle the Banda Sea.
Geographically,
Sumatera is land of great extremes. Along the west coast, an enormous low-land
plain with mile upon mile of marshland extends for more than a third of the
islands length from Tanjug Balai in North Sumatera to the island’s southern
tip. It is a spacious land, with only about 30 million people living on about
one fourth the total Indonesian land area.The first great
religion came to Sumatera was Hinduism. Remains of the early period are still
found in the form of ruins, statues, and stone inscriptions. Hinduism in
Sumatera, never had the grip it had in Java on the lives and traditions of the
people. The influence of Moslem-Islam on the majority of Sumaterans, on the
other hand, has been profound. The first to adopt the new religion, Sumatera
was the base from which Moslem spread to the other islands of Indonesia and
beyond.
The Protestant
Church gained a foothold only at around the turn of the last century, mainly in
the Batak Lands of northern Sumatera. In addition, there are the old
indigeneous beliefs, which in certain areas still color the lives of the people
despite the progress made by Moslem and Christianity.
Today, Sumatera is
still the land of tradition and unspoiled nature. Modern thought and
technology, are fast gaining inroads even in remote areas as new roads and modern telecomuncations gradually lift the
veil of it’s isolation.Sumatera is a complete tourist destination-sunny beaches,
rich flora and fauna, large rivers and great history. Sumatera has the richest
wildlife in Indonesia and hence it is known as "Africa of Asia". It
is full of tropical rainforests and if you are a wildlife lover then Sumatera
is the ideal place for you. Trekking is another option that you can opt for in
Sumatera. Sumatera attracts fewer tourists than its neighbors like Java and
Bali. So if you are looking for a quiet holiday away from maddening crowds then
Sumatera fits the bill perfectly.
History
of Sumatera Island
The first large
empire to make Sumatera its home was Sri Vijaya Empire- the first Hindu kingdom
of Indonesia-in the 7th century. In 10th century the Arabs established their
Sultanate of Achin (now Aceh) in a part of Indonesia. By the 14th century, most
of the power of Sri Vijaya Kingdom waned and Sumatera came under the direct
control of Javanese rulers. Later on, in the 17th century, the Dutch
established their control over Sumatera. In 1942, during Second World War,
Sumatera came under the control of Japan and remained so for a year. When
Indonesia attained independence and became a republic in 1949, Sumatera became
a part of Indonesia. But, the Achinese protest against the Indonesian
government continued and in 1958 a full-scale rebellion was launched by the
army officers. Internal struggles and problems have still not waned and it is
advisable to check the current situation before going to Sumatera.
Sumatera Island today
is devided in to Nine Provinces those are; Nangroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD), North
Sumatera, West Sumatera, Riau, Riau Archipelago, Jambi, Bengkulu, Bangka
Belitung, Lampung and South Sumatera.
Weather
Sumatera is located
on both sides of the equator in equal halves; hence it is divided in two
climatic zones. In north of equator October to April is the rainy season, while
May to September is the dry season. In south of equator, rainy season is from
December to February.The best time to visit Sumatera is in September and
October. It is the beginning of the rainy season and generally there are no
torrential rains during this period. One can travel to inner countryside
without much of a problem during this time.
Welcome
to The Tiger Island; Sumatera, Indonesia.
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