Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam

BRIEF INFORMATION
Logo of the Nanggröe Aceh Darussalam
Motto: Pancacita
Capital	Banda Aceh
Governor	Dr. Ir. Mustafa Abubakar, MSi
Area	57,365.57
Population	4,010,860
Ethnic groups	Acehnese, Gayo, Alas, Aneuk Jamee, Malay, Javanese, Kluet, Batak
Religion	Islam (97.6%), Christianity (1.7%), Hindu (0.08%), Buddhism (0.55%)
Languages	Acehnese, Indonesian
Time zone	UTC+7
Web site	http://www.nad.go.id/

The Nanggroe Aceh Darusssalam (NAD) province is located in the most west of Archipelago Islands. This region has a strategic position as the gate of trading and cultural traffic, which has been connecting East and West since the past centuries. Aceh region is known as a transit place of Chinese, Europe, India and Arabic merchants. This relationship made Aceh region as the first entrance of culture and religion into the Archipelago. According to the history, Aceh is the first place of Islamic dissemination in Indonesia where the first Islamic empires have established in Peureulak and Pasai. Sultan Ali Mughayatsyah had established the empire and located capital city in Bandar Aceh Darussalam (now called with Banda Aceh). In that time, Islamic religion and culture had a large influence in the daily life. So that this region has been called as "Seuramo Mekkah" (front porch of Mecca). In the past, the Indonesia government implemented centralized policies that resulted such a conflict or rebellion in Aceh region.

Recently, the government changes its policies by providing special autonomy for Aceh region under Law No. 18 Year 2001 of which the province of Aceh Special Region is changed to become the province of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD). Many potential natural resources have an important role to activate domestic economy of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD), especially mining and industrial sectors. The two sectors contributed 68% of the total GRDP. Nowadays, non-agriculture sectors such as mining, industries and energy develop fast.

However, agriculture sector including plantation, which covers approximately 60% of total area, is estimated to grow fast to keep its development equal with that of the development of non-agriculture sectors. Along with the policies to distribute development of sectors, the government has set up the NAD province region into two (2) investment development zones based on its configuration, potential resources and limitation. This province has total area of 57,365.57 km2. Most regions that are covered with forest areas are rich of a high economic value commodity that is oil and gas. Other main commodities include forestry, mining, industries, fisheries and plantation sectors with its main commodities such as palm oil, rubber, coconut, clove, coffee, tobacco, sea and fresh water fisheries, metals, coal, gold and other minerals.

^ Map and Geography

REGION

The NAD province is located in the Northwestern of Sumatra Island with the area of approximately 57,365.57 km square or 12.26 % of size of Sumatra Island. It consists of 119 islands, 73 major rivers and 2 lakes. NAD is surrounded by Malacca Strait in the north, North Sumatra Province in the east, Indian Ocean in the south and the west. The capital of Aceh is Banda Aceh.

The Special Province of Aceh with its area of 57 ,365.57 square kilometers covering 1.17 per cent of indonesia is situated at the northern tip of Sumatera Island, between latitudes 2°N-6°N and longitudes 95°E-98°E.

In the central part of this province runs the Bukit Barisan Mountain ranges with Tangse, Gayo, and Alas uplands. Also, there are several mountains found in the region such as Pasee Mountain with its peak, Geureudong" (2,595 m), and Peut Sagoe (2,708 m), Gayo Mountain range with its peak Burni Telong (2,566 m), and Ucap Malu Mountain range (3,187 m). Other mountains include: Alas mountain with its peak Abong-abong (3,015 m) Leuser (3,466 m), Aceh" Raya Mountain range with its peak Seulawah Agam, (1,762 m) and Seulawah Inong Mountain (868 m).

The area also has several lakes such as lake Laut Tawar in Central Aceh with an area of 60 square kilometers and a height of 1,225 meters above sea level, and also lake Aneuk Laot in Sabang (Weh Island).

Besides the mountains and lakes, there are also several major and lesser rivers which run into either the Strait of Malacca or into the Indonesian Ocean. Among the rivers running into the Straits of Malacca are: Krueng Aceh (Aceh River) in the Greater Aceh Regency, Krueng Peusangan and Krueng Jambo Aye in North Aceh Regency, Krueng Baro in Pidie Regency, and Krueng Peureulak and Krueng Tamiang in East Aceh Regency; The rivers running to the Indonesian Qcean are Krueng Teunom and Krueng Meureubo in West Aceh Regency, Krueng Kluet, Krueng Simpang Kiri and Krueng Simpang Kanan in South Aceh Regency.

On the west and south coasts, there are both large and small islands, some of which are inhabited and others which are uninhabited. These islands are Pulau Weh, Pulau Breuh, Pulau Nasi, Pulau Simeulue and Pulau Tuangke (Pulau Banyak).

Geographically, the land in the Special Province of Aceh can be described as follows:

1. From the tip of Tamiang on the east coast to the tip of the north coast in Pidie, the soil is of organosol / alluvial type. This condition also applies to areas from Ujong Batee to Ulee Lheue (Krueng Aceh Valley),from Ujong Jahu (Calang) to Ujong Raya (West Aceh and South Aceh borders) and from Tapak Tuan (South Aceh) to Ujong Singkil.
2. The red yellow podsolic, litosol, and regosol type of soil is found from the tip Pidie to Ujong Batee in the Greater Aceh Regency, from Guereutee Mountain to Kuala Teunom (West Aceh), and from Kuala Tripa to Tapak Tuan (South Aceh).
3. The red yellow podsolic soil exists from Ulee Lheue to Guereutee Mountain.
4. The interlands of Aceh through to the upland plains contain red and yellow podsolic, litosol, regosol, and brown podsolic. Whereas gray podsolic, podsolic renzina, litosol pondosol are found in Pidie Regency. South East Aceh Regency partly contains organosol, alluvial soil type.

GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION

In 2002, the government administration was extended to become 16 regencies and 4 cities. The existing regencies comprise the regencies of Simeulu, Aceh Singkil, South Aceh, South East Aceh, East Aceh, Central Aceh, West Aceh, Aceh Besar, Pidie, Bireuen, North Aceh, West South Aceh, Gayo Lues, Aceh Jaya, Nagan Raya and Aceh Tamiang. In addition, there are also the cities of Banda Aceh, Sabang, Lokseumawe and Langsa.

(this information is taken from Wikipedia and http://www.aceh.net).