Sumatra

Sumatra, also known as Sumatera, island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands, bordered by the Indian Ocean. The island extends in a south-east to north-west direction; it is separated by the Strait of Malacca from the Malay Peninsula on the north-east and by Sunda Strait from Java on the south-east. Sumatra consists of the provinces of Aceh (a special region), Bengkulu, Jambi, Lampung, Riau, and North, South, and West Sumatra. The chief cities here include Palembang and Padang. Sumatra's area is about 425,150 sq km (164,150 sq mi), making it the sixth largest island in the world; its population is 40,830,400 (1995 estimate).

The island has a maximum length of about 1,770 km (1,100 mi) and a maximum width of about 435 km (270 mi). A great volcanic mountain chain, known as the Barisan Mountains and including several parallel ranges, traverses Sumatra, following the western coast. The highest peak on Sumatra is Kerinci (3,800 m/12,467 ft). Along the eastern coast is a broad, gently sloping plain where all the main rivers flow, including the Musi, Hari, Indragiri, and Kampar, of much importance for interior navigation. The largest of the many Sumatran lakes is the salt-water Lake Toba, about 80 km (50 mi) long. The equator passes nearly through the centre of the island, and the mean annual temperature ranges from 25° to 27° C (77° to 81° F). Annual rainfall varies between 2,286 and 4,699 mm (90 and 185 in).

The soil is extremely fertile, and most of the island is densely forested; banyans, palm, rubber, and teak are among the trees found here. In 2004, three of the island’s national parks—Gunung Leuser National Park, Kerinci Seblat National Park, and Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park—were collectively designated as the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra UNESCO World Heritage Site. Fauna comprise the elephant, orang-utan, siamang (black gibbon), Sumatran tiger, tapir, and other animals common to the Malay Archipelago. Mineral deposits are large and include bauxite and oil. Agriculture, the predominant activity, is pursued on small farms as well as large plantations. The principal indigenous food crops are rice, by far the largest, and maize. Estate cultivation is primarily of rubber, tea, coffee, coconuts, and spices, principally for export.

The indigenous Sumatrans belong, linguistically and culturally, to the Malayan peoples and are sometimes grouped as Indonesians. Among the most important ethnic groups are the Acehnese and Gayos in the north, the Bataks in the interior, the Lampongs in the south, and the Malays throughout Sumatra. Islam is the prevailing religion. The population includes large groups of Indians, Chinese, and Arabs and some Europeans, who live principally in the coastal regions.

Marco Polo, the Italian explorer, visited the island about 1292, and in 1509 Portuguese traders established stations here. In the 17th century the Dutch obtained a foothold on Sumatra and gradually extended their dominion. In the late 17th century the British also began establishing themselves in Sumatra. Anglo-Dutch rivalry was intense until 1824, when the British gave up their claims to Sumatra to the Netherlands in return for Melaka. Throughout the 19th century the Dutch continued to extend their authority over local rulers; the last great struggle (1873-1903) was with the Acehnese. Almost all Sumatra was occupied by Japanese troops during World War II, from 1942 until the conclusion of the war. Sumatra became a principal component of the Indonesian struggle for independence following the war.

In February 1994, an earthquake registering 7.2 on the Richter scale struck Sumatra, killing hundreds of people. On June 4, 2000, Sumatra was again devastated by an earthquake, this time measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale. Dozens of people were killed and more than 800 were seriously injured. The 2000 earthquake was one of the strongest recorded worldwide in a decade. The epicentre was about 110 km (70 mi) off the south-western coast of the island. Most of the casualties and earthquake-related damage occurred in Sumatra's Bengkulu province. By mid-June seismologists had recorded more than 1,400 aftershocks following the initial earthquake, some of which caused additional fatalities. The official death toll had risen to 90 by the end of June 2000.

On December 26, 2004, an undersea earthquake measuring 9.1 on the Richter scale occurred 160 km (100 mi) off the western coast of northern Sumatra. The quake generated massive tsunamis, which caused widespread devastation when they hit land, leaving more than 100,000 people dead in Indonesia, with most of the victims from Sumatra. Aceh, Sumatra’s northernmost province, was particularly badly affected.