A large island in western Indonesia in Southeast Asia. With an area of ??473,000 square kilometers, it is the sixth largest island in the world and the largest island independently owned by Indonesia. With a population of 50.18 million, it is the second most populous island in Indonesia. It has a tropical rainforest climate.

Located above the equator, it is one of the four main islands of the Greater Sunda Islands. It faces the Malay Peninsula across the Strait of Malacca to the northeast, the Indian Ocean to the west, the South China Sea to the east, Java Island across the Sunda Strait to the southeast, and the Andaman Islands to the north.

The ancient name of Sumatra is Suvara Dvipa (Sanskrit: Golden Island), and it is called Jinzhou in ancient Chinese literature because the mountainous areas of Sumatra have been rich in gold since ancient times. In the 16th century, its reputation as the "Golden Island" attracted many Portuguese explorers to Sumatra in search of gold. Basic introduction Chinese name: Sumatra Island Foreign name: Sumatra Island Alias: Golden Island Region: Indonesia Areas under the jurisdiction: Ten provinces Geographical location: Western Indonesia Area: 473,400 square kilometers Population: 50.18 million Climate conditions: Tropical rain forest Climate name origin , history, Srivijaya, Sumatra, Western invasion, administrative regions, physical geography, terrain, rivers, coasts, climate, biological resources, tsunamis and earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, socioeconomics, population, agriculture, industry, transportation, Customs, wildlife, name origin. There are two theories about the origin of the name of Sumatra: one is that the island name comes from the Sanskrit Samudra Dvipa, samudra means "sea", and dvipa means "island", so Sumatra was called Suvarna in ancient times. Sumutrabhumi means "splendid country". The synonym of this name is Sumutrabhumi, from which Sumatra evolved. Sumatra was originally called Andaras, a name derived from Arabic. Hundreds of years ago, rubber trees were widely planted on the island, and people nicknamed it "Pazia", ??which means "rubber island" in Indonesian. After Indonesia's independence, the island won the reputation of "Island of Hope". Sumatra is written as Sumatera in Indonesian and is spelled Sumatra in English. The name Sumatra has been recorded in ancient Chinese books very early, with the earliest record being recorded in "Yuan Shi Shi Zu Ji". It records that in the 19th year of the Yuan Dynasty (1282), Sumudu sent envoys to the DPRK. Sumuduci is the earliest translated name for the island in Chinese historical records, and it was also translated as Sumuduci in "Yuan Shi". The Ming Dynasty set up the Jiugang Xuanwei Division here, and its name was frequently seen in Chinese official history and various classics, but the translation was not uniform. In the Qing Dynasty, it was renamed Sumatra, and modern books have followed this translation. Sumatra Satellite Map History Sumatra is located on the Maritime Silk Road, so the economy is prosperous and some famous trading cities have appeared, mainly in the east. Indian religions, especially Buddhism, also penetrated the region. Historically, there were ancient countries on the island of Sumatra such as Srivijaya, Sumatra, Pasai, Aceh, Nagol, and Ledai. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties of China (5th-6th century), there was the Gandhari Kingdom. In the middle of the 7th century, in the first year of Yonghui (650) of the Tang Dynasty in China, the Sri Lankan Kingdom emerged to replace the Gandhari Kingdom and was located in the current Palembang area. This Buddhist kingdom dominated the country from the 7th to 9th centuries, spreading Malay culture in Sumatra, the Malay Peninsula, and western Borneo through trade exchanges and physical conquests. However, historians believe that the kingdom's sphere of influence was limited to the coastal areas, leaving the inland areas largely untouched. At the end of the 7th century, in the second year of Xianheng (671) of the Tang Dynasty, the eminent monk Yijing of the Tang Dynasty visited the country where Sri Buddha died and stayed for six months. At the beginning of the 10th century, in the first year of Tang Tianyou (904), it was renamed Srivijaya, with Bolingbang (today's Palembang) as its capital. At the end of the 10th century, in March and December of the first year (960), the second year (961), the third year (962) of Jianlong in the Northern Song Dynasty, the king of Srivijaya, Xili Daxialitan, sent envoys to pay tribute to Fangwu. . In the 11th century, the power of the Srivijaya empire expanded to most of Sumatra, as well as other islands and mainland areas. On July 3, the second year of Yuanfeng in the Song Dynasty (1079), three Buddhas came to pay tribute to Zhanbei; in December of the third year of Yuanyou (1089), they sent envoys to pay tribute; and in September of the fifth year of Yuanyou (1091), they sent tribute again. . At this time, Bolingbang, the old capital of Srivijaya, had been invaded by East Java, and the capital of Srivijaya moved to Chambe. The forest in Sumatra is being destroyed. In the early 13th century, Zhao Rushi was promoted by the Bosi of Quanzhou City in the Song Dynasty. In the first year of Baoqing in the Southern Song Dynasty (1225), he wrote a special article in Zhubo Zhi which described the Three Buddhas Qi Kingdom in detail. In the middle of the 13th century, Srivijaya failed in his expedition to Selan, and his national power gradually weakened. In 1377, Srivijaya's capital fell to the Majapahit empire of Java, and the kingdom languished in Sumatra ever since. At the end of the 14th century, in the 30th year of Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty (1397), Srivijaya was destroyed by King Majapahit of Java.

The Kingdom of Sumatra The Kingdom of Sumatra was called the "Sumandra Kingdom" in the Yuan Dynasty. It was located at the mouth of the Parsei River in today's Sumatra Island. There was also a small village called Sumandra there. In 1298 Marco Polo described Samara, the country of Svendana. The Arab traveler Ibn Battuta once visited the country of Suvindana. He called this country "Sumatra" (the Arabic transliteration of "Samudra"). However, "The Travels of Ibn Battuta" did not get the attention it deserved. It was not until the 19th century that it was rediscovered by Western European academic circles. In the early 15th century, the Venetian traveler Niolò Da Conti traveled to Sumatra for a year. He called Sumatra Shamuttera in his Travels. From the end of the 13th century to the ninth year of the Yuan Dynasty (1282), Xuwendana State sent envoys to pay tribute. It was renamed Sumatra in the Ming Dynasty, but it was still not the entire island of Sumatra. At the end of the 14th century, in the first year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1367), the King of Sumatra dedicated gold-leaf inscriptions, tribute horses and square objects. During the Ming Dynasty, Zheng He made seven voyages to the Western Ocean and passed by the coast of Sumatra many times. At that time, Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty ordered Zheng He to present a large clock to the King of Aceh, which is still on display in the Aceh Museum. In the third year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty (1406), the Sumatran king Sultan Hannan Abi Town sent envoy Ali to pay tribute. Ming Chengzu Zhao sealed Danhan Nanbi Town as the king of Sumatra and granted seals and gold coins. In the fifth year of Yongle's reign, he again sent envoys to pay tribute. Later, the country of Sumatra was invaded by the orphan country. The king of Sumatra was poisoned and killed by an arrow. Prince Suganla was young. The princess ordered that if there was a brave man who could avenge the king and defend the country of Sumatra, he would be willing to marry her. An old fisherman stepped forward to defeat the orphan country. As expected, the princess married the old fisherman and respected him as the old king. In the seventh year of Yongle (1410), the old fisherman king came to the capital to pay tribute. In the tenth year of Yongle (1413), Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty sent an envoy to Sumatra. At this time, the former prince Su Ganla had grown up, and he gathered the crowd to kill the old fisherman king, and then gathered the crowd to flee to the mountains to build a stronghold. In the 13th year of Yongle (1416), Zheng He, the eunuch of the Three Protections, captured the former prince Su Ganla and sent him to Beijing to be punished. The Young Fisherman King is grateful. In the 10th year of Xuande (1436), Emperor Xuanzong of the Ming Dynasty Zhaofeng Shaoyuwang's son succeeded to the throne. Later, the Kingdom of Sumatra was destroyed by the Emirate of Aceh, which lasted until the 20th century, and Sumatra became the name of the entire island. Western Invasion Beginning in the 16th century, European powers—initially Portugal, and later the Netherlands and Britain—traded and fought with principalities along the coast of Sumatra, and built several fortresses here. The Anglo-Dutch treaties concluded in 1824 and 1871 revoked British sovereignty in Sumatra, while the Netherlands gradually brought the inland areas into its sphere of influence through economic development and administrative means in the 19th century. In the 19th century, the various kingdoms of Sumatra were defeated by the Dutch colonists one after another, and only the Emirate of Aceh maintained its independence. In order to occupy this emirate, the Dutch paid a heavy price and fought the expensive Aceh War (1870-1905). It took 30 years of fighting for the northern region of Aceh to be barely controlled by the Netherlands in the early 20th century. During World War II, Sumatra was occupied by the Japanese army and became part of the Republic of Indonesia in 1950. Since then, Sumatran people have expressed dissatisfaction with the central government's financial issues from time to time, often launching rebellions or other regional social movements. The most famous of these is the situation in Aceh, where armed conflicts have often broken out between Aceh separatists and the Indonesian army since 1990. At the end of 2004, Sumatra suffered a natural disaster. A large tsunami in the Indian Ocean (triggered by a strong earthquake off Aceh) ravaged the low-lying areas along the northwest coast and nearby islands, causing serious casualties and disasters. The administrative region of the island is divided into eight provinces: North Sumatra, Jambi, Riau, West Sumatra, South Sumatra, Bangka-Belitung, Bengkulu and Lampung. , and the semi-autonomous province of Aceh. The main cities are Medan, Palembang and Padang. About 3/5 of the population live in rural areas; the Medan area in northeastern Sumatra is the most densely populated. In order to alleviate overcrowding, Java Island has immigrated to Lampung Province in southern Sumatra.

The whole island of Sumatra is divided into nine provinces: Sumatra administrative division Aceh Province (Aceh) capital: Banda Aceh (Banda Aceh) Bangka-Belitung Province (Bangka-Belitung) capital: Pangkal Pinang ( Bangkalpinang) Capital of Bengkulu Province: Bengkulu City Capital of Jambi Province: Jambi Capital of Lampung Province: Bandar Lampung Riau Province (Riau) Capital: Pekanbaru Riau Islands Province (Kepulaan Riau) Capital: Tanjungpinang (Tanjungpinang) West Sumatra Province - Capital: Padang (Padang) South Sumatra Province - Capital: Palembang (Palembang) North Sumatra Province - Capital: Medan The physical geography and terrain of Sumatra are northwest-southeast, and is mainly composed of two parts: the Barisan Mountains in the west and the lowland plains in the east. The western coastal plain is too narrow. The Balisan Mountains in the western half are a continuation of the Cenozoic mountains of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, running northwest-southeast and stretching for 1,600 kilometers across the entire island. There are more than 90 volcanoes, the highest peak of which is Mount Kerinci, with an altitude of 3,800 meters. Due to the influence of volcanic ash, the land in some areas is fertile and conducive to agriculture. There are lakes all over the place, the most famous of which is Lake Toba in the northern part of the mountain range, covering an area of ??1,140 square kilometers. It is the largest freshwater lake in Indonesia and the largest volcanic lake in the world. Topographic Map of Sumatra Island To the east of the mountains, powerful rivers carry silt downstream, forming a vast alluvial plain, covered with swamps, wide in the south and narrow in the north, with the widest point being more than 100 kilometers. Although there is little land suitable for farming in the eastern plains, which is detrimental to agriculture, its importance to Indonesia's economic development cannot be underestimated because "oil is produced on the ground and oil is produced underground": palm oil and petroleum. Rivers There are many rivers, including Musi River, Badanghari River, Indragiri River, Gamba River, etc., many of which are navigable. Among them, the Hari River is the longest, with a navigable length of 480 kilometers. Coast Although Sumatra has a long coastline, it lacks natural harbors along the western coast. The reason is that it is often hit by the "Indian Ocean waves". A high-rolling shore wave pushes toward the shore in one long row, two rows, or three rows. It is so powerful that it can lift a fishing boat to the top of the wave and then flip it over. Due to the phenomenon of "Indian Ocean waves", there are almost no natural harbors on the west coast of Sumatra. Climate Sumatra is crossed by the equator and has a tropical rainforest climate (high temperature and rainy year-round, with obvious dry and wet seasons). Due to the high temperature and rain all year round, there is not much difference in temperature between different places, but there is a significant difference in rainfall. The annual precipitation on the west coast is 3000 mm, and in the mountainous areas it can reach 4500-6000 mm; the annual precipitation from the eastern slopes of the mountains to the coastal plain is 2000-3000 mm, and the annual precipitation at the north and south ends of the island is 1500-1700 mm. Biological resources Sumatra occupies 1/4 of Indonesia's national territory. This is a veritable biological treasure trove. There are 176 species of mammals alone on the island. In addition, there are many reptiles and amphibians. Animals on the island include orangutans, various apes, elephants, tapirs, tigers, Sumatran rhinoceros with two horns, gibbons, tree shrews, flying lemurs, wild boars and civets. The three national parks on the island (Leuser, Kerinci Seblat and Bukit Barisan Selatan) were designated as World Heritage Areas by UNESCO in 2004. With the increase in human activities in the local rainforest, biological resources are facing increasingly serious threats. There are less than 5,000 orangutans. According to statistics from the Indonesian Wildlife Conservation Foundation, in 2001, there were only 132 Sumatran rhinos. Sumatra's ecological and environmental issues have attracted widespread attention. I hope that this natural biological treasure house in Sumatra can maintain its original appearance. Most of Sumatra is covered by tropical forests and belongs to the tropical rainforest zone. Except for the highlands, Sumatra has a hot and extremely humid climate. The vegetation includes Sumatran pine, Pinus merkusii, Rafflesia arnoldii, myrtle, bamboo, rhododendron, orchids, palm trees, oak trees, chestnut trees, and ebony. , ironwood, camphor, sandalwood and many other tree species that can be used to make rubber. These forests were once home to valuable flora and fauna (orangutans, tigers, tapirs, Rafflesia, etc.). All kinds of tropical plants cover the entire territory and are full of life everywhere. The overlapping mountains are submerged by primeval forests, and the rivers as smooth as mirrors are surrounded by tall and straight coconut trees. Cities, villages, fields, and roads are all immersed in the sea of ??green. The green ocean and blue sky form a harmonious and beautiful picture, becoming Sumatra's eternal and beautiful landscape, leaving a deep impression on tourists. Unfortunately, corruption and illegal forest development by the Indonesian authorities have put these pristine forests at risk of destruction. Even so-called “protected areas” are being logged.

Tsunamis and Earthquakes At the end of 2004, a tsunami in the Indian Ocean was triggered by Sumatra Island. On October 25, 2010, a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 occurred in Sumatra, Indonesia, which subsequently triggered a huge tsunami. At 16:38 on April 11, 2012, an earthquake measuring 8.9 on the Richter scale occurred on the west coast of North Sumatra. The focal depth of the earthquake is 33 kilometers. At 00:34 on March 12, 2019, a magnitude 5.3 earthquake occurred in northern Sumatra (1.10 degrees north latitude, 98.75 degrees east longitude) with a focal depth of 80 kilometers. Main article: 3·12 Sumatra Earthquake Volcanic Eruption On September 26, 2012, Mount Merapi on the Indonesian island of Sumatra erupted, and a large amount of volcanic ash was ejected 1.5 kilometers west of the crater. Socioeconomic Population Sumatra has about 37 million people, with a low population density (85 people/㎞2). The densely populated areas include North Sumatra and the Central Highlands of West Sumatra. The largest urban areas are concentrated in Palembang and Medan. The local residents speak 52 different languages, all belonging to the Austronesian language family, and the cultures are also very close. In the east, the most common language is Malay, but in other areas different ethnic groups speak other languages: Lampung and Minangkabau in the south and center, and Badak in the mountainous north Language (Batak), Acehnese language in the northernmost coastal area. There are also overseas Chinese in urban areas who speak the Chinese version of Hokkien. Most people in Sumatra believe in Islam, but the Batak believe in Christianity (a religion spread by the Dutch). In addition, there are also Hindus, Buddhists, Catholics, etc. Agriculture Agricultural products are mainly rice, coffee, rubber, tea, oil palm, tobacco, coconut, etc. Agricultural products grown for export include rubber, tobacco, tea, coffee, palm oil, ramie fiber, sesame, copra, betel nuts, kapok, peanuts and pepper. Vegetables for export are grown in the highlands of North Sumatra. Subsistence crops include maize, root crops, vegetables and rice. About 1/3 of Indonesia's timber comes from Sumatra forests, which also produce various oils and fibers. Industry Industries include oil refining, mining, machinery, chemicals, food processing, etc. Important cities include Medan, Badong, Palembang, etc. Alternately distributed between mountains, plains and northern coastal swamps, the island is the largest plantation area for cash crops in Indonesia. In addition to mineral resources such as tin and oil, various tropical cash crops such as rubber and coffee are mainly grown here. The island's product export value accounts for more than 60% of Indonesia's export value, which shows how important Sumatra is to Indonesia's economy. Sumatra and its neighboring islands contain oil, natural gas, tin, bauxite, coal, gold, silver and other minerals. The Umbilin coalfield near Sawahlunto covers an area of ??about 100 square kilometers. Other coal fields include deposits in the Asen Mountains and South Sumatra. The Dumai area in Riau Province has some of the most productive oil wells in Indonesia; there are also oil fields being developed in Palembang and Pangkalan Brandan. Transportation Northeastern Sumatra, Badong Highlands and southern Sumatra all have a sound road network, while other places can only use mountain trails and rivers. The northwest-southeast Sumatra Highway was completed in the 1980s. Northern, central and southern Sumatra each have independent, disconnected railway networks. An Indonesian airline flies to major cities. The area including adjacent islands is 482393㎞ 2 . Population: 43,309,707 including neighboring islands (2000). Customs and customs The language of Sumatra belongs to the Austronesian languages ??(Malay-Polynesian language family). The Aceh people live in the northwest, the Gajo and Alas live in the central and northern mountains, the Batak live around and south of Lake Toba, and the Minangkabau people (Minangkabau, the largest ethnic group in the area) live in the Padang highlands. The west coast area of ??southeastern Pakistan is inhabited by the Redjang and Lebong mountain people and the Lampung coastal residents. The Malays who live along the coast and rivers make up the majority on the east coast and the vast southern plains. They speak Malay (Indonesian), the common language of the Indonesian archipelago. The Minangkabau and Batak people are most adept at receiving Western education. The vast majority of Sumatran people are Muslims, but some residents are Christians and animists. Sumatra is also known as "Meinankaba Island", which means "Victory of the Buffalo". There is an interesting story about the origin of this name. 1,500 years ago, there was a dispute between Java and Malaya over the ownership of Sumatra. In order to avoid bloody conflicts, the two sides came up with a wonderful way: each side selected a buffalo that could represent its side. They fight to determine the ownership of Sumatra. Sumatra has since received the name "Meinankaba Island", and the custom of bullfighting is also spread in Indonesia. The Badak people in Sumatra are taboo about direct conversations between father-in-law and daughter-in-law. When they have something to say, they must go through an intermediary. If the father-in-law wants to ask his daughter-in-law if there are any eggs at home, he has to ask: "Muhammad, please go and ask my daughter-in-law if there are any eggs at home.

The daughter-in-law must also respond in this way: "Muhammad, please tell my father-in-law that I just bought a large bamboo basket yesterday." "In this question and answer, Muhammad, as the intermediary, can stay aside and pay no attention to what the two are talking about, because the father-in-law and the daughter-in-law can hear each other's words, and there is no need for others to convey them. If the father-in-law and the daughter-in-law The daughter-in-law met by chance outside, and both parties wanted to say hello to each other out of politeness. At this time, there was no third party nearby, so the stones and trees on the roadside could act as "middlemen." There is a series of "middlemen" on the southwestern coast of Sumatra. The island is called the Mentawai Islands. There are tribal people who love tattoos, and they are called "flower people". Due to the isolated natural environment, the flower people have always retained their habit of using palm tree sap. The dye is boiled with charcoal, and then a needle is used to tattoo various patterns on the tattooed person, and then dyed with color juice, so that the pattern tattooed on the body is retained for life. This kind of tattoo is done under a solemn and simple ceremony. It is not done at one time, but needs to be done several times in each person's life. It is usually done from childhood, and finally the whole body is tattooed. They think it is a beautification of a person. The clothes are only tied with some leaves or a piece of cloth around the lower part of the waist, so that the beauty of the patterns on the body can be seen clearly. Wildlife Sina Global Geo News, Taipei time, August 27, according to the National Geographic website of the United States. From 2004 to 2009, Wildlife Conservation International (FFI) and researchers from the Dreyer Institute of Biological Conservation and Ecology at the University of Kent in the United Kingdom implemented a five-year project in Klinsi Sebrat National Park in Sumatra, Indonesia. For the research project, they used automatic cameras installed in the park to capture many rare species including Sumatran tigers and Sunda clouded leopards. 1. Sumatran tiger in Klinsiseb, Sumatra Island, Indonesia, in May 2007. A Sumatran tiger walks in the direction of the automatic camera in Lat National Park. The Sumatran tiger is listed as a "critically endangered" species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Klinsi Sebrat National Park is also one of the last safe havens for Sumatran tigers. 1. From 2004 to 2009, a research team installed automated cameras in this national park to capture every move of the Sumatran tigers, in what conservationists say is one of the largest such projects ever undertaken on Sumatra. During the implementation of this project, a research team composed of researchers from Wildlife Conservation International (FFI) and the Dreyer Institute of Biological Conservation and Ecology at the University of Kent in the UK captured photos of an estimated 35 Sumatran tigers. The total number of Sumatran tigers may only be about 500. Wildlife Conservation International last week released the first photos of Sumatran tigers and some other forest species captured during the project, according to Wildlife Conservation International's Mike Linkey. According to Mike Linkie, the Sumatran tiger, unlike the well-known Bengal tiger and Siberian tiger, “has not gained international fame, partly because they always hide in dense evergreen rainforests and are very difficult to record. " Linkier said that the other two tiger species in Indonesia - the Bali tiger and the Javan tiger - have become extinct. Due to being illegally hunted in Sumatra, the Sumatran tiger "is very likely to follow their footsteps and become history. ". But he said that the international community has not given up hope of saving the Sumatran tiger. For example, Wildlife Conservation International has established five anti-poaching teams in the Klinsi Sebulat National Park. 2. 当 (xùn) him Clouded leopard In this photo taken in December 2006, a Sunda clouded leopard is looking for food. In 2007, scientists discovered that the Sunda clouded leopard in Borneo and Sumatra in Southeast Asia was actually a different species. The Sunda clouded leopard is considered to be the same species as the mainland clouded leopard. Due to deforestation, the number of Sunda clouded leopards has continued to decrease, and is now less than 10,000. It has been listed as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. 3. The Sumatran ground cuckoo has been missing for 90 years. Later, the Sumatran ground cuckoo was finally captured by an automatic camera in May 2006. The last time people saw this bird was when it was first discovered in 1916, Lin Keer said. The camera also accidentally caught poachers looking for Sumatran ground cuckoos in the park. In one set of photos, a hunter "apparently spotted the flash, because in the next photo he was in the same position as him," he said. The camera passed him by, but the camera still captured him wearing shorts and holding a cigarette in his mouth. ” 4. Asian Tapirs In September 2006, two Asian tapirs appeared under the cover of night in Klinsi Sebrat National Park. Asian tapirs, also known as Malayan tapirs, are listed as endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. In the past Their numbers have been declining in Southeast Asia for 30 years, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The decline in Asian tapir numbers is mainly due to habitat loss caused by forest conversion to palm oil plantations and other human activities.