NORTH SUMATRA CULTURAL AND TOURISM

North Sumatra, with it's colourful, ethnically-mixed population, is Indonesia's most populous province outside Java. It now has over 11 million inhabitants more than the entire population of Kalimantan or all of the islands of Nusa Tenggara. Dynamic Bataks, Malays, Javanese, Indians and Chinese have created a fascinating kaleidoscope of modern and traditional Indonesian cultures. Some of the ethnic groups which live in this province, include the Malays, who live along the eastern coast of the island, the Bataks who can be devided into six sub-ethnic groups: Karo, Simalungun, Angkola, Mandailing, Pakpak, and the Toba who are the biggest sub-ethnic, and the people of Nias island. The province's most interesting tourist destination is Lake Toba situated in the centre of the Bukit Barisan mountain range, Mount Leuser National Park, where there is a rehabilitation center for Orang utans in Bahorok Bukit Lawang, Berastagi is a famous weekend and holiday resort located in the Karo highlands and Nias island.