Sunday, September 6, 2009

Pulau Nias

Nias (bahasa Nias Tano Niha) adalah sebuah pulau yang terletak di sebelah barat pulau Sumatera, Indonesia. Pulau ini dihuni oleh mayoritas suku Nias (Ono Niha) yang masih memiliki budaya megalitik. Daerah ini merupakan obyek wisata penting seperti selancar (surfing), rumah tradisional, penyelaman, lompat batu.

Pulau dengan luas wilayah 5.625 km² ini berpenduduk 700.000 jiwa.

***

Nias Island lies on latitude 10 30' north and longitude 970 98' east. It covers an areas of 5,625 km2 which is mostly lowland area of ± 800 m above sea level.

It is the biggest in a group of islands on this side of Sumatera that is part of the province of Sumatera Utara. This area consists of 131 islands and Nias Island is the biggest. The population in this area is about 639,675 people (including Malay, Batak, and Chinese). Nias has a very unique culture and nature which is far different from other areas in North Sumatra. This is because of its separate and remote location from the rest of Sumatra.

To reach this place, there is weekly ship from Jakarta (the capital city of Indonesia) to Gunung Sitoli; There are Ferries from Sibolga to Gunung Sitoli, Teluk Dalam, or Lahewa every day; Before the crisis hit Indonesia, there is daily flight from Medan to Gunung Sitoli, however it is less frequent nowadays.

Gunung Sitoli is the capital city of Nias and it is the center of administration and business affairs of regency. There are several travel agencies hotels, public busses and rental cars to support tourism here. There are also some government and private banks available.

Link terkait tentang Pulau Nias: