Mentawai Islands

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Kepulauan Mentawai (Mentawai Islands)
West Sumatra
Coordinates: 2°11′S 99°39′E
Capital Tua Pejat
Area 601.35 km²
Population (2000) 38,300

The Mentawai Islands are a chain of islands off the west coast of Sumatra in Indonesia. Siberut Island (4030 km²) is the largest island of the four Mentawai Islands. The other islands are Sipura, North Pagai (Pagai Utara) and South Pagai (Pagai Selatan). The islands lie approximately 150 km off the Sumatran coast, across the Mentawai Strait. The inhabitants of the islands are known as the Mentawai.

The Mentawai Islands are part of West Sumatra (Sumatera Barat) province. Padang, the capital of the province, lies on the Sumatran mainland opposite Siberut.

The Mentawai Islands are home to the Mentawai Islands rain forests ecoregion, home to many endemic species, including Four endemic primates: the Mentawai or Kloss Gibbon (Hylobates klossii), Mentawai Macaque (Macaca pagensis), Mentawai leaf-monkey (Presbytis potenziani), and snub-nosed monkey (Simias concolor).

The Mentawai Islands have become a noted destination for surfing.

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Administrative areas in West Sumatra
West Sumatra Emblem

Cities: Bukittinggi | Padang | Padang Panjang | Pariaman | Payakumbuh | Sawahlunto | Solok

Regencies: Agam | Dharmasraya | Limapuluh Koto | Mentawai Islands | Padang Pariaman | Pasaman | West Pasaman |
South Pesisir | Sawahlunto Sijunjung | Tanah Datar | Solok | South Solok

See also: Provinces of Indonesia