Sumatra

The island of Sumatra (also spelled Sumatera) is the sixth largest in the world and is the largest island entirely in Indonesia (two larger islands, Borneo and New Guinea, are partially in Indonesia), stretching almost 2,000 km (1,250 mi) from north to south. To the west, the Bukit Barisan Mountains run almost the entire lenght of the island, rising from a narrow coastal strip.

The highest of the 93 volcanic peaks, 15 of which are still active, is Mount Kerinci, at 3,850 m (12,556 ft). To the east, mountains slope down to swamps and marshes, cut by seething, silt-laden rivers.



Islam reached Sumatra in the 14th century, by which time several fabulous empires had come and gone, and Europeans were ogling the island's natural wealth. Several powers vied for it, with the Dutch emerging victorious in 1824.

Sumatrans, however, were not subdued, and they continued fighting until independence in 1949. The Acehnese people still cause headaches for the current Indinesian government.

This is a wild and glorious island. Mainly covered with dense jungle, it contains some of the world's greatest biodiversity. Endemic species such as the Sumatran tiger and the two-horned rhino still survive here, as do orang-utans.

Here, too, are both the world's largest and tallest flowers. The island encompasses many different ethnic groups, languages and cultures such as the matrilineal Minangkabau of West Sumatra, the Christian Bataks around gorgeous Lake Toba, and the firecely Muslim Acehnese.

On December 26, 2004, the western coast and islands of Sumatra, particularly Aceh province, were devastated by a nearly 15 meter high tsunami following the 9.2-magnitude Indian Ocean earthquake. The death toll surpassed 170,000 in Indonesia alone, primarily in Aceh.

In 2005 there was an 8.7 magnitude aftershock of the previous earthquake in December 2004. See 2005 Sumatran Earthquake. In addition to the subduction megathrust earthquake off the west coast, Sunda arc, the Great Sumatran Fault, a transform fault, runs the entire length of the island. The pressure on this fault increased dramatically after the December 2004 earthquake, and seismologists are afraid an earthquake is going to occur soon. The fault ends directly below the devastated city of Banda Aceh.

Sumatra is an adventure. Now largely forgotten by tourists, it can be hard work - the roads are dreadful and the transport worse - but the landscape is fabulous and the traditional architecture, such as the Minankabau longhouses with their buffalo-horn style roofs, breathtaking.

A string of natural disasters has hit Sumatra in the recent past, drastically curtailing tourism, but if you want to explore off the beaten track, amidst fabulous natural wonders, meeting people who will welcome your arrival with open arms, Sumatra is the place fo you.