Lake Toba, sumatra, is one of the island's spectacular sights - a remarkable volcanic crater set in the middle of northern Sumatra, 176 km from Medan. The lake is huge (the largest in South-East Asia), occupying the caldera of a giant volcano that collapsed on itself after a massive eruption some 100,000 years ago.

Sumatra is an island with a wealth of natural resources and wildlife, massive rivers like muddy facsimiles of the Amazon, and some interesting architecture. It is almost four times the size of neighboring Java, but supports less than a quarter of the population. During Dutch rule, it provided the world with large quantities of oil, rubber, pepper and coffee, and these seemingly inexhaustible resources continue to prop up the Indonesian economy today. Sumatra is home to a number of differing races and people: the former head-hunters and cannibals of the Batak regions; the matrilineal Muslim Minangkabau and the primitive groups of the Mentawai Islands.

Sumatra was the scene of numerous riots and political protests during early 1998. Despite the return of relative calm, the political situation remains uncertain and the economic situation dire. If you are considering travelling to to Sumatra in the near future, you are advised to contact your embassy and avail yourself of the latest update on the security situation.

Medan (pop 1.5 million) is the capital of north Sumatra and the third largest city in Indonesia. It is a huge, sprawling city and a popular entry/exit point for travellers. The solid Dutch buildings of the affluent older suburbs inspire images of bloated bureaucrats and burghers from the colonial era, while jerry-built lean-tos house the bulk of its population.

The city's two finest buildings are the Istana Maimoon (Maimoun Palace) and the magnificent black-domed Mesjid Raya. There are some fine examples of European architecture along Jalan Sukarno-Hatta, such as Bank Indonesia and the High Court. There are a number of museums, including the Museum of North Sumatra, which has excellent coverage of the region's culture and history, and the weaponry-and-warfare-influenced Bukit Barisan Military Museum. Cultural performances can be seen at Taman Budaya.

Much of the budget accommodation is close to the city center. Jalan Semarang, a small street between Jalan Pandu and Jalan Bandung, has great food stalls offering Indonesian and Chinese meals late into the night.

Berastagi
This picturesque hill town in the Karo Highlands, 70km from Medan, is dominated by two volcanoes: Gunung Sinabung and Gunung Sibayak. At 1300m above sea level, the climate is pleasantly cool and the atmosphere refreshingly relaxed. Travelers come to Berastagi to experience the culture of the Karo Batak people and to go trekking. There are guided treks into the Gunung Leuser National Park and to surrounding volcanoes and attractions.

Bukittinggi
This easy-going mountain town has long been one of Sumatra's most popular tourist destinations. Many travellers heading north make Bukittinggi their first stop. The town is sometimes referred to as Kota Jam Gadang (the 'Big Clock Town'), after its best known landmark - the Minangkabau-style clock tower - that overlooks the market square. A Dutch stronghold during the Padri rebellion (1821-37), Bukittinggi is a center for Minangkabau culture. It has a small university and is surrounded by three mountains: Merapi, Singgalang and Sago.

Lake Toba
Lake Toba is another of the island's spectacular sights - a remarkable volcanic crater set in the middle of northern Sumatra, 176km from Medan. The lake is huge (the largest in South-East Asia), occupying the caldera of a giant volcano that collapsed on itself after a massive eruption some 100,000 years ago. In comparison, Krakatau's 1883 effort was little more than a belch. The lake is surrounded by steep mountains, ridges and sandy, pine-sheltered beaches.

Samosir, the wedge-shaped island in the middle of the lake, is thought to have been created by subsequent upheavals between 30,000 and 75,000 years ago.
Samosir has long been northern Sumatra's premier attraction for travelers and has an abundant supply of accommodation and eateries ringing the shoreline. The main town in the area is Parapat, on the eastern shore of Lake Toba.

Aceh
Few travelers make it to Sumatra's northernmost province. A pity, because it's a relaxed and friendly place with a rich history. Aceh's population is a melding of Indonesian, Arab, Tamil, Chinese and indigenous groups and, curiously, some of
the tallest people in Indonesia live here. The state is the most staunchly Muslim in the country and is run under Islamic law. However, the Achenese also embrace animism, and offerings and rituals continue to play an important part in their lives.
Aceh's attractions range from the laid-back lifestyle of the island Pulau We, the deserted beaches of the rugged west coast and the jungle wilderness of Gunung Leuser National Park. The national park, which is one of the largest in the world, includes the Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre, an area containing orang-utans, gibbons, monkeys, elephants, tigers and the elusive Sumatran rhinoceros. Getting There & Away
You can fly from Jakarta to a number of places in Sumatra, and from Singapore, Penang and Kuala Lumpur to Medan. There are ships/ferries between Java and various ports in Sumatra. The Merak-Bakauheni ferry is probably the most popular, but you can also go from Padang to Jakarta. There are also ferriesbetween Penang and Medan; Melaka and Dumai; and Singapore and Pakanburi via the Indonesian island of Tanjung Pinang.

Their are hundreds more to much to list here.

The world's smallest living tiger is down to fewer than 500 animals. Is there time to save it from extinction? Keeping Vigil Crouched in the lush rain forest of Indonesia's Kerinci-Sublat National Park, a Sumatran tiger stalks its prey. This subspecies is one of the last "island tigers," smaller and darker than its cousins on mainland Asia. Tigers disappeared on the islands of Java and Bali in the past 50 years due to human overcrowding and habitat destruction. The same fate could befall the cats on neighboring Sumatra, where fewer than 500 tigers remain in the wild. Cool Cat During the island's hot season, Sumatran tigers spend much of their daytime wading in streams to keep cool. Like their mainland counterparts, these cats don't mind getting wet, but they do differ from their kin in other ways. The average Sumatran tiger weighs 125 kilograms (275 lbs.), about half that of the Siberian or Indian versions. Longer cheek hair and closer-set, narrower stripes on a more vivid orange background also make the cat unique. High Hopes The Sumatran tiger's large, squarish head may seem out of proportion with its compact body, but the predator's build is ideal for preying on such small species as mouse deer. An upcoming survey of the Sumatran tiger and its prey, conducted by Minnesota Zoo biologist Ron Tilson, should reveal the cat's survival prospects. There is hope: Sumatra has 21 national parks, some spanning 30,000 square kilometers (11,580 sq.mi.) or more, and poaching is limited. "With better management of the smaller reserves and education programs to engender local support," Tilson says, "the tigers may have a fighting chance."