South Sumatra

South Sumatra Province Provinsi Sumatera Selatan سومترا سلتن
Province
Grand Mosque, Palembang
Flag Seal
Motto: Bersatu Teguh (Indonesian) (Strength in Unity)
Location of South Sumatra in Indonesia
Coordinates: 2°45′S 103°50′E / 2.750°S 103.833°E / -2.750; 103.833Coordinates: 2°45′S 103°50′E / 2.750°S 103.833°E / -2.750; 103.833
Country	Indonesia
Established	September 12, 1950
Capital	Palembang
Government
• Governor	Alex Noerdin (Golkar)
• Vice Governor	Ishak Mekki
Area
• Total	91,592.43 km2 (35,364.03 sq mi)
Population (2014)
• Total	7,996,535
• Density	87/km2 (230/sq mi)
Demographics
• Ethnic groups	Malay (31%), Javanese (27%), Komering (6%), Musi Banyuasin (3%), Sundanese (2%)[1]
• Religion	Muslim (86%), Hindu (10.4%), Christian (1.5%), Buddhist (0.7%)
• Languages	Indonesian
Time zone	WIB (UTC+7)
Website	sumselprov.go.id

South Sumatra Province (Indonesian: Provinsi Sumatera Selatan) is a province of Indonesia. It is located in the southern part of Sumatra Island, east of the Bukit Barisan Mountains. It spans 91,592.43 km² (35,364 sq mi) and had a population of 7,450,394 at the 2010 Census; the latest official estimate is 7,996,535 (as at January 2014). The capital of the province is Palembang.

History

Pre-historic era

Relics found in Kotaraya Lembak Megalithic Site

Human settlement in South Sumatra has been occurred since Palaeolithic era. The evidence of those settlements is proven by some discoveries of Palaeolithic tools in the riverbed of Saling and Kikim river in Bungamas Village, Lahat Regency. Seventy eight skeletons from 3-14 kya which is presumably of Austronesia and Austromelanesid race have been excavated from the site of Harimau Cave in Padang Bindu Village, Ogan Komering Ulu Regency.^[2] Relics of seven stone chambers believed to be about 2,500 years old found near a coffee plantation in Kotaraya Lembak, Lahat Regency.^[3] Since 300 BC, Deutero-Malay is arrived in this region and pushed the native people inland.

Srivijaya era

Around 7th century AD, an ancient Buddhist kingdom of Srivijaya is established in an area known today as Palembang. It once obtained a large part of what is now Indonesia, Malaysia and Southern Thailand, effectively ruled Malacca Strait and controlled the trade in that region. In 1025, it was defeated by the Chola Empire (In the period of Emperor Rajendra Chola I) of southern India.^[4][5] Srivijaya's capital eventually moved northward to Jambi. After its eventual fall in 14th century AD, some small kingdoms were established in South Sumatra. But virtually, there was a power vacuum in the region since there was no prominent power to hold the region except the waning Majapahit. Pirates are flourished in that era.

Palembang Sultanate, Dutch, and World War 2

In 16th century AD, Palembang Sultanate is established by Ki Gede Ing Suro, a politician who fled from Demak Sultanate. Clashes with the Dutch had been occurred since 17th century until the sultanate was abolished in 1825 when the Dutch finally gave a final blow to Sultan of Palembang, Sultan Ahmad Najamuddin. Southern Sumatra was occupied by the Japanese in January 15, 1942 after the Battle of Palembang in World War 2.^[6]

After Independence

After Proclamation of Indonesian Independence, South Sumatra became part of Sumatra Province as residency with Adnan Kapau Gani as the resident. In January 1, 1947, the Netherlands tried to gain its sovereignty over South Sumatra by invading Palembang. Since then, fightings were ensued across South Sumatra until the independence recognition by the Netherlands in December 27, 1949. The area occupied by the Netherlands in South Sumatra was incorporated into South Sumatra State which was still existed until 1950 after its incorporation into the Republic. In September 12, 1950, South Sumatra province was established with territories of Bengkulu, Jambi, Lampung, and Bangka-Belitung still incorporated into the province until 2000 when territory of Bangka-Belitung form its own provinces.^[7]

Geography

The province is located in the southeast portion of the island of Sumatra. The majority of its area consists of low-lying plains filled with plantations, forest, marshes and mangroves in coastal areas. The natural environment of South Sumatra is hot and humid tropical rain forest, however most of these forest has been cleared out to make way for palm oil plantation. The Bukit Barisan mountain range is located on western edge of the province and forms the bordering with the neighbouring Bengkulu province. The mountains become the source of rivers system that drained eastward to the Bangka Strait and South China Sea. The largest among these rivers is Musi River, one of the longest rivers in Sumatra.

The administrative area of the province borders the provinces of Lampung to the south, Bengkulu to the west, and Jambi to the north. Off the east coast are the islands of Bangka and Belitung, which were split from South Sumatra province to form the new province of Bangka-Belitung in 2000.

The climate of South Sumatra is quite suitable for palm oil industries, including palm estate and rubber industries.

Administrative divisions

The capital of South Sumatra province is Palembang. As at 2010 this province was divided into eleven regencies (kabupaten) and four autonomous cities (kota), listed below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Census and according to the latest (January 2014) estimates.

• Note: ¹ including the area and populations of new Penukal Abab Lematang Ilir Regency.
• Note: ² including the area and populations of new North Musi Rawas Regency.

Since the Census in 2010 two additional regencies have been created. On 14 December 2012 the new Penukal Abab Lematang Ilir Regency was created from part of Muara Enim Regency. And in June 2013 the new North Musi Rawas Regency was established from the northern part of Musi Rawas Regency.

Mining

The coal deposits of South Sumatra amount to 22.24 billion tons or 48.45 percent of the total national reserves. The province also has 4.18 trillion standard cubic feet of natural gas and 757.4 standard cubic feet of natural oil.^[8]

References

Regencies and cities of South Sumatra Capital: Palembang Regencies Banyuasin Empat Lawang East Ogan Komering Ulu Lahat Muara Enim Musi Banyuasin Musi Rawas North Musi Rawas Ogan Ilir Ogan Komering Ilir Ogan Komering Ulu Penukal Abab Lematang Ilir South Ogan Komering Ulu Cities Lubuklinggau Pagar Alam Palembang Prabumulih

External links

• Audit Board of South Sumatera