Banyak Islands
The Banyak Islands are a group of 50 relatively small islands off the west coast of Sumatra in the Malay Archipelago in the Indian Ocean.
They are located about 30 kilometers west of Sumatra, about 80 km north of Nias and 40 to 80 km southeast of Simeulue. They belong to the Indonesian province of Aceh.
Most of the islands are uninhabited, a total living on the island group around 7,000 people. The locals are very hospitable and are looking forward to strangers. Belief in spirits and black magic are alive with the villagers. The inhabitants are immigrants for the most part as Settlers of Nias and Central Sumatra. On one of the inhabited islands are Christians. This is the only Christian community in the Muslim Aceh.
The islands are rarely used for agriculture. The villagers live mainly from fishing and partly from the sale of coconuts. All goods of daily use have to be brought over from Sumatra. These goods are offered once a week on the market. There is no medical care. The prevailing sanitary conditions are partly primitive.
In the year 2008 300 tourists found way to the Banyaks. From the port town of Singkil in Sumatra ferries or other boats. Tourist resources are emerging, but there are, for example, still no ATM and no Internet Cafe on the islands.
On the island of Balai live in the same village, most residents.
The largest island Tuangku has an area of 206 km ² and its highest elevation is 315 m high. The largest settlement is called Alaban.
The island Bangkaru is a national park. There nest every night many turtles. The organization " Yayasan Pulau Banyak " has made it his mission to protect the populations. Former Eierdiebe and locals are involved in the project.
On the island Palambak there is a small bungalow. There you can spend your holiday in a magical setting with a twist Robinson Crusoe feeling. Also, offered by " Yayasan Pulau Banyak " canoe tours, Dschungeltrekks and turtle watching.
In the devastating 2004 tsunami, some islands have fallen. The epicenter was close to the islands.