Banda Aceh

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Banda Aceh
Banda Aceh is located in Sumatra Topography
Banda Aceh
Banda Aceh
Location in Sumatra
Banda Aceh is located in Indonesia
Banda Aceh
Banda Aceh
Location in Indonesia
Coordinates: 5°33′0″N 95°19′0″E / 5.55°N 95.31667°E / 5.55; 95.31667
Country  Indonesia
Province Aceh
Population (2007)
 - Total 260,000
Time zone WIB (UTC+7)
Website http://www.bandaaceh.go.id/

Banda Aceh is the provincial capital and largest city of Aceh, Indonesia, located on the island of Sumatra, with an elevation of 21 meters. The population was approximately 260,000 in 2006[citation needed]. Banda Aceh is located at the northwestern tip of Indonesia.

The city was originally named Kutaraja, and determined as the provincial capital in 1956.[1] Kuta Raja means "City of the King", in reference to the founding of the Aceh Sultanate from Champa origins. Later its name was changed to Banda Aceh, with the first part of the name coming from the Persian bandar (بندر) meaning "port" or "haven". It is also proudly referred to as the "port to Meccah", as Islam first arrived in Aceh before spreading throughout Southeast Asia.[citation needed]

Until December 26, 2004, Banda Aceh was not frequently the subject of international discussion. On that day the Indian Ocean earthquake struck off the western coast of Sumatra. Banda Aceh was the closest major city to the earthquake's epicenter, and suffered further damage when a tsunami struck shortly afterwards. It was the worst hit area out of all the locations hit. 130,000 people died and many more were injured. The tsunamis resulted from an earthquake of magnitude 9.2 and struck at about 6:58am. The epicenter was about 155 miles off the coast of Banda Aceh[2].

The elected mayor and vice-mayor of Banda Aceh are Mawardi Nurdin and Illiza Saaduddin.

Contents

[edit] Transportation

Sultan Iskandarmuda Airport is located in the city of Aceh.

[edit] Landmarks

[edit] Baiturrahman Grand Mosque

This is one of the most famous landmarks in the city. It was rebuilt in 1875 after it was burnt down in the Aceh war[2].

Grand Mosque of Banda Aceh

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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