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 divided into 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.
Sumber Investigasi:
F.
I. Fatrick & www.guidingtoindonesia.blogspot.com
