Geography
Weh Island is located in the Andaman Sea, where two groups of islands, the Nicobar Islands and Andaman Islands, are scattered in one line from Sumatra to the
north up to the Burma plate. The Andaman Sea lies on an
active moving small tectonic plate
(microplate). A complex geological fault system
and volcanic arc islands have been created along the length of the
sea by the movement of the microplate.
The island lies about 15 kilometres
(9 mi) off the northernmost tip of Sumatra. The island is small at only
156.3 km2 (60.3 sq mi), but mountainous. The highest
peak is a fumarolic volcano, 617 metres (2,024 ft) high.[1] The last known eruption is estimated to have
occurred in the Pleistocene age, as a result which the
mountain partially collapsed and was filled by the sea, forming a separate
island.
At a depth of 9 metres (30 ft), close to
Sabang city, underwater fumaroles emerge from the seabed.At Gapang Beach (Gapang is name of a kind of a
tree), one hour from Balohan Port to the west there is also underwater
fumaroles which is suitable for diving and is called as Hydrothermal Point.[2] A volcanic cone is found in the jungle. There are three
solfatara (mudpot) fields on the island: one is 750 metres (0.5 mi)
southeast of the summit and the others are 5 kilometres (3 mi) and 11.5
kilometres (7 mi) northwest of the summit, on the western shore of Lhok
Perialakot bay. There are four islets
surrounding Weh Island: Klah, Rubiah, Seulako, and Rondo. Among those, Rubiah
is well known for diving tourism, because of
its coral reefs. When traveling to Saudi Arabia was only possible by sea, Rubiah was used as a
place of quarantine for Indonesian Muslims during the Hajj pilgrimage season.
Inhabitants
Weh Island is a part of Aceh
province. A 1993 census reported 24,700 inhabitants.[6] The large majority of the population are Acehnese and the remaining are Minangkabau, Javanese, Batak and Chinese.[7] It is unknown when the island was first inhabited. Islam
is the main religion, as Aceh is a special province where Sharia law has been applied exclusively for the province.
However, there are some Christians and Buddhists on the island. They are mostly Javanese, Batak and
Chinese.
On 26 December 2004, a massive (9.0 on Richter scale) undersea earthquake struck in the Andaman Sea. The earthquake triggered
a series of tsunamis that killed at least 130,000 people in Indonesia
alone.[8] The effect on the island was relatively small,[9] but it is unknown how many of its inhabitants were
killed by the event.
Economy
The economy on Weh Island is dominated by agriculture. The main products are cloves
and coconuts.[7] Small-scale fisheries operate in the area, and
fishermen have used explosives and cyanide fishing extensively. Therefore, since 1982, a wildlife
protection area (suaka alam) has been declared by the Indonesian
government that includes 34 square kilometres (13 sq mi) inland and
26 square kilometres (10 sq mi) of surrounding sea.[6]
The two main cities are Sabang and Balohan. Balohan is
a ferry port that serves as a hub between the island and Banda Aceh on the mainland Sumatra. Sabang has been an
important quay since the late nineteenth century, because the city
overlooks the entry to a busy shipping route, Malacca Strait.
Before the Suez Canal was opened in 1869, the Indonesian archipelago was
reached via the Sunda Strait from Africa. From the Suez Canal, the route to Indonesia is shorter
via the Malacca Strait. Due to its natural harbour with relatively deep and
well sheltered water, the Dutch East Indies government decided to open Sabang as a quay.
In 1883, Sabang quay was opened for ships to dock by the Atjeh Associate.[10] At first, the harbour was intended as a coal
station for the Dutch navy, but later also
served merchant vessels and for
the transfer of export goods from northern Sumatra.
Each year, 50,000 vessels pass through
Malacca Strait.[11] In 2000, the Indonesian government declared Sabang
a Free Trade Zone and Free Port, to gain economic benefit by establishing the
port as a logistic hub for international vessels passing through the strait.[12] Infrastructures for a deep water harbour, port, warehousing and refuelling facilities, were developed.
Weh Island is served by the Maimun Saleh Airport
located in Sabang. Currently there is no airlines serving that airport. Thus,
the nearest airport to get into Sabang is the Sultan Iskandarmuda Airport
which is located at Banda Aceh. From the airport of Banda Aceh, it's about a
half-hour drive to Ulee Lheu, close to the center of Banda Aceh, from where the
ferries to Balohan (Pulau Weh's ferry harbour) are leaving.
Weh Island is also known for ecotourism. Underwater diving, hiking through the volcanic mountain and
beach resorts are the main attractions. A small village, Iboih, is known as a
location for scuba diving. A few meters from Iboih is
the Rubiah islet that is known for its coral reefs.[13] There are also several dive operators in Gapang.
Ecosystem
During 1997–1999, Conservation International
conducted a survey of the coral reef in the area.[6] According to the survey, the coral diversity is
relatively low, but fish species variation is rich. Some species found during
the survey include Pogonoperca
ocellata, Chaetodon
gardneri, Chaetodon xanthocephalus,
Centropyge flavipectoralis,
Genicanthus caudovittatus,
Halichoeres cosmetus, Stethojulis
albovittatus, Scarus
enneacanthus, Scarus scaber and Zebrasoma desjardinii.[6]
On 13 March 2004, a specimen of the rare and
unusual species of shark, megamouth shark, was washed ashore on Gapang beach.[14] Megamouth shark has a distinctive large mouth, very
short snout and is broadly rounded in dorsal view. The specimen is
said to be the 21st[14] (some say it is the 23rd[15]) sighting of the species since its discovery in
1976. The male shark, measuring 1.7 metres (5.6 ft) in length and weighing
13.82 kg (30.5 pounds), was frozen and sent to the Indonesian Institute of
Sciences (LIPI) for further scientific study. As of 2006, there have
only been 36 findings of megamouth sharks in the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans.
The 2004 earthquake and tsunami has affected
the island's ecosystem. At Iboih village, a large swath of mangrove was destroyed. Debris from the land was deposited on
the nearby reefs as a result of the tsunami. In 2005, about
14,400 mangrove seedlings were replanted to save the
mangrove forest.
Apart from underwater ecosystem, Weh island
is the only habitat of one threatened species of toad,
Duttaphrynus valhallae
(formerly Bufo valhallae). The species is only known from the holotype from the island. Due to heavy forestation on the
island, the survival of the species is uncertain.[19]
Sabang International
Regatta
Sabang International Regatta was held on
September 13 to 25, 2011. The participants were expected from Australia, United States, England, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong.
Tourism
Weh Island is small island and some beaches
can be visited in one day only by rental vehicles, because there are no public
transport there.
- Anoi Itam Beach with its black sandy beach is a half-hour drive from Balohan Port. With small fee, visitor can enter Anoi Itam Resort with beautiful scenery.
- Gapang Beach is 17 miles (27 km) from Sabang or one hour drive and covinience for backpackers with modest culinary stalls and accommodations, however has a dive resort.[21]
- Iboih Beach, 5 km (3 mi) from Gapang Beach is the busiest beach in Weh Island and is cheaper than Gapang Beach. The white sandy beach itself is only 150 metres (492 ft) long, yet it is considered a paradise for backpackers because Rubiah Island is directly offshore from it.[22][23]
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