An Unforgettable Moment In The Island Weh

WEH ISLAND (or We) is a small volcanic island located in the northwest of Sumatra Island. This island extends along 15 kilometers (10 miles) at the northernmost tip of Sumatra. The island was once connected to the island of Sumatra, but later separated by the sea after a volcano eruption last time in the Pleistocene era. The island is located in the Andaman Sea. Largest city in the Weh Island is Sabang, the western of Indonesia. Nicobar Islands and Andaman Islands is the largest island, spread in a line from Sumatra to the Burma plate.

Weh Island famous for ecosystem. The Indonesian government has set the region as far as 60 km from the edge of the island both in and out as nature reserves. Big-mouthed sharks can be found on the coast of this island. In addition, this island is the only habitat for threatened status of frogs, Bufo valhallae (genus Bufo). Coral reefs around the island is known as a habitat for various fish species.

Four small islands around Weh Island are Klah Island, Rubiah Island, Seulako Island, and Rondo Island. Among the four, Rubiah famous as tourist dive for coral reefs.

During the years 1997-1999, Conservation International conducted a survey of coral reefs in the region. According to the survey, relatively few coral diversity, but diversity of fish species is very large. Some species found during the survey including Pogonoperca ocellata, Chaetodon gardneri, Chaetodon xanthocephalus, Centropyge flavipectoralis, Genicanthus caudovittatus, Halichoeres cosmetus, Stethojulis albovittatus, Scarus enneacanthus, Scarus scaber and Zebrasoma desjardinii.


Beside the underwater ecosystem, the island of Weh is the only habitat of the endangered frog species, named Bufo valhallae (genus "Bufo"). This species is known only from illustrations of this island. Because of deforestation on the island of Weh, the population of these species is uncertain.