Sumatra Island Is Ideal For Ecotourism
Minangkabau King Palace In Central Sumatra
Sumatra (SOO-mah-TRAH) straddles the equator. Numerous large reserves and preservation areas have been set aside, which makes the island ideal for ecotourism. It’s heavily forested and rich with rare wildlife, including tigers, elephants, orangutans, and rhinoceros.
The mountains in the west and the swampy plains in the east define Sumatra’s landscape. The backbone of the island is the volcanic Barisan Mountain chain, which runs the entire length of the island from north to south. The volcanic activity of this region produces fertile land and beautiful scenery, including the region around Lake Toba. It also contains rich deposits of coal and gold.
To the east, big rivers carry silt from the mountains to the vast lowlands and swamps. Even though the area is unsuitable for farming, it produces significant quantities of palm oil and petroleum. Most of Sumatra was covered by tropical rainforest prior to the development of natural resource industries. The jungles are home to species such as orangutans, tapirs, Sumatran tigers, elephants, and unique plants such as the rafflesia. Unfortunately, economic development and illegal logging threaten the habitat and existence of these rare creatures and others. Conservation areas have not been spared from destruction.
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