WEST SUMATERA
The province of West Sumatra also known as the Land of the Minang, or the Minangkabau. The people who make up the overwhelming majority of the population, occupies an area of about 42,297.30 square kilometers, inhabited by more than 4.000.000 people. Much of it is highland, formed by the Bukit Barisan Mountain range. Comparatively narrow lowland plains are found mostly along the coasts.
West Sumatra is an intensely green tapestry of rolling hills and tall forest – clad volcanoes, dotted by lakes, rice fields and villages nestles peacefully against the foothills. The province’s virgin natural beauty and the serenity of its landscape seldom fail to impress visitors.
Location
Located on the crossroad of Sumatra Island, West Sumatra has strategic position to grow into a major center for trade and tourism. West Sumatra is only part of the island of Sumatra which is the third largest island in Indonesia and is one province among 27 provinces of Indonesia. In the north bounded by North Sumatra province, in the South by Bengkulu and Jambi provinces, in the East by Riau province and in the West by Indian Ocean.
Climate
As part of a country in equatorial region, West Sumatra has certainly tropical climate which is mainly felt along the whole coast where as the mountain area and high plains have a fresh and cool mountain air.
The temperature along the coast is between 26 C – 31 C ( 80 C – 90 C ) while at the higher plains between 20 C – 24 C ( 68 F – 76 F ). In the tropical climate, it has two season comes about October until March and dry season comes on Summer from April to September.
People
Minang kabau people are warm and friendly. The sphere of the Minangkabau culture very broad, as it expands to a part of South Tapanuli in the North Sumatra province, in the upper course of Kampar Kiri and Kampar kanan rivers in the province of Riau and the river of Batang Hari in the province of Jambi. West Sumatra as the homeland of Minangkabau people has a unique matriarch society, which passes family property and wealth down along maternal side.
The people in West Sumatra consist of Minangkabau ethnic group about 95% and the remain 5% consist of Chinese, Javanese, Indian, Arab, etc.
Language
The people of West Sumatra have a local language which is known ad the Minangkabau language. It consist of number of dialects which vary from other regions, sometimes it is rather difficult for the people of different regions to understand another.
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