North Sumatra

Government

The administrative center of North Sumatra is located in the city Medan, governed by a Governor. Earlier, North Sumatra, including Sumatra province in Indonesia shortly became independent in 1945. In 1950, North Sumatra Province was formed that includes former residency of East Sumatra, Tapanuli, and Aceh. In 1956, Aceh split off into Aceh.

Administrative divisions

North Sumatra is currently subdivided into 25 regencies and 8 autonomous cities, listed below with their (provisional) populations at the 2010 Census and according to the latest (2014) estimates. With proposals under consideration to create three additional provinces from parts of the present North Sumatra, these are grouped below according to the putative new province in which they are situated:

Nias Island Region

Omo Sebua, means the big house. This is a traditional house from South Nias. It was king of Tano Niha who live in, located in Bawomataluo

Name	Area (km2)	Population Census 2010[4]	Population Estimate January 2014[2]	Capital	HDI[5] 2014 Estimates
Gunungsitoli City	280.8	126,202	131,507	Gunungsitoli	0.659 (Medium)
Nias Regency	809.7	131,377	136,900	Gunungsitoli	0.579 (Low)
North Nias Regency (Nias Utara)	1,203.7	127,244	132,593	Lotu	0.591 (Low)
South Nias Regency # (Nias Selatan)	1,825.5	289,708	301,886	Teluk Dalam	0.577 (Low)
West Nias Regency (Nias Barat)	473.7	81,807	85,246	Lahomi	0.575 (Low)

# South Nias Regency includes the Batu Islands.

A tourist taken in a photo of Bagas Godang in Panyabungan, Mandailing Natal

Name	Area (km2)	Population Census 2010	Population Estimate January 2014[2]	Capital	HDI[6] 2014 Estimates
Padang Sidempuan City	114.65	191,554	199,582	Padang Sidempuan	0.718 (High)
Mandailing Natal Regency	6,620.70	403,894	421,968	Panyabungan	0.634 (Medium)
North Padang Lawas Regency (Padang Lawas Utara)	3,918.05	223,049	232,928	Gunung Tua	0.665 (Medium)
Padang Lawas Regency	3,892.74	223,480	234,728	Sibuhuan	0.655 (Medium)
South Tapanuli Regency (Tapanuli Selatan)	4,352.86	264,108	274,905	Sipirok	0.672 (Medium)

The town of Tarutung from above a Salib Kasih (Cross Love) hill

Tapanuli Region

Old Batak Village, or known as Bolon House (Rumah Bolon) in Simanindo

Name	Area (km2)	Population Census 2010	Population Estimate January 2014[2]	Capital	HDI[7] 2014 Estimates
Sibolga City	10.77	84,444	88,032	Sibolga	0.710 (High)
Central Tapanuli Regency (Tapanuli Tengah)	2,158.00	310,962	324,315	Pandan	0.661 (Medium)
Humbang Hasundutan Regency	2,297.20	171,687	178,866	Dolok Sanggul	0.655 (Medium)
North Tapanuli Regency (Tapanuli Utara)	3,764.65	278,897	290,996	Tarutung	0.707 (High)
Samosir Regency	2,433.50	111,650	124,683	Pangururan	0.678 (Medium)
Toba Samosir Regency	2,352.35	172,933	180,407	Balige	0.727 (High)

Maimoon Palace, a historical palace in Medan, it was used as a house for Deli Sultanate for a long time and still active till this day

East Sumatra Region

Bukit Lawang, tourist village at the bank of Bahorok River, Langkat

Name	Area (km2)	Population Census 2010	Population Estimate January 2014[2]	Capital	HDI[8] 2014 Estimates
Binjai City	90.24	246,010	256,502	Binjai	0.725 (High)
Medan City	265.10	2,109,339	2,185,789	Medan	0.798 (High)
Pematang Siantar City	79.87	234,885	244,564	Pematang Siantar	0.758 (High)
Tanjung Balai City	*	154,426	160,941	Tanjung Balai	0.660 (Medium)
Tebing Tinggi City	38.44	145,180	151,354	Tebing Tinggi	0.721 (High)
Asahan Regency	3,675.79	667,563	696,364	Kisaran	0.675 (Medium)
Batubara Regency	904.96	374,535	391,686	Limapuluh	0.655 (Medium)
Dairi Regency	1,927.80	269,848	281,405	Sidikalang	0.679 (Medium)
Deli Serdang Regency	2,486.14	1,789,243	1,865,695	Lubukpakam	0.719 (High)
Karo Regency	2,127.25	350,479	365,713	Kabanjahe	0.718 (High)
Labuhan Batu Regency	9,223.18	414,417	432,560	Rantau Prapat	0.700 (High)
Langkat Regency	6,263.29	966,133	1,008,207	Stabat	0.680 (Medium)
North Labuhan Batu Regency (Labuhan Batu Utara)	#	331,660	344,603	Aek Kanopan	0.691 (Medium)
Pakpak Bharat Regency	1,218.30	40,481	42,208	Salak	0.650 (Medium)
Serdang Bedagai Regency	1,913.33	592,922	619,367	Sei Rampah	0.677 (Medium)
Simalungun Regency	4,386.60	818,104	852,095	Raya	0.708 (High)
South Labuhan Batu Regency (Labuhan Batu Selatan)	#	277,549	289,346	Kota Pinang	0.685 (Medium)

Population

North Sumatra recorded a population of 12,985,075 in the 2010 national census, making the 4th most populous province in Indonesia, with a sex ratio of 99.59 men per 100 women.^[9] The latest estimate (for January 2014) is 13,527,937.^[2]

Ethnic groups

North Sumatra is a multi-ethnic province. The Malay peoples are regarded as the native people of this province. The Javanese reside around Deli Serdang Regency, including Medan, while the west coast of the province is mainly inhabited by Pakpak, Mandailing and Minangkabau people. The central region around Lake Toba, is predominantly inhabited by Bataks. The Nias people reside mostly in Nias Island and the surrounding islands. With the opening of tobacco plantations in East Sumatra during the Dutch East Indies era, the colonial government employed many contract laborers for plantations. The newcomers were Chinese refugees, who were welcomed in Sumatra.

Bataks make up 44.95% out of the population, including Batak Karo and Mandailing. The Javanese come second with 30.62%, the Malays add up to 5.92% and the ethnic Chinese comprise 5.75%. Nias people make up around 4.10% and the rest are Minangkabau (2.66%), Acehnese (1.27%), ethnic Indian (0.80%) and other ethnic groups (1.15%)

Distribution of the Batak people and the Toba, Simalungun, Karo, Pakpak, Angkola and Mandailing sub-groups

The distribution of the tribes, clans and ethnic groups in North Sumatra is as follows:

• Batak Toba : throughout North Sumatra.
• Batak Karo : mostly in Karo Regency, and Deli Serdang
• Batak Mandailing: East coast and west coast region
• Batak Pakpak : majority in Dairi Regency
• Malay : around the east coast
• Nias : mostly in Nias Island, with a small population around the west coast
• Javanese : Mostly resided east coast area, majority in Medan, Deli Serdang, Serdang Bedagai and Labuhan Batu
• Chinese Indonesian : urban areas such as Medan, Deli Serdang, Binjai, Tanjungbalai and Pematangsiantar
• Minangkabau people : mostly in Medan and Mandailing Natal
• Indian : several districts around Medan, Binjai and Deli Serdang
• Acehnese people : Medan, Binjai up to northern parts such as Langkat

Languages

In general, the widely used language is Indonesian. The Malays around Deli Serdang and Langkat mostly speak Malay language, which is similar to Peraknese Malay language. The Javanese people, especially around rural and plantation areas, use Javanese in daily conversation, while the urban Javanese mostly speak Indonesian.

The Batak people speak Bataknese, which is divided into four dialects (Silindung, Samosir, Humbang and Toba), while Batak Karo people use Karo language and the Batak Mandailing people around South Tapanauli, Padang Lawas and Mandailing Natal speak Mandailing language. Nias language is spoken among Nias people.

Mostly ethnic Chinese in North Sumatra are fluent in Hokkien with Zhangzhou dialect mixed with Malay/Bataknese/Indonesian words, while for Chinese around Labuhan Batu area using Quanzhou dialect that has similarity with Bagansiapiapi Hokkien. The small Teochew and Hainanese speakers are also exist. The ethnic Indian people in Medan speak Tamil with a some Punjabi speakers among Punjabis. The Acehnese people speak Aceh and Gayo language.

Religion

Huria Kristen Batak Protestan church in Balige

More than 95 percent out of all residents are either Muslim or Christian; the remainder are Buddhist, Hindus, or follow folk religions such as Confucian, Parmalim, and Taoist. These are the recognized religions of North Sumatra:

• Islam: especially embraced by the Malays, Minangkabau, Javanese, Aceh, Mandailing, Angkola, and partly Toba, Karo, Simalungun and Pakpak
• Christian (Protestantism and Catholicism): especially embraced by Batak Toba, Karo, Simalungun, Nias, Pakpak and partly Batak Angkola, Chinese and Indian
• Hindu and Sikh: especially embraced by Indian in urban areas, there are also small Batak Karo people that practising Hindu in rural areas
• Buddhist: especially embraced by Chinese in urban areas
• Confucian, Taoist and Chinese religion: 99 percent embraced by the Chinese
• Traditional religion such as Parmalim/Pemena: embraced by most of the Batak tribe centered in Huta Tinggi, Laguboti district, Toba Samosir Regency

Energy

North Sumatra is rich in natural resources such as natural gas in the area of Tandam, Binjai and petroleum in Pangkalan Brandan, Langkat which has been explored since the days of the Dutch East Indies. Besides that, in Kuala Tanjung, Asahan, there are the company named PT Inalum (abbreviated of Indonesia Aluminium) that engaged in ore mining and smelting of aluminum which is the only one in Southeast Asia.

The rivers that disgorge in the mountains around Lake Toba is also a natural resource that is potential enough to be an exploited to resource of hydropower plants. Asahan hydropower which is the largest hydropower plant in Sumatra Island is located on Porsea in Toba Samosir Regency.

Moreover, in the mountains there are many geothermal hot spots were very likely to be developed as a source of thermal energy or steam that can then be transformed into electrical energy.

Agriculture and Farming

Inside of Palm Oil Estate of Serdang Bedagai Regency

The province is famous for its plantation area, until now, the plantation economy of the province remains to be excellent. The plantations are managed by private companies and the state. SOE Plantation area is located in North Sumatra, among others PT Perkebunan Nusantara II (PTPN II), PTPN IV and PTPN III.

Besides North Sumatra is also famous for its plantation area. Until now, the plantation economy of the province remains to be excellent. The plantations are managed by private companies also the state. North Sumatra produces rubber, cocoa, tea, palm oil, coffee, cloves, coconut, cinnamon, and tobacco. The plantation is spread in East coast area such as Deli Serdang, Serdang Bedagai Langkat, Simalungun, Asahan, Labuhan Batu, and also around west coast: Central and South Tapanuli.

Paddy field in Ambarita village, Simanindo, Samosir Island

• The size of rice farming. In 2005 the total area of 807.302 hectares of crops stay, or down about 16.906 hectares compared to 2004 reaching vast 824.208 hectares. The productivity of rice plants in 2005 was able to be increased to 43.49 quintals per hectare ranges from 2004 are still 43.13 quintals per hectare, and the rice crop fields change into 26.26 quintals of 24.73 quintals per hectare. In 2005, the rice surplus in North Sumatra reached 429 tons from about 1/2/27 million tonnes of total rice production in this area.
• The size of rubber plantations. In 2002 the total area of rubber plantations in Sumatra is 489.491 hectares with a production of 443.743 tonnes. While in 2005, the area under rubber decreased or stayed 477,000 hectares with production also dropped to only 392,000 tons.
• Irrigation: The size of technical irrigation entirely in North Sumatra is 132.254 ha that covers an area of 174 irrigation site. A total of 96.823 ha at 7 Irrigation area is very critical damage.
• Agricultural Products: North Sumatra produces rubber, cocoa, tea, palm oil, coffee, cloves, coconut, cinnamon, and tobacco. These commodities have been exported to many countries and contributing huge foreign exchange for Indonesia. In addition to commodities, North Sumatra is also known as a producer of horticultural commodities (vegetables and fruits); e.g. Medanese Orange, Deli Guava, Cabbage Vegetable, Tomato, Potato and Carrot generated by Karo, Simalungun and North Tapanuli. The horticultural products have been exported to Malaysia and Singapore.

Sumatera Mandheling and Sumatera Lintong coffee beans are grown in North Sumatra and largely exported to the United States. 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.

Banking

In addition to national banks, state banks and international banks, currently there are 61 units of Credited Peoples Banks (BPR) and 7 Credited Sharia Bank (BPRS). Data from Bank Indonesia showed, in January 2006, the Third Party Funds (TPF), which absorbed BPR reached Rp 253.366.627.000 (around 19 million US$) and loans reached Rp 260.152.445.000 (around 19.5 million US$. While assets reached Rp 340.880 837.000 (25.5 million US$).

Mining

There are three leading mining company in North Sumatra:

• Sorikmas Mining (SMM), main base around South Tapanauli with gold as main commodity
• Newmont Horas Nauli (PTNHN).
• Dairi Prima Mineral

Industry

North Sumatra has several industrial sites, mainly around Deli Serdang. Medan Industrial Area (Indonesian: Kawasan Industri Medan) stands for KIM is the main industrial complex in Medan.

Export and Import

North Sumatra export performance is likely to increase from year to year. In 2004 the foreign exchange earnings reached US $4.24 billion, up 57.72% from the previous year from the sector.

Coffee exports from North Sumatra reached a record high of 46.290 tonnes with Japan's main export destination countries during the last five years. Sumatra coffee exports also listed as the top 10 highest export products with a value of US $3.25 million or 47200.8 tons from January to October 2005.

Of the garment sector, garment exports tend to fall in January 2006. The results of special apparel industry down 42.59 percent from US $1,066,124 in 2005, to US $2,053 in 2006 in the same month.

Import export performance of some industrial products showed a decline. Namely furniture fell 22.83 percent from US $558,363 (2005) to US $202,630 (2006), plywood down 24.07 percent from US $19,771 to US $8,237, misteric acid down 27.89 percent from US $115,362 into US $291 201, stearic acid dropped 27.04 percent from US $792,910 to US $308,020, and soap noodles down 26 percent from AS.689.025 to US $248,053.

Export performance of agricultural imports also decreased the essential oil dropped 18 percent from US $162,234 to US $773,023, seafood / shrimp, coconut oil and robusta coffee also dropped quite dramatically to 97 per cent. Some commodities were increased (a value of over US $ Million) is cocoa, horticulture, arabica coffee, palm oil, natural rubber, seafood (non shrimp). For the results of the molding industry, vehicle tires and rubber gloves.

Tourism

North Sumatra considered as one of top tourism activities in Sumatra Island, just below Riau Islands. According to Ministry of Tourism, North Sumatra is included on top 10 visited province in Indonesia. There are various kind of tourism place that could be found throughout the province, Berastagi is the best known as hilly place with a cooler temperature as the whole province is in tropical region. Lake Toba also the hilly area included a largest volcanic lake with an island in the center. Nias Island and other several islands nearby named Batu Islands is the best place for surfing cause a good sea waves. The capital itself, Medan, has many places of interest, mainly on historical tourism. The city also known for its great and various cuisine. The list below is the most known places of interest in North Sumatra:

Sipisopiso, North Sumatra

Surfing in Tello Island, Nias

• Medan is the capital of North Sumatra province with a diverse crowd population of tribes and religions in unity. There are many historical tourism objects to spot and various great culiner to taste in Medan.
• Lake Toba is the largest volcanic lake in the world. Located in the centre of North Sumatra, the lake can be reached via Parapat (Simalungun regency), Tongging (Karo regency), and Balige (Toba Samosir regency).
• Samosir Island is a volcanic island in middle of Lake Toba, It is a popular tourist destination due to its exotic Batak history and the vistas it offers. The tourist resorts are concentrated in the Tuktuk, Tomok, Simanindo, and Pangururan areas.
• Bukit Lawang known for the largest animal sanctuary of Sumatran orangutan (around 5,000 orangutans occupy the area), and also the main access point to the Gunung Leuser National Park from the east side.
• Nias Island is an island off the western coast of Sumatra. Nias is an internationally popular surfing destination of which many international surfing competitions are hold. The best known surfing area is Sorake Bay, close to the town of Teluk Dalam, on the southern tip. This is enclosed by the beaches of Lagundri and Sorake. Tourists can visit the island by plane from Medan, or by ferry from Sibolga.
• Bawomataluo village is a settlement in Teluk Dalam of the South Nias Regency of Indonesia. The village was built on a flat-topped hill, the name Bawomataluo meaning "Sun Hill", and is one of the best-preserved villages built in traditional style.^[14]
• Berastagi is a small highland town located 63 kilometers to the south of Medan, and is a popular weekend destination for city dwellers due to its chilled and fresh mountain air.
• Dolok Tinggi Raja has a unique soil color is white because it is located in a limestone hill that resembles snow, and also in the middle of this area there are lakes with hot blue-green colored water, located in Tinggi Raja, Simalungun.
• Lumbini Natural Park is a Buddhist Theravada-style temple that is similar to Shwedagon Pagoda in Myanmar located in Berastagi.
• Dua Warna Waterfall is a two-coloured waterfall located in Sibolangit, around 30 km from Medan city .
• Poncan Island is a resort including a beach, located on west offshore of Sibolga city.
• Berhala Island is a 2,5 hectares island located in the Malaka Strait near the boundary of Indonesia and Malaysia. It is a popular place for snorkeling and watching turtle nesting. Visitors can reach the island via boat from Sergei in the Serdang Bedagai regency.
• Sipisopiso, one of the highest waterfalls in Indonesia, is located near Tongging in Karo regency, about 1 hour drive from Berastagi.
• Simalem Resort, is a 5 star resort located around 8 km from Munthe village, Karo Regency. This place is the good place for sighseeing the whole Lake Toba from top of the hill.
• Taman Iman, Indonesian name for The Garden of Faith located in Sitinjo village, Dairi around 10 km away from Sidikalang, it is a religious garden with dioramas from 5 religion of Indonesia (Islam, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, and Confucian)

A Bahal Buddhist temple, an archaeological site in Padang Lawas, North Sumatra

• Bahal temple, an ancient Buddhist monastery located in Padang Bolak, Padang Lawas Regency, around 3 hours journey with car from Padangsidempuan. The temple is believed to be constructed between the 11th to 13th century AD.
• Sigura-Gura Waterfall located in Porsea, Toba Samosir Regency, this is a waterfall that has a height that reaches 250 meters.
• Rahmat International Wildlife Museum and Gallery, is a natural history museum in Medan. The museum displays various taxidermy collections of wildlife from the smallest to the largest according to the habitat.
• Tangkahan is a tourist site situated at the edge of the Gunung Leuser national park, around 20 km due north from Bukit Lawang, The main tourist draw at Tangkahan is the presence of Sumatran elephant.^[15]
• Salib Kasih, Indonesian name for Love Cross, located in Tarutung. The development objective of this cross-shaped monument is to commemorate the service and dedication of Dr. Ludwig Ingwer Nommensen which is a missionary from northern Germany. This Parks built on Dolok (Hill) Siatas Barita.^[16]
• Lingga is one of the village in the Karo Regency. Located at an altitude of about 1200 m above sea level, approximately 15 km from Brastagi and 5 km from the Kabanjahe. Linga is unique Karo traditional house and village that has been built an estimated of 250 years ago, but still sturdy.

Airports

Exterior of Kuala Namu International Airport

The modern Kuala Namu International Airport was opened on July 25, 2013 and is located almost 40 kilometers from Medan. The airport replaces the old Polonia International Airport.^[17] It serves flights to several Indonesian and Malaysian cities, along with flights to Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia. Flights to India and China are also planned. In passenger numbers, Kuala Namu is the fifth largest airport in Indonesia.

Other airports in North Sumatra are:

• Lasondre Airport in Batu Islands
• Binaka Airport in Gunung Sitoli, Nias Island
• Aek Godang Airport in Padang Sidempuan, South Tapanauli Regency
• Sibisa Airport in Ajibata, Toba Samosir Regency
• Ferdinand Lumban Tobing Airport or Pinangsori Airport in Sibolga, Centra Tapanauli Regency
• Silangit Airport, in Siborong-Borong

Seaports

North Sumatra has an international seaport at Belawan, near Medan and is now preparing to have a new seaport at Kuala Tanjung, in Batubara Regency, for about Rp.1 trillion ($114 million) budget.^[18]

Road

Tanjung Morawa toll gate, in Deli Serdang, part of Belmera toll road

In North Sumatra, there is 2098.05 kilometers down a state-road, which pertained only steady 1095.70 kilometers or 52.22 percent and 418.60 kilometers or 19.95 percent in a state of being, remaining in a state of disrepair. While of 2752.41 kilometers of provincial roads, which is in a state of steady length 1237.60 kilometers or 44.96 per cent, while in a state of being 558.46 kilometers, or 20.29 percent. As damaged roads length 410.40 kilometers, or 14.91 percent, and the damaged length 545.95 kilometers, or 19.84 percent.

There are 28 km toll road in named as Belmera Toll Road in Medan, connecting from Belawan to Tanjungmorawa, passing east side of the city, the government also on going to built a 62 km Medan–Kuala Namu–Tebing Tinggi Toll Road and 17 km Medan–Binjai Toll Road. A project to built toll road from Tebing Tinggi to Parapat and also from Tebing Tinggi to Kisaran also in proportion.

Rail

Regional Division I North Sumatra and Aceh or Divre I is regional railway from Aceh to North Sumatra operated by Kereta Api Indonesia, but only in-operation railway are from Binjai to Medan (Sri Lelawangsa), Medan to Pematangsiantar (Siantar Express), Medan to Tanjungbalai (Putri Deli) and Medan to Rantau Parapat (Sribilah), there are an underconstruction rail way to Banda Aceh in Aceh province also to Pekanbaru, Riau province. Medan also has it first airport rail link in Indonesia, called Kualanamu Airport Rail Link. It connects the city to Kuala Namu Airport.