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Map of the island of Sumatra.

Sumatra is the fifth largest island in the world in the northeast of the Indian Ocean as part of the Greater Sunda Islands, which are part of the Malay Archipelago. The island lies south of the Eurasian peninsula of Malacca and is separated from it by the Malacca Strait. The origin of the name of the island is rooted in antiquity, when in the language of the tribes that inhabited Indochina, the word "sumatai" meant "behind the water."

The island of Sumatra is washed by the waters of many straits of the basin of the Indian and Pacific oceans, separating it from many neighboring islands and rocks. In the north of the island, its coast is washed by the waters of the Andaman Sea, which passes into the Strait of Malacca, connecting it with the South China Sea. Pacific Ocean. The straits of this sea, Berhala and Banka, separate the island of Sumatra from the islands of Pinga and Banka, respectively. The southeastern coast of the island is washed by the waters of the Java Sea, which, through the Sunda Strait, which separates Sumatra and the island, connects to the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. A fairly large number of islands and island groups are located off the southwestern coast of the island: Mentawai, Batu, Nias and Simepue, separated by the Mentawai, Mekua and Samagu straits.

Administratively, the island of Sumatra is divided into several provinces and is an integral part of the territory of the state of Indonesia.

West coast of Sumatra.

Story.

Experts say that the first people appeared on the island of Sumatra around the second millennium BC. A lot of evidence of this is currently being found during excavations on the territory of the island. At the same time, archaeologists distinguish at least three cultures, whose representatives replaced each other in different time periods.

In the period of the II-V centuries AD, the first states of the region began to form on the island of Sumatra; among the most famous and significant powers of that period, it is worth noting the kingdom of Srivijaya with its capital in modern city Palembang. The kingdom of Srivijaya constantly waged wars of conquest and was able to subjugate the islands of Java and, as well as the Malay Peninsula and part of the territory of the current state of Thailand.

At the beginning of the 10th century AD, the island of Sumatra began to be mentioned in ancient writings, and in the writings of the 11th century, the name "Isle of Gold" was assigned to it, since gold mines began to operate here.

In the XIII century. the kingdom of Srivijaya was weakened by internecine strife, which led to its fragmentation. Against the general background of the collapsed kingdom, the principality of Pasai began to stand out, which at the end of the 14th century became one of the most powerful on the island of Sumatra and beyond.

A typical river village in the eastern part of the island of Sumatra.

In 1291, the famous Italian traveler Marco Polo visited the island of Sumatra, who rather colorfully described it in his writings.

Starting from the end of the 13th century, the island of Sumatra became part of the Majapahit empire, which lasted until the middle of the 16th century. In the period 1496-1904, the Aceh Sultanate, which is considered a follower of the collapsed Majapahit empire, was on the island.

At the end of the 16th century, Dutch missionaries and merchants began to arrive in Sumatra, who began to establish their settlements on the coast. By the end of the 17th century, Sumatra completely fell under the rule of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, like most of the islands of Indonesia.

First World War bypasses Sumatra, as the Netherlands was officially a neutral state. But during the Second World War, Sumatra fell under the occupation of Japanese troops.

After the capitulation of Japan, the Netherlands decided not to fight for the restoration of its power over Indonesia, and in 1945 the independence of the Republic of Indonesia was proclaimed, which territorially includes the island of Sumatra.

Sunset on the east coast of Sumatra.

Origin and geography of the island.

The island of Sumatra is quite large in area, so it is customary to consider it geographical coordinates according to its geographical center: 0°23′44″ S. sh. 101°46′38″ E d.

The island of Sumatra, according to its origin, experts refer to the mainland islands, which are formed as a result of the movement of the continents. The island of Sumatra is believed to have formed about 6 million years ago, like most of the islands of the archipelago of which it belongs.

Sumatra is considered the surface part of the mountain range separating the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea, which stretches from Burma (Rakhine Range) through and continues with the Pusat Gano Mountains, the Batak Plateau and the Barisan Range already in Sumatra itself. The mountain range of the island stretches from north to south along the west coast. The highest point of the island is the Kerinci volcano, reaching a height of 3800 meters above sea level.

A small Sumatran village on the shores of Lake Toba.

If the western part of Sumatra is mountainous, then its East End low-lying and replete with many marshes and small streams.

It is worth noting that in the northeastern part of Sumatra one of the most big world volcanic lakes in the world - Toba, formed in the crater of a volcano that erupted about 70,000 years ago.

The coastline of the island passes in such a way that it forms a large number of small bays and bays, convenient for mooring ships. The coast of the island, almost along its entire length, is represented by beaches with dark volcanic sand, and in some places even low sand dunes. In the coastal waters of the island, especially off the east coast, there are short Coral reefs.

The island of Sumatra has rich deposits of minerals - oil, iron, coal, gold, nickel and tin.

View of Kerinci volcano.

Climate.

The position of the island of Sumatra on the equator forms the climate in these places accordingly. The climate here, by its type, is equatorial, sufficiently humid and hot. There are no significant seasonal temperature changes here. The air temperature throughout the year on average ranges from + 25 to +27 ° C. From December to March, the island is dominated by winds from the northeast, and from July to September - southwest. On the east coast of the island, about 1000 millimeters of precipitation falls in the form of tropical showers per year. In the western regions, this figure is higher, here it is about 4000 millimeters, and in the mountainous regions it reaches 6000.

View of the valley in the intermountain of the Barisan ridge.

Population.

Currently, the population of Sumatra is approximately 50.6 million people, which makes the island the fourth largest in the world in terms of population. By ethnic composition, the majority are Indonesians (divided into several ethnic groups of Javanese, Madurese, Sundanese, Minangkabau, and so on), among other representatives of peoples and ethnic groups, it is worth noting the Chinese, Thais, Indians, Vietnamese and Laotians. State language Indonesia, including the island of Sumatra, is an Indonesian (Malay) language belonging to the Austronesian language family.

The local population is employed in agriculture, mining, textile and processing industries.

The largest city in terms of size and population of the island and the center of the province of the same name is the city of Medan, inhabited by more than two million inhabitants. Among the large and densely populated cities of the island are Padang, Palembang, Belawan, Pematangsiantar and Pekambaru.

Administratively, the island is divided into 10 provinces, the largest of which are North and South Sumatra, Aceh and Lampung.

The monetary unit in circulation on the territory of the island of Sumatra, as well as in fact, throughout Indonesia, is the Indonesian rupiah (IDR, code 360), which the Indonesians colloquially call perak. 1 Indonesian rupiah is officially divided into 100 sen.

Great Mosque in the city of Medan.

Flora and fauna.

More than 30% of the territory of Sumatra, mainly in the eastern part of the island, grow equatorial rainforests. Palms, ficuses, giant bamboos, creepers and tree ferns predominate in them on the eastern plains of the island and in the foothills of the ridges. In mountain forests at altitudes of more than 1500 meters, laurel trees and evergreen oaks grow in large numbers, here you can also find maples, chestnuts and some species of coniferous trees. In the mountains, intermountain and on the plateau, to a greater extent, you can find shrubs, herbaceous plants and alang-alang, which is an emdemic for these places.

The fauna of Sumatra is diverse. Only 196 species of mammals live here. A large number of reptiles (more than 250 species), more than 270 species of tropical river fish and over 450 species of birds. Emdemic for these places are 9 species of mammals, 19 species of birds and about 30 species of river fish.

The most prominent representatives of the Sumatran animal world are the Indian elephant, Sumatran rhinoceros (emdemik), buffalo, Sumatran tiger (emdemik), black-backed tapir, orangutan, gibbon, Malayan bear, pig-tailed macaque, siamang, striped pig, woolly wing, leopard and island civet (emdemik ). Of the reptiles, it is worth highlighting the Sumatran boa constrictor (emdemik), the “flying dragon” and the gharial crocodile.

Lake Toba.

Tourism.

Local authorities are only recent times began to pay attention to the development of tourism on the island of Sumatra. climate and natural conditions here are such that they create extraordinary prospects for the operation of tourist facilities for various purposes.

On the coast of Sumatra, only minor areas do not have sandy beaches. In areas where rivers do not flow into the seas, the beaches are washed by the purest sea waters, especially the Indian Ocean. The sand on the beaches has a dark brownish color due to its volcanic origin. In those parts of the coast where coral reefs are located, fabulous conditions for diving and snorkeling are created. In the bays and bays protected from strong winds, you can recently meet a large number of windsurfers.

Tourists - lovers of wildlife, local tour operators organize eco-tours to the equatorial rainforest, where you can enjoy the view of pristine wildlife.

Fans of sights and ancient monuments will be presented here architectural structures Middle Ages: the Great Mosque and the first city mosque on the island railway in the city of Medan.

It is worth noting that about 80,000 people visited the island of Sumatra with a tourist mission in 2012, which exceeded similar indicators of previously recognized leaders in the tourism business in different parts Sveta.

Coast and beach of Sumatra island.

In the west of the Malay Archipelago is the sixth largest island in the world - Sumatra. As part of the islands, it is part of the Greater Sunda Islands. The area of ​​Sumatra is 473,000 sq. km. The population is over 50,370,000 people. The capital of Sumatra is.

Geographical position and relief of Sumatra

The island of Sumatra, the photo of which can be seen below, on the world map is located simultaneously in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, and the equator divides it into almost two equal parts. The length of the island is approximately 1.8 thousand square meters. km, and the width is 435 km. Sumatra is separated from neighboring Malacca by the Malacca Strait, and from Sunda.

The southwestern coast of Sumatra is mountainous, here are the Batak and Aceh plateaus. The fault zone separates mountain range Barisan into two chains, composed of Paleozoic rocks: limestone, quartzite, crystalline schists. The east of the island is a swampy plain.

There are 12 active ones on the island of Sumatra, as well as many extinct ones. The highest point of Sumatra is the active volcano Indrapura or, whose height is more than 3800 m above sea level. Other large volcanoes are 2891 m high and Dempo - 3159 m.

The island of Sumatra is characterized by high seismicity. Earthquakes with an amplitude of up to 7-8 points are possible here. So, in 1883, an erupting one, located near Sumatra, lowered a whole neighboring one under water. And the infamous 2004 tsunami on the island of Sumatra, caused by an underwater earthquake, caused enormous damage to its southern and west coast.

In the area where the island of Sumatra is located, an equatorial climate prevails, characterized by high temperatures and humidity. average temperature here + 25-27ºС. In winter, winds blow from the northeast, and in summer - from the southwest. In the east of the island, rainfall is up to 1000 mm per year. In western Sumatra, they can fall up to 4000 mm, and in the mountains - up to 6000 mm. Moreover, from May to September there is almost no rain, and the main precipitation occurs in the autumn-winter period.

Cities of Sumatra

Tourists traveling around the island usually visit the following places:

Attractions of Sumatra

On that exotic island many tourists aspire to visit. Life here is in many ways different from European. From what to see in Sumatra, it is important to name:

The island has a lot for every taste and budget:

• JW Marriott Hotel Medan– 5-star hotel in the center of the metropolis on Sumatra Medan with modern, well-equipped rooms, a swimming pool and a gym;
• Santika Premiere Dyandra Hotels & Convention-Medan– a stylish 4-star hotel with a conference center, a spa;
• Aston Jambi Hotel & Conference Center- a 4-star hotel located in the city of Jambi, provides its guests with a full range of services;
• Horison Siantar Hotel- An excellent 3-star hotel with non-smoking rooms will provide its guests with a comfortable stay.

Sumatra Restaurants

In order to taste national ones, you can visit one of the restaurants in Sumatra:

• Restaurant Garuda- this is a whole network of authentic restaurants that are located throughout Sumatra, and especially in its northern part, in establishments you will be treated to meat, fish, and vegetable dishes;
• Jenny's Restaurant- a restaurant located on the island of Samosir, the traditional dish in it is fried to a crispy fish caught in Lake Toba;
• Tip Top Restaurant- one of the oldest restaurants in Sumatra, but this does not make it less popular, but rather the opposite. Here you will be treated to fried rice, delicious cakes and even homemade ice cream, this restaurant is located in Medan on Ahmad Yani Street.

shopping

If you, having arrived in Sumatra, dream of doing something here, pay attention to shopping centers available in each city:

• Sun Plaza - in this shopping and entertainment center, located in Medan on Jl. Ainul Arifin & Diponegoro / Polonia, you can choose from brands such as Franco, Mango, Zara;
• modern shopping complex in the city of Palembang is located at Jln. PON IX, 30137, where you can buy fashionable shoes, clothes, souvenirs, Jewelry;
• Batik Tanah Liek Citra Monalisa in Padang - here you can buy fabrics made using the batik technique, as well as finished goods of them.

How to get to Sumatra island?

When traveling to Sumatra, keep in mind that the easiest way to get to the island is by plane. Medan is the main city of Sumatra - Kuala Namu, which receives flights from many cities in Indonesia, as well as from other countries, such as China and Thailand. From the airport to the center of Medan, you can take a train, regular bus or taxi.

To travel by car from to Sumatra, you can use the ferry. However, such a road will take you a very long time and may be unsafe.

Indonesia - large state in Southwest Asia - it is not for nothing that they call the Land of a Thousand Islands. It is spread over parts of New Guinea, the Moluccas and Sunda Islands, the largest of which are Borneo, Sulawesi, Java, Sumatra, the islands of Timor, Flores, Sumbawa, Bali and others. The three islands of the Republic of Indonesia are among the six largest on the planet.

tropical paradise

The islands of Indonesia are a motley carpet of a mixture of peoples, cultures, diverse landscapes, natural and climatic zones. One of the most amazing is Sumatra, which many call a continent in miniature. There are tropics and savannahs, lowland swamps and high mountains. The island is inhabited by rhinos and elephants, tigers and leopards, bears and buffaloes - a large fauna that is not typical of the islands.

Geographical position

Sumatra is one of largest archipelago. It stretches from northwest to southeast for 1800 km. The area of ​​the island is 421,000 km2. It is formed by a system of mountain ranges extended far to the west. Most high points they are located at a distance of 30-50 km from the Indian Ocean. They don't have names. The southern sections are known as the Barisan range, in the northern part of the island rises the Batak plateau.

Smaller land areas are located around the "parent" island. From the side of the Indian Ocean, mountainous sparsely populated territories lined up parallel to Sumatra: Mentawai, Nias, Engano. Along east coast Sinkep, Banka, Belitung are spread out. Notorious became Simalur (Simelue) - an Indonesian island to the west of the island of Sumatra. In 2004, a giant tsunami hit its coast.

Very close, to the northeast, is the Malay Peninsula - part of the Asian continent. It is separated from Sumatra by the Strait of Malacca. The most important shipping routes pass here: rich cargo attracts real pirates of the 21st century who rob ships. To the east, 420 km, is the "big brother" - Between the "relatives" lies the Karimata Strait. The most populous Indonesian island, Java, is separated from Sumatra by the 25 km wide Sunda Strait.

The question "where is Sumatra" can be answered simply: between Australia and Asia. And more precisely - in the extreme west of the Malay Archipelago, in the triangle between Java, Kalimantan and the Malay Peninsula.

Geology

The mountains of Sumatra were formed partly in the Hercynian, partly in the Mesozoic and later Paleogene folding, they also have young longitudinal faults. They are composed of quartzites, crystalline schists, Paleozoic limestones, there are outcrops of granite intrusions. The average height of the mountains is from 1500 to 3000 m.

The Barisan Ridge is divided by a longitudinal zone of faults and grabens into two parallel chains. The island is crowned with numerous cones of active and extinct volcanoes, among which the most clearly distinguished high volcano in Sumatra - Kerinchi (Indrapura), 3800 m high. It is followed by Dempo (3159 m) and Marapi (2891 m). Only twelve active giants.

Between Sumatra and neighboring Java, the stratovolcano Krakatoa (813 m) lurks. Its eruptions are rare, but catastrophic. The last activity here was observed in 1999. In 1927-1929. As a result of an underwater explosion, the island of Anak-Krakatau was formed. And the eruption of 1883 actually destroyed the once high island - the blast wave was felt on all continents, circling the Earth three times.

Relief

In contrast to the southwestern mountain range, in the east of Sumatra lies a large swampy alluvial lowland. A feature of the area is that its coastal part is flooded by sea tides. Here are fertile conditions for extensive mangrove forests. Sumatra, the islands of Banka and Belitung are rich in various types of minerals: oil, coal, gold, manganese, iron, nickel, tin.

Climate

The Malay Archipelago on the map is located between Asia and Australia. The climate here is humid. The amount of precipitation in Sumatra in some places exceeds 3500-3800 mm (up to 6000 mm), but they fall unevenly. A large amount of rain is due to a mountain barrier that stretches along the entire island. The maximum moisture falls in October-November to the north of the equator, and in December-January - to the south of it. In the north, the season with less rainfall is more pronounced than in the south. The temperature is comfortable - 25-27 degrees almost throughout the year, but the incredibly high humidity spoils the idyllic picture.

Strong easterly winds often blow in the east of the island and in. They reach their greatest strength during the action of the southwest monsoon. Mostly this hurricane wind, accompanied by a thunderstorm, is observed at night - apparently, this is facilitated by the Sumatra mountain range, which runs parallel to the Strait of Malacca.

water areas

The islands of Indonesia, due to heavy rainfall, have excess moisture. Due to this, numerous rivers flow in most regions. Sumatra is no exception: the river network is quite dense, water flows do not dry up during the year, washing away a lot of sedimentary material from the mountains. The largest rivers of the island are Muse, Khari, Kampar, Rokan, Inderagiri.

There are many lakes on the island. In the center of the Batak tuff plateau in a volcanic depression lies the largest lake in Indonesia - Toba, with the island of Samosir in the middle. At one time, there was a separate Batak principality here, whose descendants, according to legend, settled throughout Sumatra. The lake is located at an altitude of 904 m above sea level. The area is more than 1000 km 2, and maximum depth- 433 meters. It's cold here, especially at night. A 320,000 kW hydroelectric power station was built on the Asahan River, which flows out of the reservoir.

ground cover

The most common soil types are podzolized laterites that have formed on weathered crust. On the foothills and in the mountains, soils are represented by a variant of mountain lateritic soils. In the east, alluvial and marsh soils stretch in a wide strip, and mangrove soils in a narrow coastal strip.

Vegetation

The geographical position of Sumatra near the equator contributes to the growth of dense tropical forests, they occupy large areas. Unfortunately, in river valleys, on plains and in mountain hollows large areas forests have been cut down, and a variety of agricultural crops are grown in the developed territories. Rubber trees, rice, coconut palm, tobacco, tea, cotton, pepper are widely cultivated on the island.

The northeastern lowland coast is dominated by mangroves. In intermountain low areas, small areas are occupied by savannahs. At altitudes of 1.5-3 km, forests are common with a predominance of evergreen trees (laurel, oak), there are also coniferous, broad-leaved deciduous (chestnut, maple) trees. Above 3000 m, the forests give way to stunted thickets with falling leaves, shrubs and grasses.

Fauna

Island animal world predominantly represented by forest species. The jungles of Sumatra have become the Mecca of ecotourists who want to get acquainted with the life of one of the most interesting species of monkeys - orangutans.

Also typical mammals are primates (fat loris, siamang, pig-tailed macaques, brownie macaques), woolly wings, lizards, squirrels, badgers, bats. Among the large inhabitants, the two-horned rhinoceros, the Indian elephant, the black-backed tapir, the leopard, the striped pig, the island Weaver, and wild dogs stand out.

Of the birds, the most interesting are gomrai, argus, hornbeak, and several species of pigeons. Of the reptiles on the island, flying dragons, gharials (crocodiles), snakes are found. Of the amphibians, the legless worm stands out. A lot of different insects, arachnids.

Dormant supervolcano

On the map, it is not much different from neighboring lands, but it was here that an epoch-making cataclysm occurred 73,000 years ago that changed the history of the Earth. The explosion of a supervolcano gave rise to the emergence of the so-called volcanic winter, reminiscent of a nuclear one. In addition to 3000 km 3 of ash, a huge amount of anhydride fell into the atmosphere, which provoked widespread acid rain.

For six years, unnaturally low temperatures reigned on the planet, acid rains destroyed vegetation. The next millennium is characterized by cooling and the onset of glaciers. As a result, only the most intelligent survived from a large population of people - about 10,000 representatives of the Homo sapiens species in the heart of Africa. In fact, a natural disaster contributed to the "explosive" development of intelligence in our distant ancestors.

Lake Toba

Sumatra - islands amazing nature. The most striking geological and cultural attraction is the largest lake of volcanic origin on the planet, Toba, which filled the giant crater of that very supervolcano. Its dimensions (length - 100 km, width - 30 km, depth - 505 m) allowed the reservoir to become the largest in Indonesia and the second (after Tonle Sap Lake) in Southeast Asia.

Located on Lake Toba picturesque island Samosir. It is famous for its incredible landscapes, nature, authentic culture. Not only Muslims live here, but also a people called Batak. They are Christians, they have very peculiar folk traditions, art, and especially architecture. Samosir is quite small, its length coastline- 111 km. But in this small area, developed tourist centers, and the "untouched" natural landscape, and the daily life of the Sumatran peasants.

Although the water in Toba is fresh, its transparency, azure, surrounding landscapes and microclimate are reminiscent of the Mediterranean coast. This association is broken only by the absence of large waves, which is a great advantage for many tourists.

Population

More than 300 peoples live in Indonesia, while linguists count 719 living languages ​​and dialects. About 90% of citizens, including those in Sumatra, are Muslims. Most of the islanders know the Indonesian language, which is only 50 years old. It unites different peoples and nationalities in the country, it is studied in schools, it dominates on television and in the press.

The western region (Banka, Sumatra, the Mentawai Islands, the Linga Archipelago and others) is home to more than 50 million people who speak 52 languages. In the north and east of Sumatra and on numerous islands, Malays dominate, in the south - Javanese. The Chinese and Tamils ​​are concentrated in urban centers.

Less than a third of the population lives in cities. Major metropolitan areas:

• Medan - 2.1 million people (2010).
• Palembang - 1.5 million (2010).
• Batam (Riau Islands) - 1.15 million (2012).
• Pekanbaru - 1.1 (2014).

In the central highlands and around Lake Toba, an amazing people live - the Bataks. First of all, their fantastic architecture surprises: three-story houses resemble Noah's Ark. The indigenous people explain that the first floor is for animals: earlier there were many wild animals in the forests, so the house was built “on legs” (on stilts) for safety. Families live on the second floor, and spirits live in the attic. Although the Bataks are Christians, they strongly believe in spirits, so attics can even exceed the first two floors combined in size. In everyday life, the Bataks (there are about 6 million of them on the island) speak their own language, but most speak the national Indonesian. Many understand English.

) is the island of Sumatra, it is popular with tourists due to the incredibly beautiful mountain landscapes, the largest volcanic lake, ancient ruins and black sand beaches, which are at least 2 km long.

How to get there?

Despite the fact that the island stretched for almost 500 thousand km 2, public transport is poorly developed here. In this regard, the easiest way to get to the island is by plane. There are no direct flights to this place even in major cities Russia, so you will have to fly with a transfer. There are 12 airports in Indonesia, but most often tourists transfer to. From there you can fly directly to the island. It is difficult to say what the cost of the flight will be, it mainly depends on the time of year. At the peak tourist season, the cost of a flight from Russia to the island with a transfer can be $ 1200.

Climate

Sumatra is located on the equator, so you can relax here all year round. Here, the air humidity is constantly high and the temperature is moderate, so the risk of getting a sunstroke is minimal. There are no big temperature drops here, the air heats up to +25-27 degrees.

The difference between summer and winter is only in the direction of the wind. Between December and March, dominated by northeast direction winds, and from June to the end of September southwest. There is little precipitation on the island, no more than 1000 ml during the year.

Resort Information

Scientists believe that for the first time people appeared on the island before our era. exact time so far they have not succeeded. Excavations are still being carried out on the territory of Indonesia, thanks to which archaeologists have found out that at least three representatives of different cultures lived on the island, who succeeded each other.

The first states were formed on the island in the II century. AD Among the most significant powers, it is worth noting the kingdom of Srivijaya. Thanks to him, a lot of wars of conquest were launched, as a result of which a small part of the island and the Malay Peninsula submitted. Analyzing ancient writings, archaeologists first come across mentions of Sumatra in the 10th century. Only at that time, because of the gold mines, this place was called the "Isle of Gold".

A famous traveler from Italy first came to the island in 1291, after which he colorfully described this place in his book. Further, colonialists from Portugal and Holland appeared in Sumatra. As a result of several years of clashes, the Dutch conquered the island. After that, in the 15th century, trade in pepper and other spices was established, which at that time were valued in the same way as precious metals. After 100 years, the British unsuccessfully tried to attack the Dutch.

In 1833, the volcano Krakatoa, which is located near the island of Sumatra, erupted. The eruption resulted in an explosion and flooding. During World War II, Japan captured Sumatra, but after the Indonesian authorities were able to return the island to their possession. From that moment, local residents began to demand autonomy, and in 2001 the authorities agreed to this. In 2004, the strongest tsunami hit Sumatra, after which some areas of the island are still recovering.

Entertainment and attractions

The local authorities began to think about the development of infrastructure to attract tourists only in the last few years. There are more than 20 beaches on the island, most of which have volcanic sand. Sumatra Island creates ideal conditions for diving, snorkeling and even windsurfing.

In addition, there are a lot of historical and natural attractions that tourists simply need to visit in order to feel the atmosphere of this place.

Lake Toba

At one time, Indonesia became famous thanks to this lake. The thing is that it was formed more than 70 thousand years ago, and also has a volcanic origin. This place is very picturesque thanks to tropical pine forests located on the shore of the lake. To fully enjoy this place, you can take a tour by ferry or boat. The depth of the lake reaches 505 meters. Asian pikes, carps, guppies live in the reservoir. The water in the lake is so clear that even at a decent depth you can see fish and take beautiful photos.

Gunung Louser National Park

The park got its name from the most beautiful grief Leuser, which is located in the park. Gunung Loser stretched for more than 150 km. For tourists, this place is remarkable not only for its picturesque nature and different types rare plants, but also by the fact that several ecosystems are located in the park. For example, there is a large orangutan sanctuary in the park. This unique natural complex was included in the World Heritage List.

It is also noteworthy that the Sumatran orangutans, which are an endangered species, are kept on the territory of Gung Leser. There are only 2 places on the planet where these animals are taken care of. Also in the park you can admire the rhinos, elephants, tigers, Bengal cats, sambar and siamang.

Bukit Lawang Village

This village is located within the Gunung Loser Park. On weekdays, only tourists live there, but on holidays and weekends, locals come to this place. This place was created so that tourists can understand how Indonesians used to live. The village is located near the river, so the view from many houses overlooks it. Bukit Lawang is perfect for those who want to enjoy nature and imagine what this village was like a few decades ago.

Great Mosque

The mosque is the main attraction of the city of Medan ( main city northern Sumatra) and is of high value as an architectural and historical monument. The Great Mosque was built during the reign of the Dutch and has not changed much since then, the local authorities carefully monitor the condition of the monument. This building was erected in 1907, it is made in the Moroccan style. Locals regularly come here to pray. If you use the services of a guide, you can find out that the building embodies the symbol of religion and culture. Locals believe in the sacredness of this place, since the Great Mosque was not damaged even after the tsunami in 2004.

Bohorok National Reserve

This reserve is a rehabilitation center for orangutans, it was created to preserve and increase the population of these animals. Now on its territory there are more than 5000 individuals. Basically, zoo employees are engaged in accustoming domesticated animals to survive in the wild. The thing is that earlier in Indonesia it was customary to keep orangutans as pets, but then people got tired of putting up with their naughty behavior and abandoned this idea. As a result, the animal population has declined significantly and the reserve staff is trying to fix it.

Sultan's Palace

Another significant attraction is Istana Maimun, as the locals call the palace. It was built in 1888, so it is historical monument. This place shows the local color well. You can take home a piece of the colonial era in the souvenir shop, where many works of local craftsmen are presented.

The island of Sumatra in Indonesia is perfect place for relaxation, this the resort is suitable absolutely everyone, because everyone will find entertainment to their liking here.

During the holidays, everyone seeks a change of scenery. And where to do it, if not in South-East Asia? Of course, the first thing tourists flock to is India, Thailand, the islands of Bali and Java. But there are no less interesting places in those parts. This article will focus on Sumatra - one of the most major islands Earth.

Location and climate of Sumatra

It ranks sixth in size among the largest big islands peace. He is in Indian Ocean and belongs to the group of Indonesian islands. To the south lies the island of Java, which is separated from Sumatra by the narrow Sunda Strait. To the east is the huge island of Kalimantan, and in the north through the Gulf of Malacca begins the elongated peninsula of the same name. Malaysia and Singapore huddle on it.

Sumatra has a very interesting location about everything the globe. It lies in two hemispheres at once - northern and southern, and the equator line divides it almost in half. The climate here is appropriate - in Sumatra it is very hot and humid. And it's hard to forget that the Indonesian islands lie in a seismic zone. Just a few years ago terrible tsunami caused serious damage island states and claimed many lives.

Since Sumatra is located in the equatorial climate zone, the climate here is not very diverse. From December to March, the island is slightly cooler, northeasterly winds blow. From April to November they change direction to the southwest, it gets hotter. But the heat is easier to endure, due to the reduction of humidity. Most precipitation falls from September to December. The driest months are January and March. The humidity also varies by region. The driest area is located in the eastern part of the island, towards the west coast the humidity increases. And most of the precipitation falls in the mountainous regions.

Attractions of the island of Sumatra

There are not too many cultural and historical attractions in Sumatra, as well as major cities. However, some of them are still worth visiting. The city of Medan is not much different from other cities of the Indonesian islands. However, it is quite large. locality with its own color and history. Here you will see a combination of dilapidated buildings and beautiful palaces, colonial and Indian architecture.

One of the most beautiful sights of the city is the Masjid Raya Mosque.. This beautiful white building is made in the Moroccan style. It is known for its black domes, graceful galleries with many arches and intricate Islamic designs. In the evening, the mosque looks just magical. Sunset paints the snow-white walls in all sorts of shades - from bright orange to pale lilac. And the black domes stand out against the background of the setting sun. The Masjid Raya Mosque is considered a symbol of the culture and religion of Medan. It was built in the 19th century, but is revered local residents like a real antique.

Another attraction of Medan is Istana Maimun, which means "Sultan's Palace". This building is like a small copy of the city - a huge building, made in a slightly chaotic colorful style. The palace is surrounded by a spacious green lawn, reminiscent of English meadows. However, the rows of palm trees do not let the imagination run wild and bring us back to reality. In the middle of the lawn stands a structure based on the Italian Rococo style. Here you can see the already familiar black domes and air arches with complex ornaments. But the color scheme is completely different than that of the Raya mosque. Cheerful ocher-orange color is found everywhere in the decoration of the palace. Many arches, terraces, gazebos and turrets merge into a single intricate composition. This is Istana Maimun - another symbol of the island of Sumatra, just as colorful, chaotic and exotic.

These are the brightest sights of the city of Medan. Here you can also see the Protestant Church of the Savior Emmanuel, the Catholic Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Chinese Temple Vihara Gunung Timur. You can get a closer look at the history and culture of Medan at the Bukit Kubu Museum.

Nature of the island of Sumatra

How poor Sumatra is in cultural and historical sights, so rich is its nature. If you stopped by this island during an excursion, do not waste time on mosques and museums, the analogues of which you will find on any other island.

Head straight to the dormant supervolcano Toba. This is a legendary place that at one time played a role in the fate of the entire planet. Researchers report that the Toba volcano erupted about 70,000 years ago. It was so strong that the ash enveloped the entire planet, weakening the penetration of sunlight and provoking an ice age. At this time, the diversity of flora and fauna dropped sharply, many species simply died out.

Changes have affected every continent. Some scientists believe that until that time the population of the Earth numbered millions of people, after the eruption they remained from 3 to 10 thousand. Now this place is considered the most picturesque on the island. A beautiful lake has formed in the crater of the volcano, where tourists from all over the world flock. On the way to Lake Toba, it is worth stopping at the Sipiso Piso waterfall. The view of the waterfall is truly spectacular. A stream of water rushes through the upper plateau, with a roar overcomes a distance of 120 meters and falls into the bay. You can go down a winding concrete ladder to the foot of the waterfall. But it is worth considering that the reverse rise under scorching sun- it's not easy. In the middle of Lake Toba rises the island of Samosir. An island within an island is an amazing phenomenon in itself. But even more interesting is the local population. Bataks live at their unhurried pace. It seems like nothing has changed here for centuries. Adults work in the fields and gardens, feed livestock, mend nets and smoke fish right under the scorching sun. Dark-skinned children run wherever they please. For tourists, whole performances with traditional songs and dances are held here. Photographers like Samosir the most. Here you can take unique shots, soaked in the sun and local color.

In the northern part of Sumatra is huge park Gunung Luser. It is the largest national park in all of Southeast Asia. Thousands of various birds and monkeys live in thickets of tropical forests - macaques, gibbons, orangutans and many others. If you are lucky, you can see leopards, Sumatran tigers, rhinos or elephants. lovers extreme species vacationers can make a ten-day ascent to Mount Lucer or Loser or kayaking along the Whampoo River.

If you like everything unusual, visit the Querinsi-Seblat park. In the middle of the dense jungle is the formidable volcano Kerisi. To climb to its muzzle, you will have to spend at least two days. But the conductor can be found right among the local population. Also, for a small fee, you can be taken to places where exotic plants grow. Rafflesia is the largest flower on the planet. And here the tallest flowers grow - Amorphophallus. To admire the size and exotic colors of these flowers is only one thing - their terrible smell, which they spread for meters around.

These places are just a small part of the beauties of the island of Sumatra, which are worth exploring. Here you can relax in silence, and go fishing by the lake, and make a whole trip to the wild and untouched corners of the island.