View source for Sumatra

{{Short description|Region and island in western Indonesia}}
{{Other uses}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox islands
|name           = Sumatra
|image_name     = Sumatra Topography.png
|image_caption  = Topography of Sumatra
| map_image     = LocationSumatra.svg
| map_caption   = Location of Sumatra within the Indonesian Archipelago
|native_name    =
|native_name_link =
|location      = [[Southeast Asia]]
|coordinates   = {{Coord|00|N|102|E|region:ID_type:isle_scale:5000000|display=inline,title}}
|archipelago   = [[Indonesian Archipelago]] 
----
[[Greater Sunda Islands]]
|area_km2      = 482286.55
|highest_mount = [[Mount Kerinci|Kerinci]]
|elevation_m   = 3,805
|population    = 60,795,669
|population_as_of = mid 2023 estimate
|country       = [[Indonesia]]
|country_admin_divisions_title = Provinces
|country_admin_divisions       = {{ubl|[[Aceh]]|[[North Sumatra]]|[[West Sumatra]]|[[Riau]]|[[Riau Islands]]|[[Jambi]]|[[Bengkulu]]|[[South Sumatra]]|[[Lampung]]|[[Bangka Belitung]]}}
|country_largest_city          = [[Medan]] (pop. 2,097,610)
|density_km2                   = 126
|ethnic_groups                 = [[Acehnese people|Acehnese]], [[Batak (Indonesia)|Batak]], [[Gayonese]], [[Lampung people|Lampung]], [[Malay Indonesians|Malays]], [[Mentawai people|Mentawai]], [[Minangkabau people|Minangkabau]], [[Nias people|Nias]], [[Palembang people|Palembang]], [[Rejang people|Rejang]], [[Chinese Indonesians|Chinese]], [[Indian Indonesians|Indian]], [[Javanese people|Javanese]], [[Sundanese people|Sundanese]] etc.
|timezone                      = [[Time in Indonesia|Indonesia Western Time]]|utc_offset=+7
}}

'''Sumatra'''{{efn|The ''[[Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia]]'' states that {{lang|id|Sumatra}} is the correct spelling in Indonesian;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kbbi.kemdikbud.go.id/entri/sumatra|title=Hasil Pencarian – KBBI Daring|trans-title=Entry for "Sumatra" in the online version of the ''Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia''|language=id|publisher=[[Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology]]|website=kbbi.kemdikbud.go.id|access-date=16 July 2022|archive-date=5 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405214930/https://kbbi.kemdikbud.go.id/entri/sumatra|url-status=live}}</ref> however, it is popularly and legislatively spelled in Indonesian as {{lang|id|Sumatera}}.}} ({{IPAc-en|s|ʊ|ˈ|m|ɑː|t|r|ə}}) is one of the [[Sunda Islands]] of western [[Indonesia]]. It is the largest island that is fully within Indonesian territory, as well as the [[list of islands by area|sixth-largest island]] in the world at 482,286.55&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> (182,812&nbsp;mi.<sup>2</sup>), including adjacent islands such as the [[Simeulue Island|Simeulue]], [[Nias Island|Nias]], [[Mentawai Islands|Mentawai]], [[Enggano Island|Enggano]], [[Riau Islands]], [[Bangka Belitung]] and [[Krakatoa archipelago]].

Sumatra is an elongated landmass spanning a diagonal northwest–southeast axis. The [[Indian Ocean]] borders the northwest, west, and southwest coasts of Sumatra, with the island chain of [[Simeulue]], [[Nias]], [[Mentawai Islands|Mentawai]], and [[Enggano]] off the western coast. In the northeast, the narrow [[Strait of Malacca]] separates the island from the [[Malay Peninsula]], which is an extension of the [[Eurasia]]n continent. In the southeast, the narrow [[Sunda Strait]], containing the Krakatoa archipelago, separates Sumatra from [[Java]]. The northern tip of Sumatra is near the [[Andaman Islands]], while off the southeastern coast lie the islands of Bangka and Belitung, [[Karimata Strait]] and the [[Java Sea]]. The [[Bukit Barisan]] mountains, which contain several active volcanoes, form the backbone of the island, while the northeastern area contains large plains and lowlands with swamps, [[mangrove forest]] and complex river systems. The [[equator]] crosses the island at its centre in [[West Sumatra]] and [[Riau]] provinces. The climate of the island is [[tropical]], hot, and humid. Lush [[tropical rain forest]] once dominated the landscape.

Sumatra has a wide range of plant and animal species but has lost almost 50% of its tropical rainforest in the last 35 years.{{Clarify|of when otherwise time reference easily obsolete|date=March 2018}} Many species are now [[critically endangered]], such as the [[Sumatran ground cuckoo]], the [[Sumatran tiger]], the [[Sumatran elephant]], the [[Sumatran rhinoceros]], and the [[Sumatran orangutan]]. [[Deforestation]] on the island has also resulted in serious seasonal smoke haze over neighbouring countries, such as the [[2013 Southeast Asian haze]] which caused considerable tensions between Indonesia and affected countries [[Malaysia]] and [[Singapore]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Shadbolt |first=Peter |date=21 June 2013 |title=Singapore Chokes on Haze as Sumatran Forest Fires Rage |work=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/19/world/asia/singapore-haze/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107033133/http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/19/world/asia/singapore-haze/index.html |archive-date=7 November 2017}}</ref> The widespread deforestation and other environmental destruction in Sumatra and other parts of Indonesia has often been described by academics as an [[ecocide]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Forensic Architecture |url=https://forensic-architecture.org/investigation/ecocide-in-indonesia |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=forensic-architecture.org |archive-date=5 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705155440/https://forensic-architecture.org/investigation/ecocide-in-indonesia |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last= |date=2022-08-04 |title=Explainer: What is ecocide? |url=https://www.eco-business.com/news/explainer-what-is-ecocide/ |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=Eco-Business |language=en |archive-date=17 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231017232943/https://www.eco-business.com/news/explainer-what-is-ecocide/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Citation |last1=Aida |first1=Melly |title=Ecocide in the International Law: Integration Between Environmental Rights and International Crime and Its Implementation in Indonesia |date=2023 |work=Proceedings of the 3rd Universitas Lampung International Conference on Social Sciences (ULICoSS 2022) |volume=740 |pages=572–584 |editor-last=Perdana |editor-first=Ryzal |place=Paris |publisher=Atlantis Press SARL |language=en |doi=10.2991/978-2-38476-046-6_57 |isbn=978-2-38476-045-9 |last2=Tahar |first2=Abdul Muthalib |last3=Davey |first3=Orima |series=Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research |editor2-last=Putrawan |editor2-first=Gede Eka |editor3-last=Saputra |editor3-first=Bayu |editor4-last=Septiawan |editor4-first=Trio Yuda|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last1=Alberro |first1=Heather |last2=Daniele |first2=Luigi |date=2021-06-29 |title=Ecocide: why establishing a new international crime would be a step towards interspecies justice |url=http://theconversation.com/ecocide-why-establishing-a-new-international-crime-would-be-a-step-towards-interspecies-justice-162059 |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=The Conversation |language=en |archive-date=17 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717081618/https://theconversation.com/ecocide-why-establishing-a-new-international-crime-would-be-a-step-towards-interspecies-justice-162059 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Setiyono |first1=Joko |last2=Natalis |first2=Aga |date=2021-12-30 |title=Ecocides as a Serious Human Rights Violation: A Study on the Case of River Pollution by the Palm Oil Industry in Indonesia |journal=International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning |language=en |volume=16 |issue=8 |pages=1465–1471 |doi=10.18280/ijsdp.160807 |s2cid=245606762 |issn=1743-7601|doi-access=free }}</ref>

==Etymology==
[[File:Malay Kingdoms en.svg|thumb|Before it was known as Sumatra, the region was referred to as ''Melayu'' (also known as Malay in [[English language|English]]), named after the ancient [[Melayu Kingdom]] based in [[Jambi]]. The name Melayu appeared in early historical records, including inscriptions and Chinese chronicles, before being replaced by Sumatra in the 14th century.<ref>{{citation | last = Milner | first = Anthony | title = The Malays (The Peoples of South-East Asia and the Pacific) | pages = 18–19| publisher = Wiley-Blackwell | year = 2010 | isbn = 978-1-4443-3903-1 }}</ref>]]
Sumatra was known in ancient times by the [[Sanskrit]] names of {{lang|sa-Latn|Svarṇadvīpa}} ('Island of Gold') and {{lang|sa-Latn|Svarṇabhūmi}} ('Land of Gold'), because of the gold deposits in the island's [[Highland|highlands]].<ref>{{cite book|title=A Kingdom of Words: Language and Power in Sumatra|last=Drakard|first=Jane|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1999|isbn=983-56-0035-X}}</ref> The earliest known mention of the current form "Sumatra" was in 1017, when the [[Srivijaya|local]] king [[Haji Sumatrabhumi]] ("king of the land of Sumatra")<ref>{{Cite book|last=Munoz|first=Paul Michel|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NqwuAQAAIAAJ&q=+Sumatrabhumi|title=Early Kingdoms of the Indonesian Archipelago and the Malay Peninsula|date=2006|publisher=Continental Sales, Incorporated|isbn=978-981-4155-67-0|language=en}}</ref> sent an envoy to [[China]]. [[Arab]] geographers referred to the island as {{lang|ar-Latn|Lamri}} (''[[Lamuri]]'', ''Lambri'' or ''Ramni'') in the tenth through thirteenth centuries, in reference to a kingdom near modern-day [[Banda Aceh]] which was the first landfall for traders. The island has also been known by other names, including ''Andalas''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Marsden |first=William |title=The History of Sumatra |publisher=Longman |year=1783 |location=Dutch |pages=5}}</ref> or ''Percha Island''.<ref>{{Cite book | title=Historical Atlas of Indonesia| last=Cribb| first=Robert| publisher=Routledge| year=2013| pages=249}}</ref> Scholars suggest that mention of Suwarnadwipa in the Hindu Epic the ''[[Ramayana]]'' may be a reference to Sumatra. According to experts on ''[[Ramayana|The Ramayana]],'' the epic is one of the first sources to document the relationship between India and the Indonesian archipelago.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Putrawan |first=I Nyoman Alit |date=April 20, 2023 |title=THE VALUE OF RELIGIOUS MODERATION IN THE RAMAYANA EPIC |url=https://conference.uhnsugriwa.ac.id/index.php/icohis/article/view/2 |journal=International Conference on Hindu Studies |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=8 |via=Google Scholar}}</ref>

In the late 13th century, [[Marco Polo]] referred to the kingdom as {{lang|vec|Samara}}, while his contemporary fellow Italian traveller [[Odoric of Pordenone]] used the form {{lang|it|Sumoltra}}. Later in the 14th century the local form "Sumatra" became popular abroad due to the rising power of the kingdom of [[Samudera Pasai Sultanate|Samudera Pasai]] and the subsequent [[Aceh Sultanate|Sultanate of Aceh]].<ref name=sneddon>{{Cite book| last = Sneddon| first = James N.| title = The Indonesian language: its history and role in modern society| publisher = UNSW Press| year = 2003| page = 65| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=A9UjLYD9jVEC&pg=PA65| isbn = 9780868405988| access-date = 16 December 2015| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160529081804/https://books.google.com/books?id=A9UjLYD9jVEC&pg=PA65| archive-date = 29 May 2016| url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Macdonell |first=Arthur Anthony |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=laIPgMQF_XsC&pg=PA347 |title=A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary with Transliteration, Accentuation, and Etymological Analysis |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publications |year=1924 |isbn=9788120820005 |page=347 |access-date=16 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506234650/https://books.google.com/books?id=laIPgMQF_XsC&pg=PA347&lpg=PA347 |archive-date=6 May 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

From then on, subsequent European writers mostly used ''Sumatra'' or similar forms of the name for the entire island.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8lYJAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA86 |title=Cathay and the Way Thither: Being a Collection of Medieval Notices of China, Issue 36 |year=1866 |editor=Sir Henry Yule |pages=86–87 |access-date=21 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221114105/https://books.google.com/books?id=8lYJAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA86 |archive-date=21 February 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Marsden |first=William |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yx5MAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA10 |title=The History of Sumatra: Containing an Account of the Government, Laws, Customs and Manners of the Native Inhabitants, with a Description of the Natural Productions, and a Relation of the Ancient Political State of That Island |date=1811 |pages=4–10 |access-date=21 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222054646/https://books.google.com/books?id=Yx5MAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA10 |archive-date=22 February 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

== History ==

{{multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = vertical
| total_width       = 250
| image1            = Candi Tinggi.jpg
| image2            = Candi Gumpung Muarojambi.jpg
| footer = [[ Muaro Jambi Temple Compounds]], built by the [[Melayu Kingdom]], is one of the largest and best-preserved ancient temple complexes in South East Asia.
}}

By the year [[692]], the [[Melayu Kingdom]] was absorbed by [[Srivijaya]].<ref name="Coedes">{{Cite book |last=Coedès |first=George |title=The Indianized States of Southeast Asia |publisher=University of Hawaii Press |year=1968 |isbn=978-0-8248-0368-1 |editor-last=Vella |editor-first=Walter F. |translator-last=Cowing |translator-first=Susan Brown |author-link=George Coedès}}</ref>{{rp|79–80}} Srivijaya's influence waned in the 11th century, specifically in the year 1025, after suffering defeat at the hands of the [[Chola Empire]] in southern India<ref name='place'/> By the end of the 12th century, Srivijaya had been reduced to a kingdom, and its dominant role in South Sumatra ended with the last king, Ratu Sekekhummong, who founded the milestone of Kepaksian Sekala Brak in the 13th century AD with the Dalom building.<ref name='place'>{{cite web | url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Srivijaya-empire | title=Srivijaya empire: History, Location, Religion, Government, & Facts | website=Britannica.com | date=12 June 2023 | access-date=29 October 2022 | archive-date=1 June 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601225429/https://www.britannica.com/place/Srivijaya-empire | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Abidin |first1=Zainal |last2=Basri |first2=Basri |last3=Nopriyana |first3=Rahma Dwi |date=2020-11-25 |title=The Network of Ulama in Lampung: Tracing The Islamic Development and Its Influence on Local Tradition and Culture |url=https://e-journal.metrouniv.ac.id/index.php/akademika/article/view/1672 |journal=AKADEMIKA: Jurnal Pemikiran Islam |volume=25 |issue=2 |pages=315 |doi=10.32332/akademika.v25i2.1672 |issn=2356-2420 |doi-access=free |access-date=15 September 2023 |archive-date=9 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231009162709/https://e-journal.metrouniv.ac.id/index.php/akademika/article/view/1672 |url-status=live }}</ref> At the same time, the [[spread of Islam in Indonesia]] occurred gradually and indirectly, starting from the western regions such as the Sumatra area which became the first place for the spread of Islam in the archipelago, then Java, then to the eastern regions of Indonesia, Sulawesi and Maluku.<ref name ='literasi'>{{cite web | url=https://www.gramedia.com/literasi/sejarah-masuknya-islam-ke-indonesia/ | title=Sejarah Masuknya Islam Ke Indonesia | website=gramedia.com | date=4 November 2021 | access-date=30 September 2022 | archive-date=30 September 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930160109/https://www.gramedia.com/literasi/sejarah-masuknya-islam-ke-indonesia/ | url-status=live }}</ref> The island of Sumatra is also an area in the archipelago that received the spread of Islam first compared to other islands or other areas.<ref name ='literasi'/> The island of Sumatra became the first area to receive the spread of Islam because of the position of the island of Sumatra which is close to the Malacca strait.<ref name ='literasi'/> The initial process of Islamization related to trade and also the formation of the kingdom.<ref name ='literasi'/> Islam entered Sumatra through pious [[Arabs]] and [[Tamils|Tamil]] traders in the 6th and 7th centuries AD.<ref>{{cite book| first= G. R.| last= Tibbets| title= Pre-Islamic Arabia and South East Asia| year= | publisher= }} In {{cite book| editor= D. S. Richards | year= 1970| title= Islam and The Trade of Asia| place= Oxford| publisher= Bruno Cassirer Pub. Ltd| page= 127 nt. 21}}</ref><ref>{{cite book| first= S. Q.| last= Fatimi| title= In Quest of Kalah| year= | publisher= }} In {{cite book| editor= D. S. Richards | year= 1970| title= Islam and The Trade of Asia| place= Oxford| publisher= Bruno Cassirer Pub. Ltd| page= 132 n. 124}}</ref><ref>{{cite book| first= W. P.| last= Groeneveldt| title= Notes in The Malay Archipelago| year= | publisher= }} In {{cite book| editor= D. S. Richards | year= 1970| title= Islam and The Trade of Asia| place= Oxford| publisher= Bruno Cassirer Pub. Ltd| page= 127 nt. 21}}</ref> At the beginning and end of the 13th century the formation of the kingdom, the king of the [[Pasai|Samudra]] kingdom had converted to Islam. [[Marco Polo]] visited the island in 1292, and his fellow Italian [[Odoric of Pordenone]] in 1321.{{citation needed||date=August 2023}}

[[File: Banda Aceh's Grand Mosque, Indonesia.jpg|right|thumb|250px|[[Baiturrahman Grand Mosque]] in [[Banda Aceh]]]]
Aceh in the north of Sumatra became known in the 16th century as trading centre for the [[pepper trade]] by shipping quality [[piperaceae]] (''pepper''). Aceh became the main commercial centre of the [[Aceh Sultanate]] and trading routes were established to the [[Mediterranean]] via the [[Red Sea]] to rival the Portuguese [[shipping lane]]s. The reign of [[Iskandar Muda]] is known as the ''golden age'' of Sumatra because he extended the cultural influence of the Aceh Sultanate to [[Padang]] and [[Johor]].<ref>{{Cite book|title= Aceh: History, Politics and Culture Volume 9 | editor-first1=Arndt | editor-last1= Graf | editor-first2=Edwin Paul | editor-last2= Wieringa | editor-first3= Susanne | editor-last3= Schröter |publisher= Institute of Southeast Asian Studies |year=2020 |isbn=9789814279123 | pages=3}}</ref> The Aceh Sultanate sustained the rivalry with the [[Johor Sultanate|Johor sultanate]], the Dutch, and the Portuguese throughout the 16th and 17th century. When the Dutch were weakened in the 18th century the British empire began to actively intervene in Aceh, establishing close relations between Banda Aceh and [[Penang]]. In the 17th and 18th century the Aceh Sultanate battled the [[Siak sultanate]] in the south of Sumatra. The port city of [[Banda Aceh]] was recorded in European historical writings since the 13th century. In terms of [[economic development]] the port of Banda Aceh only started to face competition in the 18th century when more ports were constructed in Sumatra for [[maritime transport]]. Nevertheless, major pepper suppliers used the port of Banda Aceh at the beginning of the 19th century. The port in [[Medan]] grew swiftly in the late 19th and early 20th century. Meanwhile the medium sized port of [[Palembang]] faced a stiff economic decline as the heritage of the Srivijaya empire was superseded by the [[economic policy]] of the [[Singhasari]] and [[Majapahit]]. The [[Palembang Sultanate|Palembang sultanate]] experienced a terminal decline in the early 19th century.<ref>{{Cite book|title= Fieldwork in Humanities Education in Singapore | editor-first1= Hwee Hwang |editor-last1= Sim |editor-first2= Teddy Y. H.| editor-last2= Sim |publisher= Springer Nature Singapore |year=2021 |isbn=9789811582332 | pages=290}}</ref>

With the coming of the [[Dutch Empire]], the many Sumatran princely states gradually fell under their control. Aceh posed major obstacles, as the Dutch were involved in the long and costly [[Aceh War]] (1873–1903).

During the [[Second World War]], [[Invasion of Sumatra|Japan invaded Sumatra]] in 1942.

The [[Free Aceh Movement]] fought against Indonesian government forces in the [[Insurgency in Aceh|Aceh Insurgency]] from 1976 to 2005.<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 July 2005 |title=Indonesia Agrees Aceh Peace Deal | publisher= BBC News |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4690293.stm | website= bbc.co.uk |url-status=live |access-date=17 May 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080309110911/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4690293.stm |archive-date=9 March 2008}}</ref> Security crackdowns in 2001 and 2002 resulted in several thousand civilian deaths.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://hrw.org/reports/2003/indonesia1203/5.htm| title=Aceh Under Martial Law: Inside the Secret War: Human Rights and Humanitarian Law Violations| website= hrw.org| publisher=[[Human Rights Watch]]| access-date=17 May 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306210847/https://www.hrw.org/reports/2003/indonesia1203/5.htm| archive-date=6 March 2016| url-status=live}}</ref>

The island was heavily impacted by both the 1883 [[Krakatoa|Krakatoa eruption]] and the 2004 [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|Boxing Day Tsunami]].

== Demographics ==
{{Historical populations
|align=right
|1971 | 20808148
|1980 | 28016160
|1990 | 36506703
|1995 | 40830334
|2000 | 42616164
|2005 | 45839041
|2010 | 50613947
|2015 | 55198752
|2020 | 58557211
|2023 | 60795669
|footnote=sources:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Penduduk Indonesia menurut Provinsi 1971, 1980, 1990, 1995, 2000 – 2023 |url=http://www.bps.go.id/tab_sub/view.php?kat=1&tabel=1&daftar=1&id_subyek=12&notab=1 |website=Badan Pusat Statistik |language=id |trans-title=Indonesian Population by Provinces 1971, 1980, 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130701144756/http://www.bps.go.id/tab_sub/view.php?kat=1&tabel=1&daftar=1&id_subyek=12&notab=1 |archive-date=1 July 2013 |access-date=17 July 2013}}</ref><ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik 2024">Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2024.</ref>
}}

Sumatra's population as of 2023 was estimated to be about 60,795,669&nbsp;;<ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik 2024"/> it has about the same number of inhabitants as [[South Africa]], making it the [[list of islands by population|fifth-most populous island in the world]]. Yet because it is such a large island, it is not densely populated: it has an average of about 126 people per km<sup>2</sup>.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population Statistics |url=http://www.geohive.com/ |website=GeoHive |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403214128/http://www.geohive.com/ |archive-date=3 April 2012 |access-date=25 July 2012}}</ref> 

{{Gallery
| height       =200px
| width        =200px
| File:Minangprocession.jpg
 | Minangkabau women carrying platters of food to a ceremony
 | alt1=
| File:Rumah Bolon Pamatang Purba - Rumah Adat Batak Simalungun (Batak Simalungun House) (01).jpg
 | Traditional house in Simalungun North Sumatra
 | alt2=
}}

== Ethnic groups ==
The largest indigenous ethnic groups in Sumatra are Malays, Minangkabaus, Bataks, Acehnese, and Lampungs. Other major non-indigenous ethnic groups are [[Javanese people|Javanese]], [[Sundanese people|Sundanese]], and [[Indonesian Chinese|Chinese]].

Below are 11 largest ethnic groups in Sumatra based on the 2010 census (including [[Riau Islands]], [[Bangka Belitung]], [[Nias island|Nias]], [[Mentawai islands|Mentawai]], [[Simeulue island|Simeulue]] and islands around it)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Badan Pusat Statistik|url=https://www.bps.go.id/publication/2012/05/23/55eca38b7fe0830834605b35/kewarganegaraan-suku-bangsa-agama-dan-bahasa-sehari-hari-penduduk-indonesia.html|website=www.bps.go.id|access-date=2021-12-19|archive-date=8 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508052427/https://www.bps.go.id/publication/2012/05/23/55eca38b7fe0830834605b35/kewarganegaraan-suku-bangsa-agama-dan-bahasa-sehari-hari-penduduk-indonesia.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
!Ethnic groups
!Population
|-
|[[Javanese people|Javanese]]
|15,239,275
|-
|[[Bataks]]
|7,302,330
|-
|[[Minangkabau people|Minangkabau]]
|5,799,001
|-
|Ethnic groups from South Sumatera
|4,826,272
|-
|[[Malays in Indonesia|Malays]]
|4,016,182
|-
|Ethnic groups from Aceh
|3,991,883
|-
|Ethnic groups from Jambi
|1,379,351
|-
|[[Sundanese people|Sundanese]]
|1,231,888
|-
|Ethnic groups from Lampung
|1,109,601
|-
|[[Nias people|Nias]]
|1,021,267
|-
|Other
|2,086,804
|}

===Languages===
[[File:WIKITONGUES- T.A., Iqbal, and Kalam speaking Acehnese.webm|thumb|Speakers of Acehnese.]]
[[File:KedukanBukit001.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Kedukan Bukit Inscription]], using [[Pallava alphabet]], is the oldest surviving specimen of the [[Old Malay]] language in [[South Sumatra]], Indonesia.]]
There are over 52 [[Languages of Indonesia|languages]] spoken, all of which (except Chinese and Tamil) belong to the [[Malayo-Polynesian languages|Malayo-Polynesian]] branch of the [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]] language family. Within Malayo-Polynesian, they are divided into several sub-branches: [[Chamic languages|Chamic]] (which are represented by [[Acehnese language|Acehnese]] in which its closest relatives are languages spoken by [[Cham people|Ethnic Chams]] in Cambodia and Vietnam), [[Malayic languages|Malayic]] ([[Malay language|Malay]], [[Minangkabau language|Minangkabau]] and other closely related languages), [[Northwest Sumatra–Barrier Islands languages|Northwest Sumatra–Barrier Islands]] ([[Batak languages]], [[Gayo language|Gayo]] and others), [[Lampung language|Lampungic]] (includes Proper Lampung and [[Komering language|Komering]]) and [[Bornean languages|Bornean]] (represented by [[Rejangese language|Rejang]] in which its closest linguistic relatives are [[Bukar Sadong language|Bukar Sadong]] and [[Land Dayak languages|Land Dayak]] spoken in [[West Kalimantan]] and [[Sarawak]] ([[Malaysia]])). Northwest Sumatra–Barrier Islands and Lampungic branches are endemic to the island. Like all parts of Indonesia, [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]] (which was based on Riau Malay) is the official language and the main lingua franca. Although Sumatra has its own local lingua franca, [[Malayan languages|variants of Malay]] like Medan Malay and [[Musi language|Palembang Malay]]<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lFW1BwAAQBAJ&q=palembang+malay+lingua+franca&pg=PA675 |title=Atlas of Languages of Intercultural Communication in the Pacific, Asia, and the Americas: Vol. I: Maps. Vol II: Texts |date=1996 |publisher=Mouton de Gruyter |editor-last=Wurm |editor-first=Stephen A. |location=Berlin and New York |isbn=9783110819724 |editor-last2=Mühlhäusler |editor-first2=Peter |editor-last3=Tryon |editor-first3=Darrell T. |via=Google Books}}</ref> are popular in North and South Sumatra, especially in urban areas. Minangkabau (Padang dialect)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minangkabau Language |url=http://gcanthminangkabau.wikispaces.com/Minangkabau+Language |website=gcanthminangkabau.wikispaces.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140404054907/https://gcanthminangkabau.wikispaces.com/Minangkabau+Language |archive-date=4 April 2014}}</ref> is popular in West Sumatra, some parts of North Sumatra, Bengkulu, Jambi and Riau (especially in [[Pekanbaru]] and areas bordered with [[West Sumatra]]) while Acehnese is also used as an inter-ethnic means of communication in some parts of Aceh province.

===Religion===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Religions !! Total 
|-
| [[Islam]] || 53,409,001
|-
| [[Protestantism]] || 5,592,010
|-
| [[Roman Catholicism]] || 1,023,603
|-
| [[Buddhism]] || 832,415
|-
| [[Hinduism]] || 193,917
|-
| [[Confucianism]] || 37,214
|-
| [[Aliran Kepercayaan]] || 10,893
|-
| '''Overall''' || '''61,099,053''' 
|}<ref name="RELIGION">{{cite web|url=https://gis.dukcapil.kemendagri.go.id/peta/|publisher=[[Ministry of Religious Affairs (Indonesia)|Ministry of Home Affairs]]|date=31 December 2023|access-date=11 March 2024|language=id |title=Visualisasi Data Kependudukan }}</ref>

{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religion in Sumatra (2023)<ref name="RELIGION"/>
|label1 = [[Islam]]
|value1 = 87.41
|color1 = DarkGreen
|label2 = [[Protestantism]]
|value2 = 9.15
|color2 = DarkBlue
|label3 = [[Roman Catholic]]
|value3 = 1.68
|color3 = Purple
|label5 = [[Hinduism]]
|value5 = 0.32
|color5 = DarkOrange
|label7 = [[Folk religion]]
|value7 = 0.02
|color7 = Black
|label4 = [[Buddhism]]
|value4 = 1.36
|color4 = Yellow
|label6 = [[Confucianism]]
|value6 = 0.061
|color6 = Red
}}
The majority of people in Sumatra are Muslims (87.12%), while 10.69% are Christians, and less than 2.19% are Buddhists and Hindus.<ref name="2010 census">{{Citation |last=Badan Pusat Statistik |title=Kewarganegaraan, Suku Bangsa, Agama, dan Bahasa Sehari-hari Penduduk Indonesia |url=https://www.bps.go.id/website/pdf_publikasi/watermark%20_Kewarganegaraan,%20Suku%20Bangsa,%20Agama%20dan%20Bahasa_281211.pdf |trans-title=Citizenship, Ethnicity, Religion, and the Everyday Languages of Indonesian Citizens |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923194534/http://www.bps.go.id/website/pdf_publikasi/watermark%20_Kewarganegaraan%2C%20Suku%20Bangsa%2C%20Agama%20dan%20Bahasa_281211.pdf |publisher=Badan Pusat Statistik |language=id |isbn=978-979-064-417-5 |access-date=5 January 2019 |archive-date=23 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Sumatra’s diverse Muslim communities coexist with various ethnic and religious groups, reflecting the region’s broader tradition of religious tolerance and social cohesion.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.baytarrahmah.org/media/2015/Strategic-Review_How-Islam-learned-to-adapt-in-Nusantara_Apr-Jun-2015.pdf | title=How Islam learned to adapt in 'Nusantara' | website=www.baytarrahmah.org}}</ref>

== Administration ==
Sumatra is one of seven geographical [[regions of Indonesia]], which includes its adjacent smaller islands. Sumatra was one of the eight original [[provinces of Indonesia]] between 1945 and 1948. Including adjacent archipelagoes normally included with Sumatra (such as the Riau Islands, Nias and the Bangka-Belitung group), it now covers ten of Indonesia's [[Provinces of Indonesia|38 provinces]], which are set out below with their areas and populations.<ref>Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakartya, 2023.</ref>
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|+Provinces within the region of Sumatra
! Name || Map || Area (km<sup>2</sup>) || Population<br />census<br />2000 || Population<br />census<br />2010 || Population<br />census<br />2015 || Population<br />census<br />2020|| Population<br />estimate<br />2023 || Capital
|-
| [[File:Coat of arms of Aceh.svg|center|65x65px]]<br />[[Aceh]]|| align="right"|[[File:Indonesia Aceh location.svg|150px]] 
|58,485.90||align="right"|4,073,006||align="right"|4,486,570||align="right"|4,993,385||align="right"|5,274,871||align="right"|5,512,219|| [[Banda Aceh]]
|-
| [[File:Coat_of_arms_of_North_Sumatra.svg|center|65x65px]]<br />[[North Sumatra]]|| align="right" | [[File:Indonesia North Sumatra location.svg|150px]] ||align="right"|72,460.74||align="right"|11,642,488||align="right"|12,326,678||align="right"|13,923,262||align="right"|14,799,361||align="right"|15,386,640|| [[Medan, Indonesia|Medan]]
|-
| [[File:Coat of arms of West Sumatra.svg|center|65x65px]]<br />[[West Sumatra]]|| align="right" | [[File:Indonesia West Sumatra location.svg|150px]] ||align="right"|42,119.54||align="right"|4,248,515||align="right"|4,846,909||align="right"|5,190,577||align="right"|5,534,472||align="right"|5,757,210|| [[Padang, Indonesia|Padang]]
|-
| [[File:Coat of arms of Riau.svg|center|65x65px]]<br />[[Riau]]|| align="right" | [[File:Indonesia Riau location.svg|150px]] ||align="right"|89,935.90||align="right"|3,907,763||align="right"|5,543,031||align="right"|6,330,941||align="right"|6,394,097||align="right"|6,642,874|| [[Pekanbaru]]
|-
| [[File:Coat of arms of Riau Islands.svg|center|65x65px]]<br />[[Riau Islands]]|| align="right" | [[File:Indonesia Riau Islands location.svg|150px]] ||align="right"|8,269.71||align="right"|1,040,207||align="right"|1,685,698||align="right"|1,968,313||align="right"|2,064,564||align="right"|2,162,140|| [[Tanjung Pinang]]
|-
| [[File:Coat_of_arms_of_Jambi.svg|center|65x65px]]<br />[[Jambi]]||align="right" | [[File:Indonesia Jambi location.svg|150px]] ||align="right"|49,026.58||align="right"|2,407,166||align="right"|3,088,618||align="right"|3,397,164||align="right"|3,548,228||align="right"|3,679,169|| [[Jambi (city)|Jambi]]
|-
| [[File:Coat of arms of South Sumatra.svg|center|65x65px]]<br />[[South Sumatra]]|| align="right" | [[File:Indonesia South Sumatra location.svg|150px]] ||align="right"|91,592.43||align="right"|6,210,800||align="right"|7,446,401||align="right"|8,043,042||align="right"|8,467,432||align="right"|8,743,522|| [[Palembang]]
|-
| [[File:Coat of arms of Bengkulu.svg|center|65x65px]]<br />[[Bengkulu]]|| align="right" | [[File:Indonesia Bengkulu location.svg|150px]] ||align="right"|20,130.21||align="right"|1,455,500||align="right"|1,713,393||align="right"|1,872,136||align="right"|2,010,670||align="right"|2,086,006|| [[Bengkulu (city)|Bengkulu]]
|-
| [[File:Coat of arms of Lampung.svg|center|65x65px]]<br />[[Lampung]]|| align="right" | [[File:Indonesia Lampung location.svg|150px]] ||align="right"|33,575.41||align="right"|6,730,751||align="right"|7,596,115||align="right"|8,109,601||align="right"|9,007,848||align="right"|9,313,990|| [[Bandar Lampung]]
|-
| [[File:Coat of arms of Bangka Belitung Islands.svg|center|65x65px]]<br />[[Bangka Belitung]]|| align="right" | [[File:Indonesia Bangka Belitung Islands location.svg|150px]] ||align="right"|16,690.13||align="right"|899,968||align="right"|1,223,048||align="right"|1,370,331||align="right"|1,455,678||align="right"|1,511,899|| [[Pangkal Pinang]]
|-
| '''''Totals''''' ||align="right" | ||align="right"|482,286.55||align="right"|42,616,164||align="right"|50,613,947||align="right"|55,198,752||align="right"|58,557,211||align="right"|60,795,669
|}

== Geography ==
[[File:Sumatra Volcanoes.png|thumb|Map of geological formation of Sumatra island]]
[[File:Sinabung.jpg|thumb|[[Mount Sinabung]], North Sumatra]]

The longest axis of the island runs approximately {{convert|1790|km|abbr=on}} northwest–southeast, crossing the equator near the centre. At its widest point, the island spans {{convert|435|km|mi|abbr=on}}. The interior of the island is dominated by two geographical regions: the [[Barisan Mountains]] in the west and swampy plains in the east. Sumatra is the closest Indonesian island to mainland Asia.

To the southeast is [[Java]], separated by the [[Sunda Strait]]. To the north is the [[Malay Peninsula]] (located on the Asian mainland), separated by the [[Strait of Malacca]]. To the east is [[Borneo]], across the [[Karimata Strait]]. West of the island is the [[Indian Ocean]].

Sumatra is a highly seismic island. The [[Great Sumatran fault]] (a [[Fault (geology)#Strike-slip faults|strike-slip]] fault), and the [[Sunda megathrust]] (a [[subduction zone]]), run the entire length of the island along its west coast. Huge earthquakes have been recorded throughout history. In 1797, an 8.9 earthquake shook Western Sumatra, and in 1833, a 9.2 earthquake shook Bengkulu and Western Sumatra. Both events caused large [[tsunami]]s. Earthquakes are very common throughout the coastal area of the west and center of the island, and tsunamis are common due to the high seismicity in the area.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=December 2020 |title=Coastal and settlement typologies-based tsunami modeling along the northern Sumatra seismic gap zone for disaster risk reduction action plans |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212420920313029#:~:text=The%20main%20potential%20source%20of,zone%20%5B2%2C13%5D. |journal=International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction |volume=51|bibcode=2020IJDRR..5101800J |last1=Jihad |first1=Abdi |last2=Muksin |first2=Umar |author3=Syamsidik |last4=Suppasri |first4=Anawat |last5=Ramli |first5=Marwan |last6=Banyunegoro |first6=Vrieslend H. |article-number=101800 |doi=10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.101800 |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Earthquakes and Tsunamis in Sumatra |url=http://www.tectonics.caltech.edu/outreach/highlights/sumatra/ |access-date=2024-04-06 |website=www.tectonics.caltech.edu}}</ref>

On 26 December 2004, the western coast and islands of Sumatra, particularly [[Aceh]] province, were struck by a [[tsunami]] following the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake|Indian Ocean earthquake]]. This was the longest earthquake recorded, lasting between 500 and 600 seconds (8.33–10 minutes).<ref>{{Cite book| title=Guinness Book of World Records 2014| chapter= Dynamic Earth| last=Glenday| first=Craig| publisher=The Jim Pattison Group| year=2013| isbn=978-1-908843-15-9| page=[https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec0000unse_r3e7/page/015 15]| chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec0000unse_r3e7/page/015| quote= 26 December 2004: Longest earthquake...between 500 and 600 seconds.}}</ref> More than 170,000 Indonesians were killed, primarily in Aceh. Other recent earthquakes to strike Sumatra include the [[2005 Nias–Simeulue earthquake]] and the [[2010 Mentawai earthquake and tsunami]].

[[Lake Toba]] is the site of a [[Supervolcano|supervolcanic]] [[types of volcanic eruptions|eruption]] that occurred around 74,000 years ago, representing a climate-changing event.<ref>{{cite web| last= Vogel| first= Gretchen| url= https://www.science.org/content/article/how-ancient-humans-survived-global-volcanic-winter-massive-eruption?et_rid=382659176&et_cid=1903121| title= How ancient humans survived global 'volcanic winter' from massive eruption| work= [[Science (journal)|Science]]| date= 12 March 2018| access-date= October 11, 2023| archive-date= 9 August 2022| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220809093043/https://www.science.org/content/article/how-ancient-humans-survived-global-volcanic-winter-massive-eruption?et_rid=382659176&et_cid=1903121| url-status= live}}</ref> The most important rivers in Sumatra belong to the catchment area of the [[South China Sea]]. Heading north to south, the [[Asahan River|Asahan]], [[Rokan River|Rokan]], [[Siak River|Siak]], [[Kampar River|Kampar]], [[Indragiri River|Indragiri]], [[Batang Hari River|Batanghari]] flow into the [[Strait of Malacca|Malacca Strait]], while the island's largest river, the [[Musi River (Indonesia)|Musi]], flows into the sea at [[Bangka Strait]] in the south. To the east, big rivers carry silt from the mountains, forming the vast lowland interspersed by swamps. Even if mostly unsuitable for farming, the area is currently of great economic importance for Indonesia. It produces oil from both above and below the soil – [[Oil palm|palm oil]] and [[petroleum]].

Sumatra is the largest producer of [[Indonesian coffee]]. Small-holders grow Arabica coffee (''[[Coffea arabica]]'') in the highlands, while Robusta (''[[Coffea canephora]]'') is found in the lowlands. Arabica coffee from the regions of Gayo, Lintong and Sidikilang is typically processed using the [[Giling Basah]] (wet hulling) technique, which gives it a heavy body and low acidity.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Daerah Produsen Kopi Arabika di Indonesia |url=http://kopidistributor.com/sekilas-info/daerah-produsen-kopi-arabika-di-indonesia |date=28 February 2015 |website= KopiDistributor.com |trans-title=Regional Arabica Coffee Producers in Indonesia | language= Indonesian| publisher= KD 1995 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402094956/http://kopidistributor.com/sekilas-info/daerah-produsen-kopi-arabika-di-indonesia |archive-date=2 April 2015 |access-date=28 February 2015}}</ref>

[[File:Medan_skyline_(2022).jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|[[Medan]], the largest city in Sumatra]]
By population, Medan is the largest city in Sumatra.<ref name="Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta">Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta.</ref> Medan is also the most visited and developed city in Sumatra.

== Largest cities ==

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Rank
! City
! Province
! City Birthday
! Area <br />(in km<sup>2</sup>)
! Population <br /> 2010 census
! Population <br /> 2020 census
|-
| 1
| '''[[Medan]]'''
| [[North Sumatra]]
| 1 July 1590
| align="right"|265.10
| align="right"|2,097,610
| align="right"|2,435,252
|-
| 2
| '''[[Palembang]]'''
| [[South Sumatra]]
| 17 June 683
| align="right"|400.61
| align="right"|1,455,284
| align="right"|1,668,848
|-
| 3
| '''[[Bandar Lampung]]'''
| [[Lampung]]
| 17 June 1682
| align="right"|169.21
| align="right"|881,801
| align="right"|1,166,066
|-
| 4
| '''[[Pekanbaru]]'''
| [[Riau]]
| 23 June 1784
| align="right"|633.01
| align="right"|897,767
| align="right"|983,356
|-
| 5
| '''[[Padang]]'''
| [[West Sumatra]]
| 7 August 1669
| align="right"|694.96
| align="right"|833,562
| align="right"|909,040
|-
| 6
| '''[[Jambi City|Jambi]]'''
| [[Jambi]]
| 17 May 1946
| align="right"|205.00
| align="right"|531,857
| align="right"|606,200
|-
| 7
| '''[[Bengkulu (city)|Bengkulu]]'''
| [[Bengkulu]]
| 18 March 1719
| align="right"|144.52
| align="right"|308,544
| align="right"|373,591
|-
| 8
| '''[[Dumai]]'''
| [[Riau]]
| 20 April 1999
| align="right"|2,039.35
| align="right"|253,803
| align="right"|316,782
|-
| 9
| '''[[Binjai]]'''
| [[North Sumatra]]
|
| align="right"|90.24
| align="right"|246,154
| align="right"|291,842
|-
| 10
| '''[[Pematangsiantar|Pematang Siantar]]'''
| [[North Sumatra]]
| 24 April 1871
| align="right"|60.52
| align="right"|234,698
| align="right"|268,254
|-
| 11
| '''[[Banda Aceh]]'''
| [[Aceh]]
| 22 April 1205
| align="right"|61.36
| align="right"|223,446
| align="right"|252,899
|-
| 12
| '''[[Lubuklinggau]]'''
| [[South Sumatra]]
| 17 August 2001
| align="right"|419.80
| align="right"|201,308
| align="right"|234,166
|}

== Flora and fauna ==
{{See also|List of national parks of Indonesia|List of amphibians of Sumatra}}
[[File:Sumatran tiger.jpg|thumb|[[Sumatran tiger]]]]
[[File:Rafflesia sumatra.jpg|thumb|upright|''[[Rafflesia arnoldii]]'']]
Sumatra supports a wide range of vegetation types that are home to a rich variety of species, including 17 endemic genera of plants.<ref name="Whitten1999">{{Cite book |last=Whitten |first=Tony |title=The Ecology of Sumatra |publisher=Tuttle Publishing |year=1999 |isbn=962-593-074-4}}</ref> Unique species include the [[Sumatran pine]] which dominates the [[Sumatran tropical pine forests]] of the higher mountainsides in the north of the island and rainforest plants such as ''[[Rafflesia arnoldii]]'' (the world's largest individual flower), and the [[titan arum]] (the world's largest unbranched [[inflorescence]]).

The island is home to 201 mammal species and 580 bird species. There are nine endemic mammal species on mainland Sumatra and 14 more endemic to the nearby [[Mentawai Islands]].<ref name="Whitten1999" /> There are about 300 freshwater fish species in Sumatra.<ref>Nguyen, T. T. T., and S. S. De Silva (2006). "Freshwater finfish biodiversity and conservation: an asian perspective". ''Biodiversity & Conservation'' 15(11): 3543–3568</ref> There are 93 [[List of amphibians of Sumatra|amphibian species]] in Sumatra, 21 of which are endemic to Sumatra.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hellen Kurniati |url=http://www.rufford.org/rsg/projects/hellen_kurniati |website=The Rufford Foundation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825105258/http://www.rufford.org/rsg/projects/hellen_kurniati |archive-date=25 August 2017 |access-date=25 August 2017}}</ref>

The [[Sumatran tiger]], [[Sumatran rhinoceros]], [[Sumatran elephant]], [[Sumatran ground cuckoo]], [[Sumatran orangutan]] and [[Tapanuli orangutan]] are all critically endangered, indicating the highest level of threat to their survival. In October 2008, the Indonesian government announced a plan to protect Sumatra's remaining forests.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Forest, Wildlife Protection Pledged at World Conservation Congress |url=http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/oct2008/2008-10-14-01.asp |date=14 October 2008 |website=Environment News Service |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603162220/http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/oct2008/2008-10-14-01.asp |archive-date=3 June 2012 |access-date=25 July 2012}}</ref>

The island includes more than 10 national parks, including three which are listed as the [[Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra]] [[World Heritage Site]] – [[Gunung Leuser National Park]], [[Kerinci Seblat National Park]] and [[Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park]]. The [[Berbak National Park]] is one of three national parks in Indonesia listed as a [[wetland]] of international importance under the [[Ramsar Convention]].

Sumatra has lost almost 50% of its tropical rainforest since 1980. Many species are now [[critically endangered]], such as the [[Sumatran ground cuckoo]], the [[Sumatran tiger]], the [[Sumatran elephant]], the [[Sumatran rhinoceros]], and the [[Sumatran orangutan]]. [[Deforestation]] on the island has also resulted in serious seasonal smoke haze over neighbouring countries, such as the [[2013 Southeast Asian haze]] which caused considerable tensions between Indonesia and affected countries [[Malaysia]] and [[Singapore]].<ref name=":0" /> The widespread deforestation and other environmental destruction in Sumatra and other parts of Indonesia has often been described by academics as an [[ecocide]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" />

==Rail transport==
Several unconnected railway networks built during [[Netherlands East Indies]] exist in Sumatra, such as the ones connecting [[Banda Aceh]]-[[Lhokseumawe]]-Besitang-[[Medan]]-[[Tebing Tinggi|Tebingtinggi]]-[[Pematang Siantar]]-[[Rantau Prapat]] in Northern Sumatra (the Banda Aceh-Besitang section was closed in 1971, but is currently being rebuilt).<ref>{{cite news|last1=Younger|first1=Scott|title=The Slow Train|url=http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/archive/the-slow-train/476582/|access-date=19 July 2015|work=Jakarta Globe|date=6 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721210204/http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/archive/the-slow-train/476582/|archive-date=21 July 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Padang, Indonesia|Padang]]-[[Solok]]-[[Bukittinggi]] in [[West Sumatra]], and [[Bandar Lampung]]-[[Palembang]]-[[Lahat Regency|Lahat]]-[[Lubuklinggau]] in Southern Sumatra.

== See also ==
{{Portal|Indonesia|Islands}}
* [[Architecture of Sumatra]]
* [[Bukit Seguntang]]
* [[Communism in Sumatra]]
* [[Music of Sumatra]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{Cite web |title=People, Palm Oil, Pulp and Planet: Four Perspectives on Indonesia's Fire-stricken Peatlands |url=https://theconversation.com/people-palm-oil-pulp-and-planet-four-perspectives-on-indonesias-fire-stricken-peatlands-80004 |last1=Grover |first1=Samantha |last2=Sukamta |first2=Linda |date=August 2017 |website=[[The Conversation (website)|The Conversation]] |last3=Edis |first3=Robert}}
* William Marsden, [https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16768 ''The History of Sumatra''], (1783); 3rd ed. (1811) freely available online.

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Sumatra|short=x}}

{{Provinces of Indonesia}}
{{World's largest islands}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Sumatra| ]]
[[Category:Greater Sunda Islands]]
[[Category:Maritime Southeast Asia]]
[[Category:Islands of the Indian Ocean]]
[[Category:Populated places in Indonesia]]
[[Category:Islands of Indonesia]]