The Mentawai Islands Regency are a regency of West Sumatra Province which consists of a chain of about a hundred islands and islets approximately 150 kilometres (93 miles) off the western coast of Sumatra in Indonesia. They cover a land area of 6,033.76 km2 and had a population of 76,173 at the 2010 Census[3] and 87,623 at the 2020 Census;[4] the official estimate as at mid 2022 was 89,401 - comprising 46,431 males and 42,970 females.[1]Siberut at 3,838.25 square kilometres (1,482 square miles) is the largest of the islands. The other major islands are Sipura (or Sipora), North Pagai (Pagai Utara), and South Pagai (Pagai Selatan). The islands lie off the Sumatran coast, across the Mentawai Strait. The indigenous inhabitants of the islands are known as the Mentawai people. The Mentawai Islands have become a noted destination for surfing,[5] with over 40 boats offering surf charters to international guests.[6]
The Mentawai Islands have been administered as a regency within the West Sumatra (Sumatera Barat) province since 1999. The regency seat is Tua Pejat, on the island of Sipora. Padang, the capital of the province, lies on the Sumatran mainland opposite Siberut. The regency is divided into ten districts (kecamatan), tabulated below from south to north with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Census[3] and the 2020 Census,[4] together with the official estimates as at mid 2022.[1] The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of villages (all classed as rural desa) and the number of named offshore islands in each district, and its post code.
Name of District (kecamatan)
English Name
Area in km2
Pop'n 2010 Census
Pop'n 2020 Census
Pop'n mid 2022 Estimate
Admin centre
No. of villages
No. of islands
Post code
Pagai Selatan
South Pagai
851.28
8,782
9,373
9,421
Bulasat
4
31
25391
Sikakap (a)
Central Pagai
312.60
9,531
10,219
10,280
Taikako
3
8
25399
Pagai Utara
North Pagai
371.25
5,212
6,031
6,157
Saumanganya
3
9
25390
Sipora Selatan
South Sipora
348.33
8,460
9,812
10,022
Sioban
7
3
25392
Sipora Utara
North Sipora
272.40
9,097
11,968
12,528
Sido Makmur
6
12
25398
Siberut Selatan
South Siberut
328.00
8,446
9,933
10,173
Muara Siberut
5
1
25397
Siberut Barat Daya
Southwest Siberut
1,013.83
6,069
7,058
7,213
Pasakiat Taileleu
3
17
25393
Siberut Tengah
Central Siberut
589.75
6,069
7,089
7,251
Saibi Samukop
3
5
25396
Siberut Utara
North Siberut
782.68
7,774
8,337
8,387
Muara Sikabaluan
6
4
25395
Siberut Barat
West Siberut
1,163.64
6,733
7,803
7,969
Simalegi
3
1
25394
Totals
6,033,76
76,173
87,623
89,401
Tuapejat
43
111
Note: (a) Sikakap District covers the northern part of South Pagai Island and the southern part of North Pagai Island, plus some intervening small islands. Of the three desa, Matobek is entirely on North Pagai Island, while Sikakap and Taikato are mainly on North Pagai Island but each includes areas on South Pagai as well as the intervening small islands.
Macaronis was first discovered in 1980 by pioneer surf discoverers Chris Goodnow, Scott Wakefield and Tony Fitzpatrick, who originally named the break ‘P-Land’ on their first visit (after Pasangan Bay / Pagai Islands). Amazingly, and considering the remote location, P-Land may in fact have been the first wave surfed in the Mentawai Islands. Lances Right was discovered a full 10 years later, while Chris, Scott, and Tony continued to keep their discovery a secret. They returned in 1981 with friend Tim Annand, and again on a boat trip in the 90’s. [8][9][10][11]
The first photos of the surf breaks in the Mentawais area were leaked after a surf trip in 1992 aboard the MV Indies Trader, with professional surfers Ross Clarke-Jones, Tom Carroll, and Martin Potter.[12] Ever since then, the Mentawai Islands have been well on the radar of surf travellers around the world. At the West of Sumatra, the Mentawai Islands have the most consistent surf breaks in Indonesia making it one of the preferred choices for serious surfers. The tropical waters surrounding the islands offer year-round waves up to 15 ft (4.5 m).[13][14]
Earthquake and tsunami activity has been high since the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. In 1833, the region was hit with an earthquake, possibly similar in size to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake;[17] another large earthquake struck in 1797. On October 25, 2010, an earthquake in southern Sumatra led to a deadly tsunami that devastated villages in South and North Pagai.[18] On March 3, 2016, an earthquake of 7.8 magnitude occurred off the Indian Ocean, a few hundred kilometres from Mentawai islands, as a result of strike-slip faulting within the oceanic lithosphere of the Indo-Australia plate.[19]
^Whittaker, D. 2006. A conservation action plan for the Mentawai primates. Primate Conservation 20: 95–105.
^"Mentawai Islands rain forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
^"INDONESIA - THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI OF 1833 OFF THE COAST OF CENTRAL SUMATRA - Dr. George Pararas-Carayannis". www.DrGeorgePC.com. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
^. News article. politiktimes.com. October 26, 2010. Archived from the original on November 5, 2010. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
^"M7.8 – Southwest of Sumatra, Indonesia". Retrieved March 2, 2016.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mentawai Islands Regency.
Official website
October 27, 2023
mentawai, islands, regency, regency, west, sumatra, province, which, consists, chain, about, hundred, islands, islets, approximately, kilometres, miles, western, coast, sumatra, indonesia, they, cover, land, area, population, 2010, census, 2020, census, offici. The Mentawai Islands Regency are a regency of West Sumatra Province which consists of a chain of about a hundred islands and islets approximately 150 kilometres 93 miles off the western coast of Sumatra in Indonesia They cover a land area of 6 033 76 km2 and had a population of 76 173 at the 2010 Census 3 and 87 623 at the 2020 Census 4 the official estimate as at mid 2022 was 89 401 comprising 46 431 males and 42 970 females 1 Siberut at 3 838 25 square kilometres 1 482 square miles is the largest of the islands The other major islands are Sipura or Sipora North Pagai Pagai Utara and South Pagai Pagai Selatan The islands lie off the Sumatran coast across the Mentawai Strait The indigenous inhabitants of the islands are known as the Mentawai people The Mentawai Islands have become a noted destination for surfing 5 with over 40 boats offering surf charters to international guests 6 Mentawai Islands Regency Kabupaten Kepulauan MentawaiRegencyCoat of armsMotto s Musara Kasimaeru Together for Goodness Location within West SumatraMentawai Islands RegencyLocation in Sumatra and IndonesiaShow map of SumatraMentawai Islands RegencyMentawai Islands Regency Indonesia Show map of IndonesiaCoordinates 2 11 S 99 39 E 2 183 S 99 650 E 2 183 99 650CountryIndonesiaProvinceWest SumatraRegency seatTua PejatGovernment Acting RegentMartinus Dahlan Vice RegentVacantArea Total6 033 76 km2 2 329 65 sq mi Population 2023 estimate 1 Total92 122 Density15 km2 40 sq mi Demographics 2 ReligionChristianity 79 94 Protestanism 49 Catholicism 30 94 Islam 19 56 Time zoneUTC 7 Indonesia Western Standard Time Area code 62 759Websitementawaikab go id Contents 1 Administrative districts 1 1 Villages 2 Tourism 2 1 Surfing 3 Ecology 4 Seismic activity 5 See also 6 Notes 7 External linksAdministrative districts edit nbsp Mentawai Islanders nbsp Islanders in a photo by C B NiewenhuisThe Mentawai Islands have been administered as a regency within the West Sumatra Sumatera Barat province since 1999 The regency seat is Tua Pejat on the island of Sipora Padang the capital of the province lies on the Sumatran mainland opposite Siberut The regency is divided into ten districts kecamatan tabulated below from south to north with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Census 3 and the 2020 Census 4 together with the official estimates as at mid 2022 1 The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres the number of villages all classed as rural desa and the number of named offshore islands in each district and its post code Name ofDistrict kecamatan EnglishName Area in km2 Pop n 2010 Census Pop n 2020 Census Pop n mid 2022 Estimate Admincentre No ofvillages No ofislands PostcodePagai Selatan South Pagai 851 28 8 782 9 373 9 421 Bulasat 4 31 25391Sikakap a Central Pagai 312 60 9 531 10 219 10 280 Taikako 3 8 25399Pagai Utara North Pagai 371 25 5 212 6 031 6 157 Saumanganya 3 9 25390Sipora Selatan South Sipora 348 33 8 460 9 812 10 022 Sioban 7 3 25392Sipora Utara North Sipora 272 40 9 097 11 968 12 528 Sido Makmur 6 12 25398Siberut Selatan South Siberut 328 00 8 446 9 933 10 173 Muara Siberut 5 1 25397Siberut Barat Daya Southwest Siberut 1 013 83 6 069 7 058 7 213 Pasakiat Taileleu 3 17 25393Siberut Tengah Central Siberut 589 75 6 069 7 089 7 251 Saibi Samukop 3 5 25396Siberut Utara North Siberut 782 68 7 774 8 337 8 387 Muara Sikabaluan 6 4 25395Siberut Barat West Siberut 1 163 64 6 733 7 803 7 969 Simalegi 3 1 25394Totals 6 033 76 76 173 87 623 89 401 Tuapejat 43 111Note a Sikakap District covers the northern part of South Pagai Island and the southern part of North Pagai Island plus some intervening small islands Of the three desa Matobek is entirely on North Pagai Island while Sikakap and Taikato are mainly on North Pagai Island but each includes areas on South Pagai as well as the intervening small islands Villages edit Administrative villages desa listed for each district 7 District VillagesPagai Selatan Bulasat Makalo Malakopa Malakopak Sinaka Sinakak Sikakap Matobe Matobek Sikakap TaikakoPagai Utara Betumonga Saumanganya Saumanganyak SilabuSipora Selatan Beriulou Bosua Mara Matobe Matobek Nemnemleleu Nem Nem Leleu Saureinu Saureinuk SiobanSipora Utara Betumonga Beutomonga Bukit Pamewa Gosooinan Goisooinan Sido Makmur Sipora Jaya TuapejatSiberut Selatan Madobag Madobak Ugai Maileppet Maleppet Matotonan Muara Muaro Siberut MunteiSiberut Barat Daya Katurai Katurei Pasakiat Taileleu Pasakiat Taleleu Sagulubbeg Sagulubek Sagalubeg Sagalubbek Siberut Tengah Cimpungan Saibi Muara Saibi Samukop Samokop SaligumaSiberut Utara Bojakan Malancan Malancang Mongan Poula Paula Muara Muaro Sikabaluan Sirilogui SotboyakSiberut Barat Sigapokna Simalegi Simaligi Simatalu SipokakTourism editSurfing edit Macaronis was first discovered in 1980 by pioneer surf discoverers Chris Goodnow Scott Wakefield and Tony Fitzpatrick who originally named the break P Land on their first visit after Pasangan Bay Pagai Islands Amazingly and considering the remote location P Land may in fact have been the first wave surfed in the Mentawai Islands Lances Right was discovered a full 10 years later while Chris Scott and Tony continued to keep their discovery a secret They returned in 1981 with friend Tim Annand and again on a boat trip in the 90 s 8 9 10 11 The first photos of the surf breaks in the Mentawais area were leaked after a surf trip in 1992 aboard the MV Indies Trader with professional surfers Ross Clarke Jones Tom Carroll and Martin Potter 12 Ever since then the Mentawai Islands have been well on the radar of surf travellers around the world At the West of Sumatra the Mentawai Islands have the most consistent surf breaks in Indonesia making it one of the preferred choices for serious surfers The tropical waters surrounding the islands offer year round waves up to 15 ft 4 5 m 13 14 Ecology editMain article Mentawai Islands rain forests nbsp Dugout canoes on a river in Siberut nbsp Mentawai Islands topographyThe islands have been separated from Sumatra since the mid Pleistocene period which has allowed at least twenty endemic species to develop amongst its flora and fauna This includes six endemic primates the Kloss s gibbon Hylobates klossii Mentawai macaque Macaca pagensis Siberut macaque Macaca siberu Mentawai langur Presbytis potenziani Siberut langur Presbytis siberu and pig tailed langur Simias concolor They are highly endangered due to logging unsustainable hunting and conversion of rainforest to palm oil plantations 15 Some areas of the Mentawai Islands rainforest ecoregion are protected such as the Siberut National Park Red junglefowl the Asian palm civet and crab eating macaque are also native 16 Seismic activity editSee also 2010 Mentawai earthquake and tsunami 2012 Indian Ocean earthquake and 2016 Sumatra earthquake nbsp September 2007 Sumatra earthquakesThe Mentawai Islands lie above the Sunda megathrust a seismically active zone responsible for many great earthquakes This megathrust runs along the southwestern side of Sumatra island forming the interface between the Eurasian Plate and Indo Australian Plate Earthquake and tsunami activity has been high since the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake In 1833 the region was hit with an earthquake possibly similar in size to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake 17 another large earthquake struck in 1797 On October 25 2010 an earthquake in southern Sumatra led to a deadly tsunami that devastated villages in South and North Pagai 18 On March 3 2016 an earthquake of 7 8 magnitude occurred off the Indian Ocean a few hundred kilometres from Mentawai islands as a result of strike slip faulting within the oceanic lithosphere of the Indo Australia plate 19 See also edit nbsp Islands portalMentawai ethnic group Mentawai FestivalNotes edit a b c Badan Pusat Statistik Jakarta 2023 Kabupaten Kepulauan Mentawai Dalam Angka 2023 Katalog BPS 1102001 1309 Penduduk Menurut Wilayah dan Agama yang Dianut Provinsi Sumatera Barat sp2010 bps go id Retrieved 2021 07 26 a b Biro Pusat Statistik Jakarta 2011 a b Badan Pusat Statistik Jakarta 2021 SURFAID SURFAID Archived from the original on May 17 2014 Retrieved May 3 2017 Every Surf Charter Boat in the Mentawais 41 Boats with Photos and Info Indies Trader Retrieved 2019 05 05 Daftar Desa amp Kelurahan di Kabupaten Kepulauan Mentawai www nomor net Kode Pos Indonesia 2020 Retrieved 2020 02 25 Finding Macaronis Part1 www swellnet com Retrieved 2023 05 10 Finding Macaronis Part2 www swellnet com Retrieved 2023 05 10 Finding Macaronis Part3 www swellnet com Retrieved 2023 05 10 Original P Land Discoverers Reunion www macaronisresort com Retrieved 2023 05 10 Mentawai www surfindonesia com Retrieved 2020 12 18 Top 10 Place to Surf in Indonesia allindonesiatravel Retrieved 2020 12 18 15 Surfing Destination indonesia travel Retrieved 2020 12 18 Whittaker D 2006 A conservation action plan for the Mentawai primates Primate Conservation 20 95 105 Mentawai Islands rain forests Terrestrial Ecoregions World Wildlife Fund INDONESIA THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI OF 1833 OFF THE COAST OF CENTRAL SUMATRA Dr George Pararas Carayannis www DrGeorgePC com Retrieved May 3 2017 Indonesia Earthquake and Tsunami Kill 113 Merapi Volcano Eruptions Hours Later News article politiktimes com October 26 2010 Archived from the original on November 5 2010 Retrieved October 26 2010 M7 8 Southwest of Sumatra Indonesia Retrieved March 2 2016 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mentawai Islands Regency Official website Anthropology of the Mentawai Islands Native Planet The Mentawai Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mentawai Islands Regency amp oldid 1174729335, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
