Sumatra

Sumatra (or “Sumatera” as it is spelled in Indonesia) stretches for about 1,790 km (1,100 miles) from northwest to southeast. At it’s wides point, Sumatra spans about 435 km (270 miles). The equator crosses Sumatra near the center of the island, near the city of Bukittinggi.

The interior of the island is dominated by two geographical regions: the Barisan Mountains (Bukit Barisan) in the west and swampy plains in the east. In the Barisan mountain range there are still some active volcanoes, Mount Kerinci being the largest at 3,805 m (12,467 ft). Because of the volcanic activity, this region is very fertile (especially around Berastagi) and has some very beautiful scenery, for instance around the Lake Tobawhich is the largest lake in South East Asia. Sumatra also contains deposits of coal and gold and some other minerals. Sumatra is blessed with rich natural diversity and is inhabited by a large number of local "tribes", like the Batak, Mentawai and the Minangkabau.

The lowlands at the east are of great economic importance for Indonesia. Oil is found and there are vast plantations that produce palm oil and rubber. Sumatra is also the largest producer of Indonesian coffee.

Most of Sumatra used to be covered by tropical rainforest, but economic development coupled with corruption and illegal logging has severely threatened its existence. Conservation area’s have not been spared from destruction, either.

The island is the world's 5th largest island and the third largest in the Indonesian archipelago.