Download Where are the Mentawais?

Introduction to
Indonesia and
the Mentawai
Islands
Indonesia
– some facts
o Indonesia is an archipelago made up of over 17,000
islands straddling the equator (0° latitude).
o Indonesia is very seismically active and has over 400
volcanoes; 130 of which are active.
o Indonesia has 2 main islands – Sumatra and Java – with
the country’s capital city, Jakarta, being located on Java.
o Indonesia is the 4th largest country in the world by
population with over 240 million people.
o It is the largest Muslim country in the world.
Natural
Hazards
Indonesia is
located in the
world’s most
seismically
active region (the ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’) and so experiences
frequent earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions. The
Pacific Ring of Fire is home to 90% of the world’s earthquakes.
http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Glossary/PlateTectonics/Maps/map_plate_tectonics_world.html
Look at the map below to see where most
earthquakes occur – what is the relationship between
this and tectonic plates?
http://www.extremescience.com/zoom/index.
php/current-hazards-map
Click on link to see an image of the
earth where plate boundaries are
clear. Zoom in on Indonesia.
The Indo-Australian Plate is
subducting beneath the
Eurasian Plate, where most
of Indonesia is located, at a
rate of around 80-110mm
per year – this is very rapid
Cross-section of Indonesian region
(the Plates under NZ are
moving at 5mm per year).
http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Glossary/VolcanoTypes/island_oceanic_continental.html
Effects of a disaster – Boxing Day
Tsunami 2004, Indonesia
National Geographic documentary about the
Boxing Day Tsunami
•Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4U_ToDTq-Y&NR=1
•Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPm-7MPSju4&feature=related
•Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEvk1oFGIO8&NR=1
The Mentawai Islands
o The Mentawai Islands make up part of the
Indonesian archipelago.
o There are about 70 islands in the Mentawai island
chain and they lie just South of the equator.
o There are over 70,000 people living in the
Mentawais.
o This area is known for its amazing surf.
Location
Mentawai Islands
The Mentawai Islands
are approximately
140km off the western
coast of the main island
of Sumatra. This
location experiences
high energy waves so is
popular for surf tourism
Impact of tourism
(a movement of people which has
consequences)
Surf tourism grew in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s and
brought surfers from NZ, Australia, USA and
Western European countries to remote Indonesian
communities. This would eventually bring the
people who would found SurfAid International to
the Mentawai region.
Click on link to watch Bombora documentary on the
growth of surf culture.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvkHvi43FA4