111-663: Gunungsitoli is a city located in North Sumatra province, Indonesia , on the Indian Ocean island of Nias , west of Sumatra . Gunungsitoli is the island's only city and is the main hub for the island and surrounding smaller islands. Located on the north-eastern side of Nias island, the city was historically a series of fortifications made by the Dutch colonial administration in the 1600s to defend against frequent raids from Nias tribes, especially those from southern parts of
222-664: A branch of the People's Security Agency and the Indonesian National Police around the island. The committee also established a Fonds Kemerdekaan (Independence Fund) to give economic support to the Indonesian republic in Tapanuli, mainland Sumatra, and Kongsi Pelajaran (Shipping Union). The economic support was in form of the sale of copra to Singapore and donating pigs and oil to Tapanuli. Gunungsitoli
333-530: A crop yield of 12,997 tons. Copra is among the island's main exports and is shipped from Gunungsitoli after being harvested from neighbouring regencies. Other cultivated crops in Gunungsitoli are maize with a crop yield of 655.54 tons, cassava with 1,456 tons, and sweet potatoes with production of 634.25 tons. Most of the city's population planted cassava without harvesting it, and instead used its leaves to feed pigs. The pig population in Gunungsitoli as of 2020
444-765: A member of the Asahan royal family, was selected as head of state for the NST. While the Dutch wanted the NST to be seen as an orderly and progressive alternative to the republic, western-educated aristocrats saw it as a bastion for their own ethnic interests. Following the Dutch-Indonesian Round Table Conference in late 1949, the Dutch withdrew military support for the State of East Sumatra and its local authority began to collapse. The short-lived state
555-582: A number of public parks, including Ya'ahowu Park located in Jl. Saompo, a coastal area of the city. The park is often used as place for cultural events and other celebrations such as Indonesian Independence Day , Christmas , and Nias Festival. Ya'ahowu Park was built on the ruins of houses that were destroyed in the aftermath of the 2005 Nias earthquake. It was named after word "ya'ahowu" which roughly means "bless you" in Nias language, often used to greet each other. Around
666-633: A subsequent Dutch victory. Meanwhile, particularly after 1869, Dutch tobacco plantation activities expanded on the east coast, including the estab;ishment of Deli Maatschappij and London Sumatra , using land leased from the Malay sultans. As there was a worker shortage, the Dutch began importing labourers from Java , Southern China and Southern India . This first big wave of migration established substantial Javanese , Chinese , and Indian populations in North Sumatra that remain to this day. By 1874,
777-414: A tourist boom, especially with Australian tourists, and became destination for surfers. The tourist boom was followed by general improvements to infrastructure in Gunungsitoli and the building of markets and roads. Despite these improvements the boom was short-lived. Nias, including Gunungsitoli, was devastated by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami and the 2005 Nias–Simeulue earthquake . Much of
888-427: A tropical rainforest climate with an average of 21 days of rain per month. The average rainfall per month in 2019 was 250.21 mm but this can vary widely from 100 and 300 mm per month. Moisture in the city is usually between 87% and 95%, and the average temperature is 26 °C (79 °F). Wind speed on average per month reaches 5.17 knots (2.66 m/s) per hour. The annual population growth in Gunungsitoli
999-587: A worldwide decrease in temperatures between 3 and 5 °C (5.4 and 9.0 °F), and up to 15 °C (27 °F) in higher latitudes. Additional studies in Lake Malawi in East Africa show significant amounts of ash deposited by the Toba Caldera eruptions, despite a great distance from the area, but these studies offer little indication of a significant climatic effect in East Africa. According to
1110-480: Is Medan on the east coast of the island. It is bordered by Aceh on the northwest and Riau and West Sumatra on the southeast, by coastlines located on the Indian Ocean to the west, and by the Strait of Malacca (with a maritime border with Malaysia ) to the east. With a 2020 population around 14.8 million and mid-2023 estimate around 15.4 million, North Sumatra is Indonesia's fourth most populous province and
1221-486: Is divided into six districts ( kecamatan ), which are tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 and the 2020 Censuses, together with the official estimates as at mid 2023. The table also includes the number of administrative villages in each district (totaling 98 rural desa and 3 urban kelurahan - the latter all in Gunungsitoli District), and its postal code. Note: (a) including
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#17327826013501332-554: Is home to the Toba Supervolcano , located in what is now Lake Toba , which erupted 74,000–75,000 years ago , wiping out nearly all of humanity. The supereruption resulted in the creation of Lake Toba and was rated a VEI-8 eruption . During Dutch rule, North Sumatra was administered under the Gouvernement van Sumatra , which governed the entire island of Sumatra out of Medan. In 1948, after Indonesian independence
1443-433: Is located in the city of Medan , governed by a governor . Earlier governments ruled all of Sumatra (1945-1950); and a North Sumatra Province that included Aceh (1950-1956). In 1956, Aceh split off to form a separate Aceh Province. North Sumatra is currently subdivided into 25 regencies ( kabupaten ) and 8 autonomous cities (formerly municipalities). When originally created as a province with its current boundaries, it
1554-563: Is located on a high plateau that runs along the Bukit Barisan mountains, from central North Sumatra to the western coast. The tallest mountain in the province is Mount Sinabung in Karo Regency , at elevation around 2,460 metres (8,070 ft), the most active volcano in the region. Volcanic activities (cracks where steam, gas, and lava are emitted) were observed at the summit in 1912; recent documented events include an eruption in
1665-399: Is mostly unstable, and often causes landslides and damage to roads. Soil composition varies from alluvium and limestone to corals and is generally prone to compaction. Limestone often makes underground water undrinkable. The slope in the city interior varies from 8% to 25%. Coastal areas are mostly flatter with a slope of less than 8%. Gunungsitoli is located between the subduction zone of
1776-478: Is operated by the Nias Regency government because the city was previously part of that regency. It underwent an expansion in early 2021. Convenience store chains such as Alfamart and Indomaret opened shops in Gunungsitoli in mid-2020. This received harsh criticism and rejection from many locals. Incumbent mayor Lakhomizaro said he was threatened by an unknown person when attending a Christmas celebration in
1887-558: Is predominantly inhabited by other Batak groups ( Toba , Simalungun and Karo ). The Nias people are indigenous to Nias Island and its surrounding islets. With the opening of tobacco plantations in East Sumatra during the colonial era, the colonial government employed many contract labourers for plantations, they were mainly Chinese, Javanese and Indian migrants, who were majority does not returned after end contract and decided to stay in North Sumatra. The rapid urbanisation in
1998-513: Is served by Binaka Airport with regular flights to Medan and Jakarta . The city has two ports; Angin Port and Roro Siwalubanua II Port, both of which provide service for passengers and container freight. There are regular ferry routes to Sibolga , Singkil , and Padang. The city is also served by Sea Toll Program , which has routes to Padang and Jakarta. Like other Indonesian cities, Gunungsitoli has angkots (shared taxis), which are regulated by
2109-509: Is the island's first university and its main campus is located in South Nias Regency. There were four hospitals, nine polyclinics, six puskesmas , 20 healthcare centers, and six pharmacies. The city's main public hospital is Dr. M. Thomsen Regional Hospital, which is named after a Christian missionary and doctor who operated in the region during the colonial era. Previously, it was named Gunungsitoli Regional Hospital. The hospital
2220-493: Is the main gateway to Nias and a hub for tourists before reaching their destinations elsewhere on the island. According to the city government, there are 110 tourist spots inside the city. Despite the decline of the tourist industry following earthquakes, there are still significant international tourist visits, mostly by Australians. Tourist potential includes Nias culture, as well as beaches and natural spots such as cave and waterfalls. In 2019, 64,767 tourists—mostly domestic—visited
2331-399: Is the site of a supervolcanic eruption that occurred 69,000 to 77,000 years ago, estimated at VEI 8, that formed a climate-changing event. Recent advances in dating methods suggest more precise dating at 74,000 years ago. It is the largest-known explosive eruption on Earth in the last 25 million years. It has been accepted that the eruption of the Toba Caldera led to a volcanic winter with
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#17327826013502442-460: Is unknown whether previous inhabitants of the island were assimilated or out-competed with the arrival of the Ono Niha . In 1416, Ming treasure voyages led by Zheng He occupied a portion of mainland Sumatra that directly faces Nias island and constructed a port town named Singkuang (New Land). The occupation led to a significant presence of Chinese communities on the island. Around the 1500s,
2553-663: The Batu Islands . There are 419 islands in North Sumatra. The outer islands include the island of Simuk (the most westerly of the Batu Islands) and the island of Berhala in the Strait of Malacca. The Nias archipelago, located off the coast of western Sumatra in the Indian Ocean, consists of Nias Island and other much smaller islands in its vicinity. Its administrative centre is located at the city of Gunungsitoli on
2664-761: The Dutch East India Company (the VOC) in 1641. Coastal areas of North Sumatra felt economic impacts as the VOC subsequently reduced the presence of trade in Malacca and shifted resources towards Batavia . Still, North Sumatra also saw an increase in Arab, Chinese and Indian traders. After Britain gained a position on the nearby island of Penang , the British traded heavily with the east coast of Sumatra. Prior to
2775-543: The Eurasian Plate and Indo-Australian Plate , making it extremely prone to earthquakes. The city was devastated by the 2005 Nias–Simeulue earthquake. According to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency , on average, Gunungsitoli experiences more than 300 earthquakes per month. Due to its coastal location, the city is also prone to tsunamis . Gunungsitoli is located close to the equator , and has
2886-589: The Mesolithic era (Middle Stone Age). They spread to the eastern part of Indonesia to the island of Papua , and to the west to North Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula . Early peoples in North Sumatra consumed mostly snails and clams, leaving large shell deposits sometimes referred to as kjokkenmoddinger (kitchen waste), some of which are still found as hills in Saentis, Hinai, Tanjung Beringin, along
2997-676: The Nias people also came from the Austronesian peoples , though their initial ancestors may have arrived earlier: ancestors of the Nias people are thought to have come from Taiwan through the Philippines 4,000 to 5,000 years ago. Ten years of research involving blood samples of 440 Nias people in 11 villages on Nias island show similarities between their Y-chromosome and mitochondrial DNA and that of Taiwanese and Filipino peoples . The eastern coastal area of North Sumatra, located on
3108-526: The People's Representative Council . Each of the three districts elects 10 members to the People's Representative Council (for a total of 30 members from the province). North Sumatra recorded a population of 12,985,075 in the 2010 national census, making the 4th most populous province in Indonesia, with a sex ratio of 99.59 men per 100 women. The 2015 Intermediate census gave a total of 13,923,262, while
3219-513: The State of East Sumatra ( Indonesian : Negara Sumatra Timur (NST) ) as part of the planned United States of Indonesia . The state lasted from December 1947 to August 1950. In addition to the Dutch, the NST state was supported by Malay aristocrats, most of the Simalungun rajas, some Karo chieftains, and Chinese groups who felt that the revolution threatened their interests. Dr Tengku Mansu,
3330-605: The Toba catastrophe theory , the eruption killed most humans living at that time and is believed to have created a population bottleneck in central East Africa and India, affecting the human genome to the present day. More recent studies have cast doubt on this theory and found no evidence of substantial changes in population. In North Sumatra, there are currently two national parks: the Gunung Leuser National Park and Batang Gadis National Park . According to
3441-560: The city of Gunungsitoli , were split off from the remainder of Nias Regency. Notes: (a) UU is an abbreviation from Undang-Undang (the Indonesia statute of law). (b) South Nias Regency includes the Batu Islands . The region include 124 smaller offshore islands - 87 in South Nias Regency (primarily the Batu Islands), 11 in West Nias Regency, 19 in North Nias Regency and 7 in Nias Regency. This region comprises
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3552-538: The 15th century, also refers to the "Kingdom of Bata" between Pasai and the Aru kingdom. The Batak mainly practiced animism and cannibalism and remained isolated from foreign culture and kingdoms like Srivijaya and Majapahit. The Toba people divided the Batak Lands into several independent kingdoms, which often entered into defensive alliances. Of the many kingdoms, Bakkara and their king or Sisingamangaraja held
3663-529: The 2020 census gave a total of 14,799,361, and the official estimate for mid-2023 was 15,386,640. The mid-2023 total comprised 7,721,314 males and 7,665,326 females, giving a sex ratio of 100.73 men per 100 women. It was reported in January 2024 that a group of 140 Rohingya people, consisting mostly of women and children had landed in Indonesia and been directed by the military to the North Sumatra region. This has been one of several groups that have arrived in
3774-487: The 3 kelurahan (with populations in 2023) of Ilir (9,652), Pasar Gunungsitoli (4,908) and Saombo (3,020). As with all Indonesian cities , the local government of Gunungsitoli is a second-level administrative division that is run by a mayor and vice-mayor together with the City Council, and is equivalent in status to a regency. Executive power lies in the mayor and vice-mayor while legislation duties are carried on by
3885-548: The British should abandon Singapore, but Castlereagh was unsure exactly how Singapore had even been acquired. At first, only noncontroversial issues such as free navigation rights and the elimination of piracy were agreed upon. Discussions on the subject were suspended on 5 August 1820, and did not resume until 1823, when the commercial value of Singapore was understood by the British. Negotiations resumed in December 1823, centred around establishment of clear spheres of influence in
3996-414: The City Council. The Mayor, vice-mayor, and City Council members are democratically elected by the city's residents. Heads of districts are directly appointed by the city mayor on the recommendation of the city secretary. On a provincial level, Gunungsitoli is part of the eighth electoral district of North Sumatra province together with the Nias , South Nias , North Nias , and West Nias Regencies (i.e.
4107-564: The Deli-Langkat shore, and on river banks. In the second wave of migration from mainland Southeast Asia c. 1000 BC , the Young Malays or Deutero Malays settled on the coast. They mainly lived by fishing and by cultivating the marshy land for agriculture. Their villages were scattered along the big rivers that flow to the east coast of North Sumatra such as Besitang, Wampu , Asahan , and Barumun . Larger villages grew at
4218-677: The Japanese military landed in the city and was welcomed by the German prisoners, who took over the city. By 24 April 1942, all German prisoners had left the island and the administration was handed over to the Japanese until the end of World War II. During the Indonesian National Revolution , Gunungsitoli and Nias came under blockade from the Dutch Navy to cut off the island from the western coast of Sumatra. Due to
4329-499: The Japanese occupation officially ended with Japan's surrender in the Pacific and two days later Sukarno declared Indonesian Independence , beginning the four-year Indonesian War of Independence against the Dutch. Beginning on 3 March 1946, there was a social revolution in East Sumatra . Across 25 "native states", many sultanates were overthrown. Armed pergerakan groups (Indonesian nationalists) conducted mass killings of
4440-485: The Ministerial Decree No. 44 of 2005, forest area in North Sumatra today covers 3,742,120 hectares (9,247,000 acres), consisting of a 477,070-hectare (ha) Natural Reserve Area/Natural Conservation Area, 1,297,330 ha of protected forest, 879,270 ha of limited production forest, 1,035,690 ha of permanent production forest, and 52,7600 ha of production forest that can be converted to another status. However,
4551-475: The People's Representative Council ( Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat or DPR) to create three new provinces from parts of the present North Sumatra: Nias Islands, Tapanuli, and East Sumatra; however since 2013 the Indonesian Government have maintained a moratorium on the intended creation of new provinces, regencies and cities. The present regencies and cities are grouped for convenience below according to
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4662-531: The Spice Islands between the two nations, addressed a wide array of issues but did not clearly describe limitations of expansion by either side in maritime Southeast Asia. The British establishment of Singapore on the Malay Peninsula in 1819 by Sir Stamford Raffles exacerbated tensions between the two nations, especially as the Dutch claimed that the treaty signed between Raffles and the Sultan of Johor
4773-642: The UK maintained a presence in several places that were considered important for trade, including parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan. During the Padri War , in the years prior to 1860, Dutch forces arrived in South Tapanuki at the request of a local leader to provide protection. The Siak sultan subsequently signed a treaty with the Dutch East Indies government recognizing Dutch authority over it and
4884-584: The UK on 30 April 1824 and by the Netherlands on 2 June 1824. The ratifications were exchanged at London on 8 June 1824. The Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824 officially demarcated two territories: Malaya , which was ruled by the United Kingdom ; and the Dutch East Indies , which was ruled by the Netherlands . The successor states of Malaya are Malaysia and Singapore , and the successor state of
4995-499: The anniversary of North Sumatra Province. Act R.I. No. 24 of 1956, promulgated on December 7, 1956, re-established an autonomous Aceh Province, independent of the Province of North Sumatra. The province of North Sumatra stretches across the island of Sumatra , between the Indian Ocean and the Strait of Malacca , with an area of 72,460.74 km . It borders the province of Aceh to the northwest and Riau and West Sumatra to
5106-458: The area over the preceding months. Ethnic groups in North Sumatra (census 2010). North Sumatra is a multi-ethnic province. The Malay people are regarded as the majority people of the east coast of the province, while the west coast of the province is mainly inhabited by the Batak ( Pakpak , Angkola and Mandailing groups). The central region around Lake Toba to the northern Karo highland
5217-529: The blockade, the city printed its own banknotes because Republican banknotes from Bukittinggi could not be transported. The banknotes were known as ORIPDA-Nias (Regional Money of Republic Indonesia-Nias). The Dutch military landed in the city in November 1945. The relationship between the newly arrived troops and the city's residents was tense, especially because of constant patrols of Republican youths armed with bambu runcing . Small armed clashes occurred around
5328-412: The buildings into a religious tourism destination, in addition to being proposed to be cultural heritage property. Gunungsitoli has 490.68 km (304.9 miles) of roads, most of which are paved with asphalt. Road quality varies, however, because of frequent earthquakes and poor soil condition. According to Statistics Indonesia , in 2019, more than 30% of city's roads were considered damaged. Gunungsitoli
5439-507: The cave was still inhabited until around 700 years ago. According to folk stories of the Nias people, the island was settled by six ancestor tribes but the current Nias people or Ono Niha —which means "human" in the Nias language—arose more recently, according to records compiled by German missionary Wilhelm Heinrich Sundermann . Migration of Ono Niha people from mainland Sumatra occurred in around 1350; they brought with them knowledge of metallurgy, agriculture, husbandry, and woven clothing. It
5550-458: The city government and use Faekhu Passenger Terminal located at South Gunungsitoli. The terminal is intended both for angkot and buses. Perum DAMRI has a bus route to the town Telukdalam, South Nias. North Sumatra North Sumatra ( Indonesian : Sumatera Utara ), also called North Sumatra Province , is a province of Indonesia located in the northern part of the island of Sumatra , just south of Aceh . Its capital and largest city
5661-439: The city include production of foods for livestock. Gunungsitoli has significant tofu industry; tofu is produced from soybeans from other regions such as Sibolga. Other processed products in the city includes dodol with durian flavour, which is Nias' signature dish; furniture products, and taro -related products. There are also fisheries-related industries such as fish processing and production of canned fish. Gunungsitoli
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#17327826013505772-508: The city when Dutch military tried to take back control of governmental buildings that were taken over by Indonesian nationalists following the end of the war. The republican government of Nias was evacuated from Gunungsitoli in the aftermath. In November 1946, the Indonesian National Committee or ( Komite Nasional Indonesia ) (KNI) led by Roos Telaumbanua attempted to establish armed elements of Republicans such as
5883-443: The city's main church because he had issued convenience store permits. Gunungsitoli's internet connectivity is mostly provided by Telkomsel though both cellular and fiber optic for its service IndiHome . The fiber optic service is available in Gunungsitoli, South Gunungsitoli, and Gunungsitoli Idanoi districts. Other providers in the city are XL Axiata and Indosat . As of 2019, all the providers are in 4G . Gunungsitoli has
5994-508: The city's main market. The monument was built by the city government and inaugurated on 6 December 2020. In South Gunungsitoli district, there are historical buildings such as cemetery and former house of missionaries that spread Christianity on Nias, Jemaat Petrus Ombolata church, and a former dormitory building. These buildings are said by city's Department of Tourism and Culture to be more than 100 years old; they had deteriorated due to their age and were restored. The city government plans to turn
6105-472: The city. The prisoners tried to persuade native police, known as Veldpolities , to revolt. At the time, the city was home to around 60 German prisoners. On 29 March 1942, the native police revolted by shooting Dutch residents and imprisoning Dutch officials, and the city was quickly occupied. Once occupied German prisoners established the unrecognized state of the Free Republic of Nias. On 17 April 1942,
6216-755: The city. The tourist sector is supported by 23 hotels in the city as of 2019. There are several banks in Gunungsitol such as North Sumatra Bank , Bank Rakyat Indonesia , Bank Negara Indonesia , Bank Mandiri , and Bank Danamon . There are also several insurance companies—mostly state-owned—such as Jiwasraya and Putra Muda. The finance sector contributed 3.29% to the city's GRP as of 2021. As of 2020, Gunungsitol had 28 kindergartens, 105 elementary schools, 35 junior high schools, and 12 senior high schools, in addition to 14 vocational high schools and six higher education institutions. In late 2021, several higher colleges and schools merged to form Nias Raya University . It
6327-459: The creation of the new province and other proposed new provinces and regencies has been halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic which put strain on government budgets. Gunungsitoli borders North Nias Regency in the north, Nias Regency in the south and west, and the Indian Ocean in the east. The city has many hills with heights of up to 800 meters (2,600 ft) above sea level. The city's soil
6438-557: The early hours of 29 August 2010 and eruptions in September and November 2013, January, February and October 2014. Another volcano nearby is Mount Sibayak , also located in the Karo highland, sitting at an elevation of 2,181 metres (7,156 ft). Crystalline sulfur deposits on Mount Sibayak have historically been mined on a small scale, and seepage of sulfurous gases has caused acidic discolouration of its small crater lake . Lake Toba
6549-436: The entire Nias Island ), which together have six representatives in the provincial parliament. On the city level, it is divided into three electoral districts and the City Council consists of 25 representative members overall. The biggest contributor to Gunungsitoli's gross regional product is the trade sector with a figure of 25.49%, followed by construction with 21.82%, and fisheries and agriculture with 14.6%. Economic growth
6660-419: The entire island by 1914. Nias was one of the last regions of the Indonesian archipelago by to be conquered by the Dutch East Indies . Missionary activities on the island grew after the Dutch established control over the island. In 1916, a mass conversion to Christianity known as Fangesa Sebua (The Great Repentance) occurred on the island. The event started in Gunungsitoli from Idanoi and later spread throughout
6771-503: The entire island following the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824 but were unable to establish military presence on the island outside a small area of Gunungsitoli, which was then known as Rapatgebied. Frequent raids by Nias tribes against Dutch fortifications concentrated the settlement in the area that would become the city. The Dutch were only able to start a significant military campaign against Nias tribes in 1900 and subjugated
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#17327826013506882-455: The figure above is only de jure . In reality, the forests are not as large as the figures suggest. A lot of the forests are damaged, due to encroachment and illegal logging . So far, over 206,000 ha of forests in Sumatra have experienced changes in function. As many as 163,000 ha were converted to plantations and 42,900 ha were transmigration areas. The administrative centre of North Sumatra
6993-1226: The five cities. The new regency of Serdang Bedagai was formed on 18 December 2003 from part of Deli Serdang Regency, and the new regency of Batubara was formed on 2 January 2007 from part of Asahan Regency. Two further regencies were formed on 24 June 2008 - North Labuhanbatu and South Labuhanbatu - both from parts of Labuhanbatu Regency. The region includes 38 offshore islands - 11 in Langkat Regency, 1 in Deli Serdang, 1 in Medan City, 2 in Serdang Bedagai, 1 in Simalungun, 2 in Batubara, 4 in Asahan, 8 (riverine islands) in Tanjungbalai City, 2 in North Labuhanbatu and 6 in Labuhanbatu Regency. The province comprises three of Indonesia's 84 national electoral districts to elect members to
7104-493: The infrastructure was destroyed, and between 2005 and 2010, the residents became reliant on aid from nonprofit organizations to recover. On 29 October 2008, Gunungsitoli was separated from Nias Regency and became an independent city based on Law Number 47. Following decentralization and becoming an independent city, Gunungsitoli has seen the highest average economic growth in North Sumatra with 6% in 2018 and 6.05% in 2019. The city's infrastructure has been improved and development of
7215-476: The island was subject to frequent slave raids by ships from Aceh Sultanate , which at the time was under Sultan Ali Mughayat Syah , who sought to conquer the western coast of Sumatra. In 1642, seven ships from Aceh Sultanate were stranded on the eastern coast of the island, resulting in a significant presence of Acehnese communities, which are known locally as Polem people. First contact between Nias people and Europeans came on 2 July 1664 when Dutch traders and
7326-415: The island. Gunungsitoli was one of two locations on Nias where Dutch authorities held German prisoners during World War II . The prisoners were part of formerly bigger German prisoner groups abroad SS Van Imhoff , which was sunk by Japanese bombers off the west coast of Sumatra. Upon hearing news about Japanese attacks on Sumatra, the German prisoners planned a coup against the Dutch colonial authority in
7437-446: The island. Until 1914, it was the only part of the island that was effectively controlled by the Dutch. Gunungsitoli had a population of 126,202 at the 2010 Census and 136,017 at the 2020 Census; in mid-2023, Gunungsitoli had a population of 137,518, which makes it the seventh-most-populous city in North Sumatra. It had a population density of 304 people per square kilometre, making it the most-densely populated place on Nias island. Being
7548-453: The king of Luaha Laraga made a trade agreement and tariffs for Dutch ships that were using the port in modern-day Idanoi district . In 1668, the Dutch East India Company made agreements with village chiefs around the location of modern-day Gunungsitoli city and the Hinako islands . The company settled the region and built several warehouses but the Dutch traders left the region and abandoned
7659-418: The landlocked Lake Toba comprising 1 in North Tapanuli Regency ( Pulau Sibandang ), 5 in Samosir Regency and 1 in Humbang Hasundutan Regency. The region comprises the northeastern part of the province on the island of Sumatra, and equates to the former State of East Sumatra which existed at the time of independence. It now covers ten regencies and five cities, but originally there were just six regencies and
7770-465: The members of aristocratic families. To opportunistic pergerakan militants (including Communist Party of Indonesia members Xarim MS and Luat Siregar), the revolutionary movement was seen as a means for East Sumatra to be freed from colonial rule and to join the larger Indonesian National Revolution . Participants of the revolution were believed to be provoked by leaders to kill aristocrats and create violence with three prime objectives: to eliminate
7881-551: The most populous province outside of Java Island . At 72,460.74 square kilometres (27,977.25 sq mi), North Sumatra is also the third-largest province in area on the island of Sumatra behind South Sumatra and Riau . Major ethnic groups include the Malay , native to the east coast; several Batak groups, indigenous to the west coast and central highlands; the Nias people of Nias Island and its surrounding islets; and Chinese , Javanese , and Indian peoples, who first migrated to Sumatra during Dutch rule . North Sumatra
7992-480: The most sway due to customs and traditions which consider Bakkara the place of origin of the Batak people. The Nias people on Nias Island remained isolated during its early era. Its people practiced agriculture and cultivation, made art carvings, and adhered to shamanist and pagan practices. By c. 1500 , there were several kingdoms on the east coast of Sumatra, namely the larger Nagur and Aru kingdoms and
8103-526: The mouths of rivers and became centres of government. Relics of the Mesolithic era have been found in North Sumatra, including finely honed stone axes, bone tools, and painting materials. Linguistic and archaeological evidence indicates that Austronesian speakers reached Sumatra from Taiwan and the Philippines through Borneo or Java about 2,500 years ago, and the Batak probably descended from these settlers. New genetic research has found that
8214-603: The names of North Sumatran states he defeated in one expedition to conquer Srivijaya . States that he mentioned included Sriwijaya, Malayur, Kendara, and the Panai Kingdom . Furthermore, the Negarakertagama epic by Mpu Prapanca from the 14th century list countries found in North Sumatra, Pane, Haru, Mandailing, Tamiang, Lawas, and Barus, which were mainly defeated by the Majapahit . The earliest kingdom that
8325-544: The next day. The main force followed on bicycles. There was some resistance from the Dutch forces, particularly around Pematangsiantar , but the last major town, Sibolga , fell on 15 March. During the Japanese occupation of North Sumatra, the leader of the Japanese Armed Forces was centred in Bukittinggi , moving the de facto capital out of the Dutch centre of Medan. The occupation lasted 3 years. In 1945
8436-455: The nineteenth century, Dutch power was concentrated on the island of Java and parts of the Moluccas. In the nineteenth century, the Dutch began to focus more on to areas outside Java, including North Sumatra, driving out British influence. Dutch control was formalized with the handover of most of Indonesia in the 1814 Treaty of London , which was renewed in the 1824 Treaty of London . However,
8547-407: The northeast coast of Nias. The Batu Islands, just southeast of Nias, consist of 51 islands including three major islands: Pini, Tanahbala and Tanahmasa. Pulau Telo is their administrative centre on the small island of Situasi. Other islands in North Sumatra include Imanna, Pasu, Bawa, Hamutaia, Batu Makelele, Masa, Bau, Simaleh, Makole, Jake, and Wunga [ id ] . Half of the province
8658-525: The only city in the island, Gunungsitoli is the economic hub of the island and the surrounding Nias archipelago, as well as the only place with significant, non-agriculture industries, on the island. The city was previously part of the larger Nias Regency but was separated on 29 October 2008. Nias island, together with groups of other islands off the western coast of Sumatra, was mentioned by Ptolemy in 150 CE as "Barus islands". Nias had well-established trade contacts with Arab and Chinese traders since around
8769-613: The park are monuments such as the Durian Monument and the Nias Earthquake Monument. Names of the victims from the 2005 earthquake are written on the monument to commemorate the disaster, and at the top is a piece of debris from the earthquake. Other parks such as Doa Bunda Maria Park and a heroes' cemetery also exist in the city. There are also other monuments in the city such as the Salib Monument in
8880-557: The precolonial era while the Acehnese people, who are found mostly around Mudik village on Idanoi, are descendants from Acehnese ships' crews. Most of the Acehnese and Chinese population have been assimilated into Nias society and can fluently speak the Nias language . There were historically populations of Bugis people , especially around the region close to the Hinako Islands , who were killed by raids from Acehnese ships during
8991-415: The precolonial era. Other ethnicities are known by Nias people as "Orang Seberang" (Indonesian: people from across). Most people in the city speak the Nias language, which is also taught at schools as a regional language. Indonesian is also well-understood in the city. Gunungsitoli has an area of 469.36 km (115,981.4 acres; 181.2 sq mi) comprising 0.63% of North Sumatra province. The city
9102-505: The projected new provinces within which they are situated: . This region contains the substantial island of Nias and various small offshore islands, including the Batu Islands to the south. Originally it comprised a single Nias Regency (created on 7 November 1956), but on 25 February 2003 the southern part of the island (including the Batu Islands) was split off to form a separate South Nias Regency . On 29 October 2008 two new regencies - North Nias and West Nias - together with
9213-655: The province also attract neighbouring people from Aceh, Riau and West Sumatra, which is the Aceh and Minangkabau people presents. Bataks make up 44.95% of the population, including the Batak Karo and Mandailing. The Javanese come second with 30.62%, the Malays add up to 5.92% and the ethnic Chinese comprise 5.75%. The Nias people make up around 4.10% and the rest are Minangkabau (2.66%), Acehnese (1.07%), ethnic Indian (1.00%) and other ethnic groups (1.15%) The distribution of
9324-484: The region vulnerable to outside influences from Aceh , Melaka , Portugal , Siak , and Minangkabau . The Sultanate of Aceh worked to spread Islam across the eastern coast, and in the Padri War , succeeded in spreading Islam into the southern Tapanuli kingdom. As a result of this warfare and cultural shifts, the three big kingdoms split into several small kingdoms and sultanates, including Deli , Serdang , Asahan , Langkat Sultanate , Maropat, Lingga. Malacca fell to
9435-413: The region. The Dutch, realising that the growth of Singapore could not be curbed, pressed for an exchange in which they would abandon their claims north of the Strait of Malacca and their Indian colonies in exchange for confirmation of their claims south of the strait, including the British colony of Bencoolen . The final treaty was signed on 17 March 1824 by Fagel and Canning. The treaty was ratified by
9546-521: The remainder are Buddhists, Hindus, or follow folk religions such as Confucians, Parmalim, and Taoists. These are the recognized religions of North Sumatra: Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824 The Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824 , also known as the Treaty of London ( Dutch : Verdrag van Londen ), was a treaty signed between the United Kingdom and the Netherlands in London on 17 March 1824. The treaty
9657-426: The settlement in 1740 due to decreasing Dutch influence over the region. In 1776, British traders tried to settled the region but soon also abandoned it because the region was not profitable. For several decades, there was no significant European presence on the island. The British again tried to settle the region in 1821 but the settlement was taken over by the Dutch in 1825. In 1840, the Dutch tried to gain control of
9768-535: The seventh century. In 1154, the island was mentioned by Muhammad al-Idrisi as "Niyan" and described as "densely populated, with one big town, and inhabited by many tribes". Archeological evidence shows humans have inhabited the island for 12,000 years. Remains of tools were found in Tögi Ndrawa cave by Indonesian archeologists from Medan in August 1999. The excavation shows sign of mesolithic culture and that
9879-601: The shores of the Straits of Malacca, has been widely visited by Hindus and by Chinese traders for centuries since the founding of early Situs Kota Cina or Chinatown sites in Hamparan Perak c. 11th–14th centuries CE . Barus , a trading port on the western coast of Tapanuli, attracted Middle Age era traders in search of camphor , which was popular in Ancient Egypt. In 1030, Rajendra Chola recorded
9990-467: The smaller Panai and Batangiou kingdoms. To the west, in the hinterland of Tapanuli , another kingdom emerged: a Batak kingdom founded by descendants of Sisingamangaraja. This kingdom gradually expanded its influenced throughout Tapanuli to Angkola, Mandailing, and Dairi. The three largest kingdoms in North Sumatra in the sixteenth century were Nagur, the Batak kingdom under the rule of King Sisingamangaraja, and Aru. Wars between these three kingdoms made
10101-546: The southeast. The province contains a broad, low plain along the Strait of Malacca on which the provincial capital, Medan, is located. In the south and west, the land rises to the Bukit Barisan mountain range that runs the length of Sumatra; the mountains here surround Lake Toba , which was formed from the caldera of an ancient volcano. Several large islands in the Indian Ocean off the west coast of Sumatra are currently part of North Sumatra, most notably Nias Island and
10212-642: The southwestern part of the province on the island of Sumatra , and equates to the former Tapanoeli Residency which existed at the time of independence (except for Nias Island). When the province was created, the region comprised three regencies ( North Tapanuli , Central Tapanuli and South Tapanuli ) and the city of Sibolga . A fourth regency - Dairi - was created on 23 September 1964 from part of North Tapanuli Regency. Two more new regencies were formed on 23 November 1998 - Mandailing Natal from part of South Tapanuli Regency, and Toba Samosir from another part of North Tapanuli Regency. The city of Padang Sidempuan
10323-661: The sultanates had been formally included within the Dutch East Indies, and in Deli, the sultan of Deli granted the Dutch sole rights over taxation and leases, in exchange for an annual pension. That year, the East Coast Residency was established. On March 12, 1942, Japanese forces landed in Palubuhan Ruku on the east coast, and advanced on Medan. The advance force reported it had captured the town
10434-454: The sultanates of Asahan , Serdang , Deli and Langkat . The Dutch proceeded further into Batakland and North Sumatra, invading Toba, Karo Highland, Nias and Silindung with the help of Christian missionaries, such as Ludwig Ingwer Nommensen , who worked to Christianize the area. The Dutch invasion into Batakland met resistance by Sisingamangaraja XII , causing a guerilla war lasting 30 years until and Sisingmangaraja XII's death in battle and
10545-471: The sultans and aristocrats (who were seen as Dutch allies), to seize their wealth (to fund the Indonesian independence campaign), and to eliminate the region's feudal social structure. The Dutch authorities, working with the East Sumatra Union ( Persatuan Sumatra Timur ), which had been formed in 1938 by westernized Malay elites to reassert Malay and Simalungun ethnic interests, established
10656-478: The tourist industry has been a particular focus of both local and central government. In 2019, Gunungsitoli, together with other regencies on Nias, hosted Sail Nias , which is an annual yacht tournament and part of the Sail Indonesia event. Gunungsitoli has been proposed as the capital of the newly proposed Nias Islands Province , which is projected to be separated from North Sumatra. As of 2023, however,
10767-463: The tribes, clans, and ethnic groups in North Sumatra is as follows: As well as Indonesian , languages spoken in the province include various dialects of Batak languages (particularly around Lake Toba ), Javanese (various regions in the east of the province, especially around Medan ), Malay , Minangkabau and the Nias language (parts of Nias ). Religion in North Sumatra (2022) More than 95% of all residents are either Muslim or Christian;
10878-490: Was 0.73% in 2020, with sex ratio of 94 males to 100 females. As with other Indonesian cities, the population is young, with 95,147 of the total population of 136,017 above the age of 15, of reproductive age and considered part of the workforce. In 2020, 46.8% of the city population lived in Gunungsitoli District. Despite the high birthrate and expansive structure of its population pyramid , the population growth
10989-475: Was 2,699. The city's egg production was 268 tons in 2020. The same year's fish catch was 6,284 tons from the sea and 129 tons of freshwater fish. North Gunungsitol hosts the only shipyard on Nias. The shipyard was built in 2017 and started operating in 2019, mostly repairing and painting ships. The city government runs an ice factory mainly to support the city's fisheries. The factory has the capability to produce around 300 blocks of ice per day. Other industries in
11100-459: Was 6.05% in 2019. The city's gross regional product (GRP) in 2021 was 5,776.11 billion rupiahs , which was the second-highest in the island after South Nias Regency. Despite it being smaller than other sectors in terms of contribution to the GRP, agriculture employs around 31% of the city's workforce. In 2019, 2,313 ha (5,715.5 acres; 8.9 sq mi) of the city was cultivated for paddy with
11211-552: Was composed of 10 regencies and 6 cities, but an 11th regency ( Dairi Regency ) was created on 23 September 1964. Fourteen more new regencies and two new cities were created between 1998 and 2008. All these are listed below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 census and the 2020 census, together with their official estimates for mid-2023. Regencies and cities are sub-divided into 455 districts , which in turn are further sub-divided into 6,110 villages (as of early 2024). Proposals have been under consideration since 2013 by
11322-709: Was divided into three sub-provinces: North Sumatra, Central Sumatra and South Sumatra . North Sumatra was an amalgamation of three administrative regions called Residencies: the Residency of Aceh, the East Sumatra Residency, and the Residency of Tapanuli. The publication of the Law of the Republic of Indonesia (R.I.) No. 10, Year 1948 on April 15, 1948, formalized the division of these three provinces. The date of 15 April 1948 has been subsequently celebrated as
11433-702: Was invalid and that the Sultanate of Johor was under the Dutch sphere of influence. Dutch trading rights in British India and former Dutch possessions in the area were also points of contention. In 1820, under pressure from British merchants with interests in the Far East, negotiations to clarify the situation in Southeast Asia started. Negotiations between Castlereagh, Canning's predecessor, and Fagel started on 20 July 1820. The Dutch were adamant that
11544-635: Was located close to present-day Medan and Deli Serdang . Its people are believed to have been descendants of the Karo people from the interior of North Sumatra. An area near Lake Toba called Batakland (or the Batak Lands ) housed kingdoms of Batak people. It was first mentioned in Zhao Rugua 's 13th-century Description of the Barbarous Peoples , which refers to a 'Ba-ta' dependency of Srivijaya . The Suma Oriental , written in
11655-418: Was one of the main centers of Republican support on the island. Due to Operation Kraai , communication between Nias and Tapanuli was cut off so the island tried to establish communication with Kutaraja , Aceh . On 19 November 1949, officials from North Sumatra visited Gunungsitoli to establish a local government council ( Dewan Pemerintah Daerah ) on Nias, which was realized in 1950. In 1975, Nias experienced
11766-490: Was present on the eastern coast of North Sumatra was the Aru Kingdom , which existed from the 13th to the 16th century CE. In its height, the kingdom was a maritime power and controlled the northern part of the Malacca strait . The kingdom was initially established as a Karo polity . The indigenous population practiced native animism and Hinduism . Starting in 13th century, some also practiced Islam . Aru's capital
11877-527: Was proclaimed, Sumatra Province was divided into three sub-provinces, each of which had the right to regulate and manage its own affairs. April 15, 1948 was later designated as the anniversary of the Province of North Sumatra. Archaeological understanding of early North Sumatran peoples is limited compared to that of other nearby regions. Prehistoric relics in North Sumatra show that the oldest population may have been Austronesian or Melanesian . Archaeological evidence indicates that their dispersal took place in
11988-561: Was slow because of internal migration to bigger cities such as Padang and Medan. The majority of the city's population is Protestant with a minority of Muslims, Catholics, and Buddhists. The Protestant population was 116,435 in 2020, followed by 21,979 Muslims, 10,363 Catholics and 382 Buddhists. The majority of city's residents are Nias people , and there are significant minorities of other ethnicities such as Batak , Minangkabau , Javanese , Chinese Indonesians and Acehnese people. The Chinese population are mainly descendants of traders in
12099-907: Was split off from South Tapanuli Regency on 21 June 2001. Two further regencies were formed on 25 February 2003 - Humbang Hasundutan from part of North Tapanuli Regency, and Pakpak Bharat from part of Dairi Regency. A new Samosir Regency was created from part of Toba Samosir Regency on 18 December 2003 (more recently, the remaining part of this regency was renamed Toba Regency). Another two regencies were created on 17 July 2007 - Padang Lawas and North Padang Lawas , both from parts of South Tapanuli Regency. The region includes 60 small offshore islands - 24 in Mandailing Natal, 31 in Central Tapanuli (the largest being Mursala Island off Sibolga) and 5 in Sibolga City, plus 7 islands in
12210-504: Was to resolve disputes arising from the execution of the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1814 . For the Dutch, it was signed by Hendrik Fagel and Anton Reinhard Falck , and for the British, George Canning and Charles Williams-Wynn . The Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824, designed to solve issues arising from British occupation of Dutch colonial possessions during the Napoleonic Wars , as well as trading rights existing for hundreds of years in
12321-532: Was viewed with suspicion, and Dr Tengku Mansur entered into negotiations with Mohammad Hatta to reunify East Sumatra with the Republic of Indonesia in May 1950. Mansur surrendered authority to the republic and East Sumatra merged with Tapanuli to become the province of North Sumatra on August 15, 1950. After Indonesian independence, at the first session of the National Committee of Regions (KND), Sumatra
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