Mentawai Islands Regency Kabupaten Kepulauan Mentawai | |
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     From top to bottom: Tuapejat Harbor, Traditional Mentawai House Uma, Jati Beach Tuapejat, Subbet - Typical Mentawai Food, Surfers explore the mentawai islands. | |
 Coat of arms | |
| Motto(s): Musara Kasimaeru (Mentawai) (Together for Goodness) | |
 Location withinWest Sumatra | |
| Coordinates:2°11′S99°39′E / 2.183°S 99.650°E /-2.183; 99.650 | |
| Country | Indonesia |
| Province | West Sumatra |
| Regency seat | Tua Pejat |
| Government | |
| • Regent | Rinto Wardana [id] |
| • Vice Regent | Jakop Saguruk [id] |
| Area | |
• Total | 6,033.76 km2 (2,329.65 sq mi) |
| Population (2024 estimate)[1] | |
• Total | 97,837 |
| • Density | 16.215/km2 (41.996/sq mi) |
| Demographics | |
| • Religion | Christianity 76.98% -Protestantism 48.06% -Catholicism 28.92% Islam 22.82% Others 0.19% |
| Time zone | UTC+7 (Indonesia Western Standard Time) |
| Area code | (+62) 759 |
| Website | mentawaikab.go.id |
TheMentawai Islands Regency is aregency ofWest Sumatra Province which consists of a chain of about a hundred islands and islets approximately 150 km (93 mi) off the western coast ofSumatra inIndonesia. They cover a land area of 6,033.76 km2 (2,329.65 sq mi) and had a population of 76,173 at the 2010 Census[3] and 87,623 at the 2020 Census;[4] the official estimate as at mid 2024 was 97,837.[1]
Siberut at 3,877.9 km2 (1,497 sq mi) is the largest of the islands, occupying 64.27% of the land area of the regency. The other major islands areSipura (orSipora),North Pagai (Pagai Utara), andSouth Pagai (Pagai Selatan). The islands lie off the Sumatran coast, across theMentawai Strait. The indigenous inhabitants of the islands are known as theMentawai people. The Mentawai Islands have become a noted destination forsurfing,[5] with over 40 boats offering surf charters to international guests.[6]
The Mentawai Islands have been administered as a regency within theWest Sumatra (Sumatera Barat) province since 1999. The regency seat isTua Pejat, on the island ofSipora.Padang, the capital of the province, lies on the Sumatran mainland opposite Siberut. The regency is divided into tendistricts (kecamatan), tabulated below from south to north with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Census[3] and the 2020 Census,[4] together with the official estimates as at mid 2024.[1] The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of villages (all classed as ruraldesa) and the number of named offshore islands in each district, and its postcode.
| Name of District (kecamatan) | English Name | Area in km2 | Pop'n 2010 Census | Pop'n 2020 Census | Pop'n mid 2024 Estimate | Admin centre | No. of villages | No. of islands | Post code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pagai Selatan[7] | South Pagai | 851.28 | 8,782 | 9,373 | 10,575 | Bulasat | 4 | 31 | 25391 |
| Sikakap(a)[8] | Central Pagai | 312.60 | 9,531 | 10,219 | 11,156 | Taikako | 3 | 8 | 25399 |
| Pagai Utara[9] | North Pagai | 371.25 | 5,212 | 6,031 | 6,617 | Saumanganya | 3 | 9 | 25390 |
| Sipora Selatan[10] | South Sipora | 348.33 | 8,460 | 9,812 | 10,781 | Sioban | 7 | 3 | 25392 |
| Sipora Utara[11] | North Sipora | 272.40 | 9,097 | 11,968 | 13,874 | Sido Makmur | 6 | 12 | 25398 |
| Siberut Barat Daya[12] | Southwest Siberut | 1,013.83 | 6,069 | 7,058 | 8,051 | Pasakiat Taileleu | 3 | 17 | 25393 |
| Siberut Selatan[13] | South Siberut | 328.00 | 8,446 | 9,933 | 11,942 | Muara Siberut | 5 | 1 | 25397 |
| Siberut Tengah[14] | Central Siberut | 589.75 | 6,069 | 7,089 | 7,892 | Saibi Samukop | 3 | 5 | 25396 |
| Siberut Utara[15] | North Siberut | 782.68 | 7,774 | 8,337 | 9,325 | Muara Sikabaluan | 6 | 4 | 25395 |
| Siberut Barat[16] | West Siberut | 1,163.64 | 6,733 | 7,803 | 8,524 | Simalegi | 3 | 1 | 25394 |
| Totals | 6,033.76 | 76,173 | 87,623 | 97,837 | Tuapejat | 43 | 111 |
Note: (a) Sikakap District covers the northern part of South Pagai Island and the southern part of North Pagai Island, plus some intervening small islands. Of the threedesa, Matobek is entirely on North Pagai Island, while Sikakap and Taikato are mainly on North Pagai Island but each includes areas on South Pagai as well as the intervening small islands.
The ten districts comprise forty-threerural villages (desa) listed below with their areas and their populations as officially estimated for mid 2024:[17]
| Kode Wilayah | Name of desa | Area in km2 | Pop'n Estimate mid 2024 | Notes on location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13.09.10.2001 | Sinaka (Sinakak) | 265.87 | 2,532 | |
| 13.09.10.2002 | Bulasat | 224.00 | 2,759 | |
| 13.09.10.2003 | Malakopa (Malakopak) | 127.63 | 2,837 | |
| 13.09.10.2004 | Makalo | 233.78 | 2,447 | |
| 13.09.10 | Totals Pagai Selatan District[18] | 851.28 | 10,575 | |
| 13.09.09.2001 | Sikakap | 35.82 | 5,419 | The village itself is on North Pagai Island, but most of its territory is on South Pagai Island. |
| 13.09.09.2002 | Taikako | 168.20 | 3,559 | The village itself is on North Pagai Island, but some of its territory is on South Pagai Island or on small islands between the two. |
| 13.09.09.2003 | Matobe (Matobek) | 108.59 | 2,178 | Situated entirely on North Pagai Island, on the island's east coast. |
| 13.09.09 | Totals Sikakap District[19] | 312.60 | 11,156 | |
| 13.09.01.2007 | Betumonga | 76.91 | 1,333 | |
| 13.09.01.2008 | Silabu | 97.63 | 1,334 | |
| 13.09.01.2009 | Saumanganya | 196.72 | 3,950 | |
| 13.09.01 | Totals Pagai Utara District[20] | 371.25 | 6,617 | |
| 13.09.02.2001 | Bosua | 40.78 | 1,848 | |
| 13.09.02.2002 | Beriulou | 78.93 | 1,103 | |
| 13.09.02.2003 | Nemnemleleu | 46.91 | 1,493 | |
| 13.09.02.2004 | Mara | 62.27 | 1,224 | |
| 13.09.02.2006 | Sioban | 16.75 | 2,355 | |
| 13.09.02.2007 | Matobe | 23.62 | 1,305 | |
| 13.09.02.2008 | Saureinu | 79.47 | 1,543 | |
| 13.09.02 | Totals Sipora Selatan District[21] | 348.33 | 10,781 | |
| 13.09.08.2001 | Betumonga | 110.58 | 1,381 | On southwest coast of Sipora. |
| 13.09.08.2002 | Goisooinan | 56.07 | 1,274 | |
| 13.09.08.2003 | Tuapejat | 86.52 | 6,642 | |
| 13.09.08.2004 | Sido Makmur | 6.07 | 1,001 | |
| 13.09.08.2005 | Bukit Pamewa | 7.72 | 858 | |
| 13.09.08.2006 | Sipora Jaya | 5.44 | 2,718 | |
| 13.09.08 | Totals Sipora Utara District[22] | 272.40 | 13,874 | |
| 13.09.06.2001 | Katurei | 128.35 | 2,498 | Actually situated on the southeast of the island, south of Muara Siberut. |
| 13.09.06.2002 | Sagulubbeg | 469.47 | 1,836 | On south section of the west coast. |
| 13.09.06.2003 | Pasakiat Taileleu | 416.00 | 3,717 | The southernmost village on Siterup, includes small islands off the south coast |
| 13.09.06 | Totals Siberut Barat Daya District[23] | 1,013.83 | 8,051 | |
| 13.09.03.2002 | Muara Siberut | 17.75 | 3,322 | |
| 13.09.03.2003 | Maileppet | 18.77 | 1,887 | A coastal village, north of Muara Siberut. |
| 13.09.03.2004 | Muntei | 90.94 | 1,868 | An inland village, west from Maileppet. |
| 13.09.03.2005 | Matotonan | 85.65 | 1,358 | An inland village, further west. |
| 13.09.03.2007 | Madobag | 114.89 | 2,607 | An inland village, also further west. |
| 13.09.03 | Totals Siberut Selatan District[24] | 328.00 | 11,042 | |
| 13.09.07.2001 | Saibi Samukop | 230.63 | 3,784 | |
| 13.09.07.2002 | Cimpungan | 93.84 | 1,271 | |
| 13.09.07.2003 | Saliguma | 265.28 | 2,837 | |
| 13.09.07 | Totals Siberut Tengah District[25] | 589.75 | 7,892 | |
| 13.09.04.2003 | Bojakan | 263.04 | 1,213 | |
| 13.09.04.2004 | Sotboyak | 42.83 | 726 | |
| 13.09.04.2005 | Mongan Poula | 30.61 | 1,111 | |
| 13.09.04.2006 | Muara Sikabaluan | 43.41 | 2,647 | |
| 13.09.04.2007 | Sirilogui | 107.24 | 1,384 | |
| 13.09.04.2008 | Malancan | 295.55 | 2,244 | Situated in the north of the district. |
| 13.09.04 | Totals Siberut Utara District[26] | 782.68 | 9,325 | |
| 13.09.05.2001 | Simatalu Sipokak | 309.47 | 3,775 | |
| 13.09.05.2002 | Simalegi | 559.19 | 2,462 | |
| 13.09.05.2003 | Sigapokna | 294.98 | 2,287 | Situated on the north coast of the island. |
| 13.09.05 | Totals Siberut Barat District[27] | 1,163.64 | 8,524 |
Macaronis was first discovered in 1980 by pioneer surf discoverersChris Goodnow, Scott Wakefield, and Tony Fitzpatrick, who originally named the break ‘P-Land’ on their first visit (after Pasangan Bay / Pagai Islands). Amazingly, and considering the remote location, P-Land may have been the first wave surfed in the Mentawai Islands. Lances Right was discovered a full 10 years later, while Chris, Scott, and Tony continued to keep their discovery a secret. They returned in 1981 with friend Tim Annand, and again on a boat trip in the 90’s.[28][29][30][31]
The first photos of the surf breaks in the Mentawais area were leaked after a surf trip in 1992 aboard theMV Indies Trader, with professional surfersRoss Clarke-Jones,Tom Carroll, andMartin Potter.[32] Ever since then, the Mentawai Islands have been well on the radar of surf travellers around the world. At the West of Sumatra, the Mentawai Islands have the most consistent surf breaks in Indonesia making it one of the preferred choices for serious surfers. The tropical waters surrounding the islands offer year-round waves up to 15 ft (4.6 m).[33][34]
The islands have been separated from Sumatra since themid-Pleistocene period, which has allowed at least twentyendemic species to develop amongst its flora and fauna. This includes six endemicprimates: theKloss's gibbon (Hylobates klossii),Mentawai macaque (Macaca pagensis),Siberut macaque (Macaca siberu),Mentawai langur (Presbytis potenziani),Siberut langur (Presbytis siberu), andpig-tailed langur (Simias concolor). They are highly endangered due to logging, unsustainable hunting, and conversion ofrainforest topalm oil plantations.[35] Some areas of the Mentawai Islands rainforestecoregion are protected, such as theSiberut National Park.Red junglefowl, theAsian palm civet, andcrab-eating macaque are also native.[36]
The Mentawai Islands lie above theSunda megathrust, a seismically active zone responsible for many greatearthquakes. This megathrust runs along the southwestern side ofSumatra island, forming the interface between theEurasian Plate andthe Indo-Australian Plate.
Earthquake andtsunami activity has been high since the2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. In 1833, the region was hit with anearthquake, possibly similar in size to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake;[37] another large earthquake struck in1797. On October 25, 2010, an earthquake in southern Sumatra led to a deadly tsunami that devastated villages inSouth andNorth Pagai.[38] On March 3, 2016, an earthquake of 7.8 magnitudes occurred off the Indian Ocean, a few hundred kilometres from Mentawai islands, as a result of strike-slip faulting within the oceaniclithosphere of the Indo-Australia plate.[39]
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