Batu Islands

The Batu Islands ( Indonesian Kepulauan Batu, literally " island rock group " ) are an archipelago off the western coast of Sumatra in the Malay Archipelago and part of the Indonesian province of North Sumatra.

They form the link of a chain of islands that stretches between 5 ° N and 4 ° south of Simeulue to Enggano - the south is Siberut ( the northernmost of the Mentawai Islands), in the north of Nias.

The Batu Islands are together approximately 1154 km ². In addition to the 48 smaller islets, which are occupied only about twenty, these include three main islands of approximately equal size:

• Pini with an area of ​​312.7 km ² and the highest elevation of 82 m
• Tanahmasa with an area of ​​344.3 km ² and the highest elevation of 204 m
• Tanahbala with an area of ​​467.6 km ² and the highest elevation of 302 m

The population had formerly numerous ties to Nias.

The approximately 10,500 inhabitants are mainly Malays. Administrative center is Pulautelo on the eponymous island Telo.

The equator passes through the north and the south Tanahmasas Pinis.