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Geography and Climate
The Indonesian province of Sumatera Utara, or in English North Sumatera, on the island of Sumatera lies between the equator and the province of Aceh. To the east is the Malacca Straits and in the west the Indian Ocean. This province covers 71,680 square kilometers, high mountains and the big crater Lake Toba dominate the central part. The highland covers around two thirds of the province. There are both active and dormant volcanoes, many of them well over 2,000 m above sea level. The east coast consists mainly of lowland with mangrove swamps next to the sea. Several big rivers carry down sediments to this area and over the centuries the coastline has slowly moved eastward. The west coast has a sleeper coast and many great sand beaches. Off the coast are the big island of Nias and the big archipelago Pulau-pulau Batu. A very deep trench in the sea west of these islands gives excellent conditions for surfing in many places.North Sumatera is unique with its scenery and grand nature.
North Sumatera has of course a tropical climate, but due to its many highands, temperatures can be lower than one expects. Temperatures are approximately between 22-30 degree Celcius, the rainfall differs from area to area, but averages 1,000 - 4,000 mm per year. The relative humidity is 70-90% in lowlands. The year can be divided in tow major season from September to January, however the difference between seasons is not as big as in other parts of Indonesia. The change of season is of course the best time for mountain climbing, to visit nature parks and the visibility of animals, etc.
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| Wildlife |
The Flora and Fauna in Sumatera is similar to the Asian mainland, but Sumatera has still vast rainforest and much wildlife. Until the end of the 19th century the almost thing you could find on the island was forest. Nowadays only 30% of Sumatera former jungle remains. This does not mean that Sumatera has changed into deforested island. There are vast areas of untouched lowland rainforest and sub-mountainuous and maountain forests. Alpine vegetation occurs at the higher altitudes. Extinction and destruction goes on also in Indonesia, but it started later than in other countries. There are still time to both see and save it. Teh island of Sumatera can brag with several hundreds of mammals, almost 200 reptiles, over 60 amphibians, almost 300 fish species, and more than 450 bird species. Of these are 9 mammals, 30 fish species and 19 bird species endemic.
Even though North Sumatera is one of teh more populous provinces of Sumatera, there is still enough of wilderness for anyone. The huge national park of Leuser is shared with Aceh and there are several smaller parks. The orangutan, the Sumateran tiger, and the Sumateran rhinoceros are famous inhabitants of North Sumatera. Other friends are for example the elephant, many species of monkeys, the tapir, the honey bear and several kinds of deer. Sumatera has also 10 species of the hornbill, a brd noted for its enormous horn-tipped beak.
About 400-500 wild Sumateran tigers (Phantera tigris sumatrae) are believed to survive in Sumatera, primarily in the island's five national parks. 210 captives animals live in zoos around teh world. the Sumateran tiger is the smallest tiger sub specie. Males are in an average 2.4 meters from head to tail and weigh about 120 kilograms. Females are somewhat smaller. Wild Sumateran tigers have been isolated from its relatives in the Asian mainland for about 12,000 years and has probably the most different set of genes compared to other tiger species. The Sumateran rhino (Diceroshinus sumatrensis) is probably the most endangered of all rhinoceros species. It prefers tropical rainforest and mountain moss forest. It is the only two-horned rhino in the Asian region. Numbers have declined due to poaching and very few left. it weights about 600 - 800 kg and is 0.9 - 1.5 m tall at the shoulders. It feeds on fruits, leaves, twigs and bark. The main habitats is in Leuser National Park. The most well known flower is the Rafflesia arnoldi, teh biggest flower in thw world. It is found only in certain part of Sumatera. This plant is parastic and grows on certain lianas but does not produce leaves. It can measure up to 1 meter in diameter and have 2 cm thick petals weighing up to 18 kg. The smell is awful. The Orangutan is easy to see in the wild |
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