TAMAN NASIONAL GUNUNG
LEUSER
Geographical location : 96°35 - 98°30 E ; 2°50 -
4°10 N
Administrative Location : Provinsi Nanggroe Aceh Darusslam and Provinsi
Sumatera Utara
Area : 1,094,692 hectares
Temperature : 21° - 28° C
Rainfall : 2,000 - 3,200 mm/year
Altitude : 0 - 3,381 masl.
Best time to visit : June - October.
(Gunung Leuser National Park) represents several ecosystem types, from
coastal forest ecosystem through tropical lowland forest ecosystem to montane
forest ecosystem. Most of the Park area is covered with thick Dipterocarpaceae
forest with rivers and waterfalls flowing through it. There are some endangered
and peculiar plants, namely daun payung raksasa (Johannesteijsmannia
altifrons), rafflesia flowers (Rafflesia atjehensis and R. micropylora), and
Rhizanthes zippelnii - the biggest flower, with a diameter of 1.5 metres. In
addition, there is one plant unique to the area: the ara, a strangling plant.
Endangered and protected animal species which inhabit the Park include
orangutan (Pongo abelii), siamang (Hylobates syndactylus syndactylus), Asian
elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus), Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris
sumatrae), Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis sumatrensis), serow
(Capricornis sumatraensis), great hornbill (Buceros bicornis), sambar deer
(Cervus unicolor), and leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis sumatrana).
Gunung Leuser National Park has been declared a Biosphere Reserve.
Under a cooperation program between Indonesia and Malaysia, the Park is also
designated as a "Sister Park" to the Taman Negara National Park in
Malaysia.
Interesting
locations/attractions :
Gurah : fantastic views, valleys, waterfalls;
animals and plants such as Rafflesia, orangutans, birds, snakes and
butterflies.
Bohorok : an orangutan rehabilitation centre;
ecotourism activities like kayaking/canoeing, camping, and birdwatching.
Kluet : boating on rivers and lakes, trekking
through coastal forest and caving. Kluet is also a habitat of tigers.
Sekundur : camping, caving, animal observation.
Ketambe and Suak Belimbing : suitable place for
research on primates and other animals; research facilities include
accommodation and a library.
Gunung Leuser (3,404 m asl.).
Gunung Kemiri (3,314 m asl.).
River rafting along the Alas River: start from
Gurah-Muara Situlen-Gelombang for a three-day trip.
Cultural attractions outside the Park include the
Lake Toba Festival in June (held on the Lake) and the Malay Culture Festival
held in July in Medan.