 Topographic map of Simeulue | |
 Interactive map of Simeulue | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | South East Asia |
| Coordinates | 02°37′48″N96°05′24″E / 2.63000°N 96.09000°E /2.63000; 96.09000 |
| Area | 1,754 km2 (677 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 567 m (1860 ft) |
| Highest point | unnamed |
| Administration | |
Indonesia | |
| Province | Aceh |
| Regency | Simeulue Regency |
| Largest settlement | Sinabang |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 93,762 (mid 2021 estimate) |
| Pop. density | 51.0/km2 (132.1/sq mi) |
Simeulue/sɪməˈluːeɪ/ is an island ofIndonesia, 150 kilometres (93 mi) off the west coast ofSumatra. It covers an area of 1,754 square kilometre (677 square miles), including minor offshore islands. It had a population of 80,674 at the 2010 census[1] and 92,865 at the 2020 census.[2] The official estimate as at mid 2021 was 93,762.[3]
Simeulue was once a part ofWest Aceh Regency but was split off in 1999 and became a separateSimeulue Regency. Its capital isSinabang.
From the ethnic point of view the inhabitants of Simeulue are similar to the people of neighboringNias Island. Two languages and a number of dialects are spoken on the island:Simeulue andSigulai, which are different from the languages spoken in the north of Sumatra.[4] The majority of the island's population isMuslim.
In the 17th century Tengku Di broughtIslam to the island and the first mosque was built in Salur villiage.[5]
Simeulue was historically known to European mariners as "Hog Island"[6] and served as a landfall for ships seeking ports on the west coast of Sumatra for thepepper trade. It was also known as "Pulo Oo", or "Coconut Island".[6] Some historians suggest the fictional islands ofLilliput and Blefuscu inGulliver's Travels (1726) might be described as two of Simeulue's remote islands in the Indian Ocean: Devayan and Sigulai.
In 1901 during theAceh War theDutch colonial empire government took control of Simeulue.[5] DuringWorld War II the Dutch admitted to Japan and there was set up a regiment made up the Simeuluean population.
On the 4th of January 1907 the1907 Sumatra earthquake with a 7.5-8 magnitude earthquake shook the seabed off the West coast of Simeulue and caused a tsunami with waves reported to be 10-15 meters high.[7] This tsunami led to the death of more than 50% (some report as high as 70%) of the Simeulue population.
Simeulue was close to the epicenter of the 9.3magnitude26 December 2004 earthquake.
On 28 March 2005, an 8.7magnitude earthquake struck with its epicenter just off the south end of the island.[8] During the earthquake, Simeulue rose at least 2 metre (6 ft) on the western coast; this left the flat top of itscoral reefs abovehigh tide. On the east coast, the land was submerged, withseawater flooding fields and settlements.[9]
Although Simeulue Island was only 60 kilometers from theepicenter of the 2004 earthquake, whereasBanda Aceh – the city that was hit hardest by thetsunami – was about 250 kilometers away, only seven residents on Simeulue died, while the remaining 70,000 survived.[10] This has been argued to have been due to local wisdom of the 'smong' (meaningTsunami) that educates the listener in the warning signs of a tsunami and advises them to seek higher ground.[11][12][13][14][15]
Historically, Simeulue society, culture and practices are guided by ancestral indigenous wisdom which are passed down through oral tradition. These oral traditions include Nandong (humming withkedang and or violin),[16] nanga-nanga (sung storytelling) and mananga-nanga (lullabies).[17] These traditions have allowed for stories such as the 'smong' to be passed down generationally[10]
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Over the past ten years Simeulue has become a popular surfing destination. The southwest-facing portion of the island is home to surf resorts.
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Media related toSimeulue at Wikimedia Commons