Padang

This article is about the city in Indonesia. For other uses, see Padang (disambiguation).
Padang
City
(From top, left to right): Skyline of Padang, Adityawarman Museum, West Sumatra's Great Mosque, Tour de Singkarak, Padang old town, street of Padang Beach, and Imam Bonjol Park.

Seal

Location of Padang in West Sumatra
Padang

Location of Padang in Indonesia

Coordinates: 0°57′0″S 100°21′11″E / 0.95000°S 100.35306°ECoordinates: 0°57′0″S 100°21′11″E / 0.95000°S 100.35306°E
Country Indonesia
Province West Sumatra
Founded 7 August 1669
Government
 • Mayor Mahyeldi
Area
 • City 695 km2 (268 sq mi)
 • Urban 249 km2 (96 sq mi)
Elevation 0-1,853 m (0-6,079 ft)
Population (2014 Estimate)
 • City 1,024,906
 • Density 1,500/km2 (3,800/sq mi)
 • Urban 896,400
 • Urban density 3,600/km2 (9,300/sq mi)
Time zone WIB (UTC+7)
Area code(s) +62 751
Website www.padang.go.id

Padang (Indonesian pronunciation: [ˈpadaŋ]) is the largest city in the western coast of Sumatra, Indonesia and the capital of West Sumatra province. It has an area of 694.96 square kilometres (268.33 sq mi) and a population of over 1,024,906 people at the 2014 survey. It is exactly at the antipodes of Esmeraldas, Ecuador

History

Padang circa 1795
Padang, 1859

Since the 16th century Padang has been a trade centre. During the 16th and 17th centuries pepper was cultivated and traded with India, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. In 1663 the city came under the authority of the Dutch. The Dutch built a trading post here in 1680. The city came under British authority twice, the first time from 1781 to 1784 during the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War, and again from 1795 to 1819 during the Napoleonic Wars. Afterwards the city was transferred back to the Netherlands. Up to approximately 1780 the most important trade product was gold, originating from the gold mines in the region. When the mines were exhausted, the emphasis turned to other products such as coffee, salts and textiles.

In 1797 Padang was inundated by a tsunami with an estimated flow depth of 5–10 meters, following an earthquake, estimated to be 8.5–8.7 Mw, which occurred off the coast. The shaking caused considerable damage and the deaths of two people, while the tsunami resulted in several houses being washed away and several deaths at the village of Air Manis. The boats moored in the Arau river ended up on dry land, including a 200-ton sailing ship which was deposited about 1 kilometer upstream. In 1833 another tsunami inundated Padang with an estimated flow depth of 3–4 meters as a result of an earthquake, estimated to be 8.6–8.9 Mw, which occurred off Bengkulu. The shaking caused considerable damage in Padang, and due to the tsunami the boats moored in the Arau river broke their anchors and were scattered.[1]

At the time of independence in the 1940s the city had around 50,000 inhabitants. Coffee was still important, but copra was also a major item produced by farmers in its hinterland. The population growth since then has been partly a result of growth in the area of the city, but largely is a result of the migration to major cities seen in so many developing nations. In 1950 there was development of the Ombilin coal field with Padang as its outlet. This was seen by some observers as reflecting the economic as well as political colonization of Indonesia.

On 30 September 2009, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake hit about 50 kilometers off the coast of Padang. There were more than 1,100 fatalities, 313 of which occurred within Padang.[2][3][4]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1819 8,500—    
1874 25,000+194.1%
1930 52,054+108.2%
1971 195,912+276.4%
1980 480,607+145.3%
1990 631,263+31.3%
2010 900,089+42.6%
2013 923,544+2.6%

Administrative Districts

The city of Padang is divided into 11 districts (kecamatan):

Transport

The city is served by the newly opened Minangkabau International Airport in Ketaping, Padang Pariaman. It replaced the old Tabing Airport. Tabing Airport now is used as military base. Padang's Teluk Bayur harbor is the largest and busiest harbor on the west coast of Sumatra.

West Sumatra administration has secured lands for 27-kilometer toll road between Padang and Sicincin district with about Rp.1.3 trillion ($141.7 million) investment. 80 percent land acquisition with 30 meters in width has already done, but they will acquire more land to meet an ideal 50 meters width. The construction project will be initialized in 2012.[5]

Railroad tracks connect Padang to Padangpanjang and Bukittinggi to the northeast, to Solok and Sawahlunto to the east. The largest train station in Padang is Padang Station.

Education

Andalas University, Limau Manis campus

Andalas University is the oldest university in Indonesia outside of Java. The main campus is located at Limau Manis, about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from the center of Padang. The other universities in Padang are "Institut Teknologi Padang" in Lapai, Universitas Negeri Padang in Air Tawar, Bung Hatta University in Ulak Karang, Baiturrahmah University in Air Pacah, Universitas Putra Indonesia YPTK, Ekasakti University, Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Barat and Tamansiswa University.

Climate

Padang features a tropical rainforest climate under Köppen’s climate classification. Padang is one of Indonesia’s wettest cities, with frequent rainfall throughout the course of the year. The city averages roughly 4300 mm of rain per year. Padang’s driest month is February, where 250 mm of precipitation on average is observed. The city temperatures are relatively constant throughout the year, with an average of 26 degrees Celsius.

Kota Padang
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
340
 
 
30
24
 
 
250
 
 
30
24
 
 
300
 
 
30
24
 
 
370
 
 
30
24
 
 
300
 
 
30
24
 
 
270
 
 
30
23
 
 
270
 
 
29
23
 
 
320
 
 
29
23
 
 
380
 
 
29
23
 
 
480
 
 
29
24
 
 
510
 
 
29
23
 
 
460
 
 
29
24
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source: Weatherbase [6]

Culture

Cuisine

The cuisine of the Minangkabau people is commonly called Padang cuisine. Padang restaurants are common throughout the country and are famous for their spicy food. Padang food is usually cooked once per day, and all customers choose from those dishes, which are left out on display until no food is left. It is served in small portions of various dishes, but constituting, with rice, a complete meal. Customers take – and pay for – only what they want from this array of dishes. The best known Padang dish is rendang, a spicy meat stew. soto Padang (crispy beef in spicy soup) is local residents' breakfast favorite, meanwhile sate (beef satay in curry sauce served with ketupat) is a treat in the evening.

Sport

Padang is the home town of the soccer team Semen Padang, with Haji Agus Salim Stadium being the home stadium of the club.

Padang is home to an annual international dragon boat competition.[7]

Tourism

Padang is a common transit point for surfers traveling to Batu Islands and Mentawai Islands, and for tourists visiting the West Sumatran highlands. Padang beach (known as Taplau or Tapi Lauik) which located from Samudra Street until Puruih, is well known for its beautiful sunset and hundreds of food stalls. Bungus bay, to the south of Padang, is suitable for swimming and boating.

Adityawarman Museum specializes in the history and culture of the local Minangkabau ethnic group, and the main exhibits are housed within a Rumah Gadang style building.

Batang (River) Kuranji flows in Padang and on top area of the river at Batu Busuk, Lambung Bukit sub-district is suitable for white water activities.

City skyline of Padang on 28 June 2013 from Gunung Padang hill.


Tsunami shelter

Government and the people of Hill Pangilun has agreed to make Mount Pangilun as tsunami shelter. Better road access to the hill will be built, as well as temporary shelters, including their facilities.[8]

Twin Towns - Sister Cities

Padang is twinned with:

Shopping

See also

References

  1. ↑ Natawidjaja, D. H.; K. Sieh, M. Chlieh, J. Galetzka, B. W. Suwargadi, H. Cheng, R. L. Edwards, J.-P. Avouac, and S. N. Ward (June 2006). "Source parameters of the great Sumatran megathrust earthquakes of 1797 and 1833 inferred from coral microatolls". Journal Of Geophysical Research 111 (B06403): B06403. Bibcode:2006JGRB..11106403N. doi:10.1029/2005JB004025.
  2. ↑ Telly Nathalia (30 September 2009). "Indonesian quake toll at 100-200: disaster agency". Reuters. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  3. ↑ "Indonesia quake deaths pass 700". BBC. 1 October 2009. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  4. ↑ B Kunto Wibisono (14 October 2009). "Number of fatalities in W Sumatra quake now 1,115". ANTARA News. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  5. ↑ "Jasa Marga sets sights on 27-kilometer Padang toll road". April 17, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Weatherbase: Weather for Padang, Indonesia". Weatherbase. 2011. Retrieved on 23 November 2011.
  7. ↑ Dragon Boat Races International
  8. ↑ "Gunung Pangilun Ditetapkan Jadi Shelter". April 30, 2012.

9. Pendaftaran CPNS Padang

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Padang.