What could be sweeter for a traveler than the opportunity to visit a unique island lost in the azure ocean? Fortunately, there are a lot of such patches of land, large and small, on our planet. If you have not been to the island part of Asia, then go to Indonesia. You will definitely love Sumatra.
A bit of general information
So, where is the island of Sumatra, the reader will now find out. This is one of the largest islands on our planet. It belongs to the Indonesian archipelago and is divided by the equator into almost two even parts. The shores are washed by the Indian Ocean, the waters of the Strait of Malacca, the Adaman, Java and South China Seas. The dimensions of Sumatra are impressive: the width is 435 km, the length is 1800. The island is part of the Republic of Indonesia and is inhabited by 28 million people.
The island of Sumatra, mountainous in the southwest, has many active and extinct volcanoes. The northeastern part is flat, with many rivers and lakes. The surface of this corner of the Earth is generously covered with dense tropical forest,mangroves and shrubs. The fauna is also striking in its diversity of species.
Vacation in Sumatra
The island of Sumatra is very attractive for vacationers. The length of the island and its location on the planet are already known to the reader. Now let's talk about what awaits the traveler who has stepped ashore. First of all, it is the ocean and golden sandy beaches hundreds of kilometers long. A rich excursion program will appeal to lovers of antiquity and oriental luxury. There are many ruins of ancient Buddhist temples on the island, palaces, mosques, royal graves have been preserved. Here you can also visit national parks and reserves, museums with a unique collection of artifacts, see the purest mountain lakes.
Attractions
The reader already knows a lot about the island of Sumatra: what country, where it is located. Now it's time to briefly talk about the best attractions of these places.
- City of Medan. It is the island capital and the largest settlement in Sumatra. Here you can and should visit the great mosque Masjid Raya, the Sultan's Palace, the Military Museum called Bukit-Barisan, the Chinese shrine Vihara Gunung Timur. Medan was founded back in 1590. Before being captured by the Dutch, it belonged to the Delhi Sultanate. A large number of Javanese, Chinese, Tamils live here.
- Lake Toba. A picturesque pond with an area of 1300 sq. km is the largest in all of Southeast Asia. On the water surface, in the very center of the lake, there is an island with several villages. On the banks of the Tobaflaunts the lively city of Parapat, the best resort in Sumatra. Near the lake, in the Tonging valley, there is a 120-meter-high Sipiso-Piso waterfall, and next to it is a luxurious palace and the tomb of kings.
- The mountain valleys of Kerinchi and Danau-Ranau, the channels of Palembang are amazing in their beauty.
- The world-famous volcano Krakatoa rises in the Sunda Strait.
- Putri Cave will give you an extraordinary experience.
- Crocodile farm near Medan will allow you to learn a lot about the life of these large reptiles.
- Gungung Louser National Park, home to rare animals and endangered species. Worthy of attention are the parks Kerinci Seblat, Siberut, Bukit Barisan Selatan.
You can go to any village for pleasant impressions and color. It is there that you can well study the life, culture, customs and life of the islanders. Moreover, they are famous for their hospitality.
And some more interesting facts
The island of Sumatra is beautiful and interesting in all aspects. We made a virtual tour of its best cities, and now we invite you to actually go there. And first of all, go to Bukittinggi. Its name translates as "High Hill" and it is one of the most beautiful settlements in Indonesia. It is located in the cozy Agam Valley, at the foot of two volcanoes at once - Singgalan and Merapi. Interestingly, the equator divides the city into two parts, so we can safely say that you are simultaneously in two hemispheres of the planet, onefoot in summer and the other in winter. It is worth visiting Fort de Kok, built by the Dutch in 1825, and the no less ancient Jam Gadang.
The island of Sumatra is the pearl of the region, and therefore it is worth seeing. The best time for this is May-June, as well as September-October. It is during these months that dry weather reigns here and the sun shines brightly.
