South Tapanuli Regency


South Tapanuli is a regency in North Sumatra. Its seat is Sipirok. This regency was originally very large and contained thousands of cities in Padang Sidempuan. Areas that have separated from South Tapanuli Regency are Mandailing Natal, Kota Padang Sidempuan, Padang Lawas Utara and Padang Lawas Selatan. After the division, the regency seat moved to Sipirok.
The regency covers an area of 4,352.86 square kilometers and according to the 2010 census it had a population of 264,108; the latest estimate is 274,905. These figures exclude the city of Padang Sidempuan, which is virtually surrounded by South Tananuli territory but is independently administered.
There are several attractions in the regency, including Lake Marsabut and Lake Siais. The language used by the people is the Angkola Batak language. The majority religion of the population is Islam. An airport is located in Aek Godang District.

Administration

The regency is divided into twelve districts, tabulated below with their 2010 Census population:
NamePopulation
Census 2010
Batang Angkola32,129
Sayur Matinggi37,655
Angkola Timur
18,553
Angkola Selatan
27,500
Angkola Barat
41,254
Batang Toru28,595
Marancar9,351
Muara Batang Toro11,401
Sipirok30,435
Arse7,871
Saipar Dolok Hole12,674
Aek Bilah6,396

Geography

Location

To the north, the district is bordered by the Central Tapanuli and North Tapanuli districts. The regency borders the Padang Lawas regency in the east, and to the north, the west and the south it borders the Mandailing regency. In the middle of the territory, there is the Padangsidimpuan City, which is entirely surrounded by the South Tapanuli Regency.

Sights

Sights include a waterfall in Damparan, Damparan Hauntas.

Archaeology

The Padang Lawas archaeological site is partly located in the regency. The site covers approximately 1,500 km² over the district of Padangbolak in South Tapanuli, and in Padang Lawas and North Padang Lawas regencies.
The village of Batu Gana in Padangbolak Julu district is the location of a burial site consisting of a megalithic structure.
In the village of Padang Bujur in the same district, one can also find megalithic remains and what seems to be the base for a padmasana.
Other megalithic remains are found at Aek Korsik and Aek Tolong Huta, also in the Padangbolak district.

Wildlife

The critically endangered Tapanuli orangutan lives in the region. It was described as a distinct species in 2017 and represents the first extant species of great ape to be described since the bonobo in 1929.