The province of Daerah Istimewa Aceh (D.I. Aceh) is westernmost province of the Republic Indonesia with the Indian Ocean to the west, the Strait of Malaca to the east and the Sea of Bengal to the north. In the southeast Aceh shares the border with province of Sumatera Utara (North Sumatera Province). Aceh covers an area of almost 60000 sq. km including well over one hundred island, mainly on west coast. The inland is dominated by the mountain range Bukit Barisan with plateaus Tangse , Gayo and Alas. The highest peaks are Leuser (3466 m), Ucop Molu (3187 m), Abong-Abong (3015 m), Peut Sago (2780 m) and Geureudong (2295m). A coastal plain dominates the western and northern coastal areas. The Province has several lakes of which the laut tawar in central Aceh (60 square km), Aneuk Laot in Pulau Weh (Weh Island) and Laut Bangko in south Aceh are most well-known. The big rivers Alas and Tripa are popular among white water lovers
Climate
Aceh has tropical climate with dry season between March and August, rainy season between September and February. Local variation occur as Aceh is big province with central highlands and both a west and coast. Most rain falls in southtern part, averaging 1000 to 2000 mm per year. Temperature in the coastal areas range between 23 and 32 degrees centigrade with relative humidity between 65 and 75 %. The year isd often divided into westen and eastern seasons. Western season has mainly winds from the west, which make the waves are big on the west coast. Eastern season has mainly wind from the east and waves are smaller on the west coast. This is importand especially for the west coast and far north. Western season normally during the second half of the year and eastern season normally in first half.
