Sumatera "island of gold"

Sumatra (also spelled Sumatera), is the sixth largest island in the world, with an area of 443,065.8 km2. The island is also known by the name of the Pulau Percha, Andalas, or Suwarnadwipa (Sanskrit, meaning "island of gold"). In Padang Inscription Roco (1286) called by the name of Swarnnabhūmi and Bhūmi Mālayu. In Negarakertagama manuscript from the 14th century also called "Bumi Malayu" (Melayu) to the island.

Originally the name of Sumatra originated from the existence of the Samudera Kingdom (located on the east coast of Aceh). Beginning with the visit of Ibn Battuta, a Moroccan adventurers into the country in the year 1345, he pronounced the word "Samudera" to "Samatrah", and later became Sumatera or Sumatra, then the name is listed in the maps made by 16th-century Portuguese, for referred to the island, so that later became known widely to the present.

Sumatra Island is located in the western group of Islands archipelago. In the north bordering the Bay of Bengal, east of the Strait of Malacca, on the south by the Straits of Sunda, and on the west by the Indian Ocean. To the east of the island, met many swamp fed by major rivers, among others; Asahan (Sumatera Utara), Kampar, Siak dan Sungai Indragiri (Riau), Batang Hari (Sumatera Barat, Jambi), Ketahun (Bengkulu), Musi, Ogan, Lematang, Komering (Sumatera Selatan), and Way Sekampung (Lampung).

In the western part of the island, lies the Barisan Mountains stretching from north to south. Along the hill there are rows of volcanoes that are still active, such as Merapi (Sumatera Barat), Bukit Kaba (Bengkulu), and Kerinci (Jambi). Sumatra island also has many large lakes, among them Laut Tawar (Aceh), Danau Toba (Sumatera Utara), Danau Singkarak, Danau Maninjau, Danau Diatas, Danau Dibawah (Sumatera Barat), and Danau Ranau (Lampung and Sumatera Selatan).

The island includes more than 10 National Parks, including 3 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.

The administrative regions of Sumatra (or the smaller islands nearby) are:
* Aceh (capital: Banda Aceh)
* Bangka-Belitung (capital: Pangkalpinang)
* Bengkulu (capital: Bengkulu)
* Jambi (capital: Jambi)
* Lampung (capital: Bandar Lampung)
* Riau (capital: Pekanbaru)
* Riau Islands (Kepulauan Riau) (capital: Tanjung Pinang)
* West Sumatra (Sumatera Barat) (capital: Padang)
* South Sumatra (Sumatera Selatan) (capital: Palembang)
* North Sumatra (Sumatera Utara) (capital: Medan)
[Wikipedia]