About Indonesia / Provinces / North Sumatra

North Sumatra

North Sumatra is a province of Indonesia. Its capital is Medan. It is the most populous Indonesian province outside of Java.

Geography and population

The province of North Sumatra stretches across the island of Sumatra between the Indian Ocean and the Strait Malacca. It borders Aceh province on the northwest and Riau and West Sumatra provinces on the southeast. It has an area of 70787 km². The province contains a broad, low plain along the Strait of Malacca coast; the provincial capital, Medan, is located here. In the south and west, the land rises to the mountain range that runs the length of Sumatra; the mountains here are dominated by Lake Toba, formed from the caldera of an ancient volcano. Several large islands in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Sumatra are part of North Sumatra, most notably Nias, and the Batu Islands.

North Sumatra has a population of approximately 11.48 million (As of 2000 census).

Agriculture and economy

Sumatra Mandheling and Sumatra Lintong coffee beans are grown in North Sumatra and largely exported to the U.S. Mandheling is named after the similarly spelt Mandailing people located in North Sumatra, Indonesia. The name is the result of a misunderstanding by the first foreign purchaser of the variety, and no coffee is actually produced in the "Mandailing region". Lintong on the other hand, is named after the Lintong district, also located in North Sumatra.

Administration

Below is a list of regencies (Indonesian: kabupaten) and cities in North Sumatra.

West coast region:

Regencies - capital (seat) Cities

Nias Regency - Gunungsitoli Padang Sidempuan

South Nias Regency - Teluk Dalam Sibolga

Mandailing Natal Regency - Panyabungan

South Tapanuli Regency - Sipirok

Central Tapanuli Regency - Pandan

Mountain region:

Regencies - capital (seat) Cities

Karo Regency - Kabanjahe Pematang Siantar