Banda Aceh

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Banda Aceh
Banda Aceh (Indonesia)
Banda Aceh
Banda Aceh
Location of Banda Aceh in Indonesia
Coordinates: 5°33′0″N 95°19′0″E / 5.55, 95.31667
Country Indonesia
Province Aceh
Population (2007)
 - Total 260,000
Time zone WIB (UTC+7)
Website: 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 m. The population was approximately 260,000 in 2006.[citation needed]

The city name first was named as Kutaraja, determined as the provincial capital in 1956.[1] Later its name was changed into Banda Aceh, where the first part of its name comes from the Persian bandar (بندر) and means "port" or "haven". It is also proudly referred to as the "port to Meccah", as Islam first arrived in Aceh and spread throughout Southeast Asia.[citation needed]

Until December 26, 2004, Banda Aceh was a relatively little known town. 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. Tens of thousands of people died and many more were injured.

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

[edit] References

40 Days & 1001 Nights [1], One Woman's Dance Through Life in the Islamic World... - Tamalyn Dallal, 2007. The first part of the journey through the Islamic world goes through Banda Aceh and describes everyday's life of the people in this part of Indonesia.

[edit] External links