Simeulue is an island of the Indian Ocean located at some 150 km off the north-western coast of the island Indonesia of Sumatra.

The island has a little more than 100 km length and a little more than 30 km broad. Its surface is of 1.844 km ². The island is covered with hills and has a culminating point with 567 meters. The east coast rock and bordered of coral reefs.

Administratively, the island became a Kabupaten (department) of the province of Aceh, after being detached from the kabupaten of Aceh Barat in 2000. Its chief town is Sinabang.

Its isolated geograhic situation put it at the shelter of the conflict in Aceh between the army indonésienne and the independence movement GAM.

Population

The language of Simeulue is different from that of Aceh but near to the niha of the island close to Nias. It belongs to the group known as " sumatrien" Austronesian branch of the Languages austronésiennes, with the languages batak, Enggano, Mentawai and niha.

Simeulue are in majority Musulman S.

External bond

ethnologue.com Site of Simeulue Island Advenutres

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