Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam

Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam

Aceh is a special territory (daerah istimewa) of Indonesia, located on the northern tip of the island of Sumatra. Its full name is Naggroe Aceh Darussalam. It is thought to have been in Aceh where Islam was first established in Southeast Asia. In the early sevententh century the Sultanate of Aceh was the most wealthy, powerful and cultivated state in the Malacca Straits region. Aceh has a history of political independence and fierce resistance to control by outsiders, including the former Dutch colonists and the Indonesian goverment. Aceh has substantial natural resources, including oil and gas - some estimates put Aceh gas reserves as being the largest in the world. Relatively, to most Indonesia, it is a religiously conservative area.

Aceh is one of the region archipelago where has multi ethnic community. There are 8 ethnics that live in Aceh, such as Aceh, Alas, Gayo, Aneuk Jamee, Kluet, Kluet, Simeulue, Singkil dan Tamiang. They have different historical of original and cuture. Example, Aneuk Jamee was visitor from from west Sumatera (Minangkabau ethnic). Thats way, the culture of Aneuk Jamee ethnic similar with Minangkabau ethnic.

Calang
Calang is the capital city of Aceh Jaya, which is amazing greenery and schenery along the way. Especially, the view in Geureute. But in this occasion we can show you just a glance shcenery of Calang.

Rubiah Sea Garden

Rubiah Sea Garden is situated about 23.5 km west of Sabang by road, or about 7 km by boat, adjacent to Iboih village. The Indonesian Government has established this water area of 2600 hectares around Rubiah Island as a special nature reserve. Being located in Sabang bay the waters here are calm and crystal clear too (25 m visibility) the sea here abounds with an incredible variety of colorful tropical fish and coral reefs. We can find gigantic clams, angelfish, school of parrotfish, lionfish, sea fans, and much more.
For experienced snorkeling, Octopus and Stingrays (not dangerous to observer) are sure sightings here. Try viewing the coral from glass bottom boat.
Sunbathe or stroll on the remote white sand beaches of the adjacent shores. Undoubtedly, one of the best-kept secrets in the world of tourism is a paradise for snorkeling and scuba diving. The distance to the coral is only 5 m from the shore. For those who just cannot get themselves to leave this spot, accommodation and meals are available from the villagers of Iboih upon request.

Mount Leuser National Park

Mount Leuser National Park is one of the largest national parks in the world, containing over 800,000 hectares of virgin rainforest. The park is home to orangutans, gibbons, monkeys, elephants, tigers, and among the last of the Sumatran rhinoceros. There are research facilities for the study of primates, birds and insects, the Orangutans rehabilitation center at Bukit Lawang being the most popular with tourists. It is possible to raft Alas River from Ketambe to the Indian Ocean on a 4 - 5 day expedition. The journey takes us through exciting white-water rapids to the calmer, crocodile-infested waters of the lowlands. Basic accommodation is available at Ketambe.

The Leuser National Park of Gunung Leuser is probably the wildest in Indonesia, located in Southeast Aceh, can be reached from either Kutacane, or Takengon. This magnificent national park has a wealth of flora and fauna. The Leuser Ecosystem is an outstanding wilderness in Aceh northern Sumatra. It is one of the richest expanses of tropical rain forest in Southeast Asia. More than 2.5 million hectares in size, it is the last place on earth where elephants, rhinos, tigers, clouded leopards, and orangutans are found within one area.

The first official statement of intent to protect the Leuser Ecosystem was signed in 1934. The Leuser International Foundation (a non-profit non-government organization) was established in the late 1990's when the ecosystem was seriously under threat from illegal logging and wildlife poaching.
Geographically, the Leuser Ecosystem lies between 3-4.5° North and 96.5-98° East. It covers approximately 2.6 million hectares of tropical rain forest, encompassing 890,000 hectares of designated national park, as well as extensive areas of protection and production forests. The ecosystem contains two major volcanoes, three lakes, and nine major river systems that flow to the east and west coasts of the island.

The Leuser Ecosystem has an enormous level of biodiversity. It contains at least 127 mammal species, including the Sumatran elephant, Sumatran tiger, Sumatran rhinoceros, and Sumatran orangutan. About 8,500 different plant species grow in the beach, swamp, lowland, mountain and alpine ecosystems of the Leuser Ecosystem. Of the 10,000 plant species recorded in the West Indo-Malayan Region, 45% are found in the Leuser Ecosystem. Spectacular plants such as Rafflesia (the largest flower in the world) and Amorphophallus (the tallest flower in the world) are among the plants protected there.

Mount Leuser National Park is one of the biggest national parks in Indonesia (950,000 hectare). Actually, it's a collection of various nature reserves and forests: Nature Reserve Mount Leuser, Nature Reserve Kappi, Nature Reserve Kluet, Sikundur Langkat Wildlife Reserve, Ketambe Research Station, Singkil Barat and Dolok Sembilin. Most parts of the national park lie in the region Aceh Tenggara (SE Aceh). Other parts are situated in the region east Aceh, south Aceh, and Langkat.

Mount Leuser National Park comprises more than 100 kilometers of the Bukit Barisan Mountains. Because of that, the park consists of steep, almost inaccessible mountainous terrain. The altitude ranges from 0 meter, in Kluet (South Aceh), to 3,381 meter, on top of the mount Leuser (Southeast Aceh). The Alas River cuts the park into an eastern and western half. Apart from mountains we find several other ecosystems: beach forest, swamp areas, lowland rainforest, alpine and mountain forest. In Bukit Lawang is the Orang Utan Rehabilitation Station and in Ketambe stands the Ketambe research station.

Flora
Because of the great differences in altitude and the diversity in soil, mount Leuser National Park has an enormous wealth of plant species. About 8,500 different species grow in the beach, swamp, lowland, mountain and alpine woods of the park. In the beach and swamp forest we can find Casuarinas trees (Casuarinas sp.), Wild Nutmeg (Myristica sp.), Camphor (Drybalancops aromatica), Nibung palms, Rotan (Calamus sp.), Mangrove trees (Avicennia sp.) and Pandan (Pandanus sp.). Along the rivers grows Pometia pinnata. In the lowland forest, trees like Meranti (Shorea sp.), Keruing (Dipterocarpus sp.), Camphor and Damar (Hopea sp.) and several wild fruit trees like Durian (Durio zibethinus), Mango (Mangifera indica), Wild Banana, citrus fruit and wild jack fruit grow in abundance. In the mountain and alpine woods, several species of moss and wild flowers: Gentians, Primula's, Strawberry, herbs, and wild orchids are found. The Rafflesia Arnoldi (Rafflesia sp.) grows here also.

Fauna
About 700 different species of animals (320 birds, 176 mammals and 194 reptiles and amphibians) live in Mount Leuser National Park. In Ket lies lake Banko, the last place in North Sumatra where the Swamp Crocodile lives.
Mammals: Sumatran Rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis), Sumatran Elephant (Elephas maximus sumatrana), Otters (Lutra sp.), Wild Boar, Red Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista petaurista), Malayan Sun bear (Helarctos malayanus), Wild Dog (Cuon alpinus), Hog Badger (Arctonyx collaris), Lesser Mouse deer (Tragulus javanicus), Large Mouse deer (Tragulus napu), Barking Deer (Muntiacus muntjak), Sambar Deer (Cervus unicolor), Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae), Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), Flat- headed Cat (Prionailurus planiceps), Temminck's Golden Cat (Catopuma temminckii), Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), Flying Lemur (Cynocephalus variegatus), Orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus abelii), Thomas's Leaf Monkey (Presbytis thomasi), Banded Leaf Monkey (Presbytis femoralis), Silvered Leaf Monkey (Trachypithecus cristatus), Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis), Pig tailed Macaque (Macaca nemestrina), White-handed Gibbon (Hylobates lar), Siamang (Hylobates syndactylus), Sumatran Serow (Capricornis sumatraensis).
Reptiles: Swamp Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris), Estuarine Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), Flying Frog (Rhacaphorus pardalis), Flying Snake (Crysopelea), Common Flying Lizard (Draco volans), Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), Water Monitor (Varanus salvator).
Birds: Argus Pheasant (Argusianus argus), Asian Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris), Rhinoceros Hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros), White-bellied Sea-eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster), Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot (Loriculus galgulus), Osprey (Pandion haliaetus).