SUMATRA

Indonesian Sumatera one of the Greater Sunda Islands and the second largest island (about 182,859 square miles [473,606 square km], including adjoining islands) of Indonesia. It is separated in the northeast from the Malay Peninsula by the Strait of Malacca and in the south from Java by the Sunda Strait. The high Barisan Mountains run northwestsoutheast for 1,000 miles (1,600 km), reaching 12,483 feet (3,805 m) at Mount Kerinci. Eastward, flat, alluvial lands are drained by many rivers; the Hari River, navigable for 300 miles (480 km), is the longest. Lake Toba, with an area of 500 square miles (1,300 square km), is the largest of many mountain lakes. Sumatra's climate is hot, except in the highlands, and extremely moist. Vegetation includes the Pinus merkusii, the huge flower Rafflesia, myrtles, bamboo, rhododendrons, orchids, and such trees as palm, oak, chestnut, ebony, ironwood, camphorwood, sandalwood, and rubber-producing types. The island's animal life includes orangutan, various apes, elephant, tapir, tiger, the one-horned rhinoceros, gibbon, tree shrew, flying lemur, wild boar, and civet cat. Sumatrans belong to the Oceanic branch of the Mongoloid race and the Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian) language family. The Achinese inhabit northwestern Sumatra; the Gajo and Alas, the mountainous north-central area; the Batak, around and south of Lake Toba; and the Minangkabau (the largest ethnic group), the Padang highlands. South of Padang along the western coast live the Redjang and Lebong mountain people and the Lampung coastal dwellers. The Malays, a coastal and riverine people dominating the eastern coast and the wide southern plains, speak the lingua franca of the archipelago, the basis for the Indonesian national language. The Minangkabau and the Batak have been most receptive to Western-style education. Most Sumatrans are Muslims, though some are Christians and animists. The principal cities are Palembang, Medan, and Padang. Some 90 percent of the population is rural, with the highest density being around Medan in northeastern Sumatra. Colonization from Java to relieve its overcrowding has taken place in the Lampung province in southern Sumatra. The island is subdivided into seven provinsi (provinces)Sumatera Utara (North Sumatra), Jambi, Riau, Sumatera Barat (West Sumatra), Sumatera Selatan (South Sumatra), Bengkulu, and Lampungand Aceh daerah istimewa (special district). Sumatrans have at times expressed dissatisfaction at not receiving a greater financial return from the central government; insurrections and other regional movements have taken place. Agricultural products grown for export are rubber, tobacco, tea, coffee, palm oil, ramie fibre, sisal, copra, betel nuts, kapok, peanuts (groundnuts), and pepper. The highland areas of Sumatera Utara grow vegetables for export. Subsistence crops include corn (maize), root crops, vegetables, and rice. About one-third of Indonesia's timber comes from Sumatran forests, which also yield various oils and fibres. Sumatra and adjacent islands also have reserves of petroleum, natural gas, tin, bauxite, coal, gold, silver, and other minerals. The Umbilin coalfield near Sawahlunto covers about 40 square miles (105 square km). Another, older coalfield is at Bukit Asen, while newer resources are being developed at localities in Sumatera Selatan. The Dumai area of Riau province has some of the most productive oil wells in Indonesia; other areas have been developed at Palembang and Pangkalan Brandan. Road networks are fairly good in northeastern Sumatra, the Padang highlands, and southern Sumatra, but mountain trails and rivers are used elsewhere. The northwestsoutheast Sumatra Highway was completed in the 1980s. Three separate and unconnected railway systems operate in northern, central, and southern Sumatra. An Indonesian airline serves the major cities. The influence of the Srivijaya kingdom in Palembang in the 11th century reached most of Sumatra, as well as other island and mainland regions. In 1377 Srivijaya's capital fell to the Javanese Majapahit empire, and the kingdom never recovered in Sumatra. The European powers, first the Portuguese, then the Dutch and English, traded with, warred against, and established forts among the coastal Sumatran principalities beginning in the 16th century. Anglo-Dutch treaties in 1824 and 1871 revoked English claims in Sumatra, and, through economic exploitation and administrative skills, the Dutch slowly opened the interior to their authority throughout the 19th century. Aceh (Atjeh) was brought only grudgingly under Dutch control in the early 20th century after 30 years of war. Sumatra was occupied by Japan in World War II and in 1950 became part of the Republic of Indonesia. Pop. (1988 est.) island (including adjacent smaller islands), 35,835,000.