Sumatera Island

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.