- Indonesian:
- Sumatera Selatan
South Sumatra
News •
-
Where is South Sumatra located?
South Sumatra, a province of Indonesia, is located in the southern region of Sumatra. South Sumatra is bordered to the north by Jambi province, to the east by the Bangka Strait, to the southeast by the Java Sea, to the south by Lampung province, and to the west by Bengkulu province. Palembang serves as its capital and largest city. The province covers an area of 35,364 square miles (91,592 square km).
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What is the capital city of South Sumatra?
Palembang is the capital and largest city of the province of South Sumatra in Indonesia. Palembang is located on both banks of the Musi River and is the second-largest city on the island of Sumatra. South Sumatra borders Jambi province to the north, Bangka Belitung island province to the east, Lampung province to the south, and Bengkulu province to the west.
3 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What is the climate like in South Sumatra?
The climate of South Sumatra, Indonesia, is influenced by its island structure and location near the Equator, resulting in consistently high temperatures. Temperature variations depend more on elevation than latitude, with coastal temperatures averaging in the mid-70s to upper 80s °F (low 20s to low 30s °C).
Most of the region experiences heavy rainfall throughout the year, especially from December to March. The monsoon pattern causes seasonal variations. The west monsoon from Asia brings heavy rain to southern Sumatra during December, January, and February, while precipitation is slightly lower in July and August. Cyclones and typhoons are absent, but afternoon thunderstorms are common.
3 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What are some important rivers or natural resources in South Sumatra?
South Sumatra is rich in rivers and natural resources. The Musi River is the main waterway, stretching approximately 325 miles (525 km) and draining a substantial area of 24,500 square miles (63,500 sq km). Other significant rivers include the Komering and Ogan. The province's natural resources include petroleum, natural gas, and coal. The mountains are forested with oak, laurel, fern, conifers, and teak. Agriculture is a key economic driver, with products like rubber, timber, coffee, tea, and spices.
4 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
Which ethnic groups and cultures can be found in South Sumatra?
South Sumatra is home to diverse ethnic groups and cultures, including Minangkabau, Malay, and Javanese peoples. There are also notable Indian and Chinese minorities, as well as people of Arab descent. Islam is the predominant religion in South Sumatra. Indonesia's motto, "Bhinneka tunggal ika" ("Unity in diversity"), reflects the country’s population, with more than 300 ethnic groups and twice as many languages.
3 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What are some major economic activities or industries in South Sumatra?
South Sumatra's economy relies heavily on agriculture, with key products including rubber, timber, coffee, tea, spices, corn, and soybeans. The manufacturing sector is also active, producing processed foods and beverages, textiles, wood carvings, furniture, paper, and petroleum products. Oil refineries are located in Palembang's suburbs. The province also has a developed transportation network that links cities and towns such as Baturaja, Perabumulih, and Lubuk Linggau with Palembang.
3 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
South Sumatra, propinsi (or provinsi; province), southern Sumatra, Indonesia. It is bounded to the north by the province of Jambi, to the east by the Bangka Strait, across which lies the island province of Bangka Belitung, to the southeast by the Java Sea, to the south by the province of Lampung, and to the west by the province of Bengkulu. Palembang is the provincial capital and largest city. Area 35,364 square miles (91,592 square km). Pop. (2010) 7,450,394.
Geography
The southern portion of the Barisan Mountains extends along the western border of South Sumatra and is surmounted by volcanic cones with an average elevation of 8,000 feet (2,400 metres), including Mount Dempo (10,364 feet [3,159 metres]) and Mount Resagi (7,323 feet [2,232 metres]). The highlands descend rapidly to a wide plain that is separated from the northeastern coast by a belt of swamps as much as 150 miles (240 km) wide. Sluggish and swollen rivers, including the Musi, the Komering, and the Ogan, have carried down huge quantities of eroded materials from the western highlands to form the freshwater and tidal swamps that open out into estuaries along the coast. The low-lying central plains are largely covered with swamp forests, and the seaward margins have mangrove swamps. The mountains are forested with oak, laurel, fern, conifers, and teak.
The population of South Sumatra consists mostly of Minangkabau, Malay, and Javanese peoples, but there also are notable Indian and Chinese minorities as well as people of Arab descent. Islam is the predominant religion.
Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, and the principal products include rubber, timber, coffee, tea, spices, rattan, pepper, corn (maize), and soybeans. Fruits and vegetables are also grown. The province’s manufacturing sector produces processed foods and beverages, processed tobacco, textiles, carved wood and furniture, paper, leather and rubber goods, chemicals and fertilizers, metal goods, machinery, electrical and transport equipment, and petroleum products; oil refineries are located in the suburbs of Palembang. Roads and the railway are located principally on the central lowlands and along the foot of the Barisan Mountains, linking cities and larger towns—such as Baturaja, Perabumulih, Muaraenim, Lahat, and Lubuk Linggau—with Palembang. There is an international airport in Palembang.
History
Mention is made in Chinese chronicles of the kingdom of Kantoli (early 6th century ce), with its capital at Palembang. Southern Sumatra became part of the Buddhist Srivijaya empire at Palembang that rose to power in the last quarter of the 7th century. Buddhist rule was replaced by the Hindu Majapahit empire of eastern Java after the defeat of King Parameswara in 1377. The Majapahit empire continued until the beginning of the 16th century. Meanwhile, a Muslim kingdom (later a sultanate) was established at Palembang around 1500; it bore the brunt of Dutch and British attempts at colonial domination in the early 19th century. Dutch rule over Palembang was firmly established in 1823. The Japanese occupied the province in 1942–45 during World War II. South Sumatra, encompassing the entire southern segment of the island of Sumatra as well as the smaller adjacent islands, became part of the Republic of Indonesia in 1950. In 1964 the province of Lampung was created from roughly the southern third of South Sumatra. South Sumatra’s western coastal region became the province of Bengkulu in 1967, and in 2000 the eastern islands were made into the province of Bangka Belitung.