local population commonly referred largest city small active volcanic island northwest sumatra minutes fast regular ship hours ferry mainland originally connected mainland separated sea volcano eruption pleistocene era island situated largest city island northernmost outpost indonesia island known ecosystem indonesian government declared square kilometres inland sea island wildlife protection area rare shark species found shore island habitat threatened coral reef areas island known large variety fish species geography located groups islands scattered line sumatra north burma plate lies active moving small plate complex geological fault system volcanic arc islands created length sea movement island lies kilometres northernmost tip sumatra island small km2 mountainous highest peak volcano metres high known eruption estimated occurred pleistocene age result mountain partially collapsed filled sea forming separate island depth metres close city underwater emerge kind tree hour port west underwater suitable diving called point volcanic cone found jungle fields island metres southeast summit kilometres kilometres northwest summit western shore bay surrounding known diving tourism coral reefs traveling saudi_arabia possible sea place indonesian muslims pilgrimage season inhabitants census reported inhabitants large majority population remaining chinese unknown island inhabited islam main religion special province law applied exclusively province christians island chinese december massive scale earthquake struck earthquake triggered series killed people indonesia effect island relatively small unknown inhabitants killed event economy economy dominated agriculture main products small scale fisheries operate area fishermen explosives fishing extensively wildlife protection area declared indonesian government includes square kilometres inland square kilometres surrounding sea main cities ferry port serves hub island mainland sumatra important late nineteenth century city entry busy shipping route suez_canal opened indonesian archipelago reached africa suez_canal route indonesia shorter natural harbour relatively deep sheltered water dutch_east_indies government decided open opened ships dock associate harbour intended coal station dutch navy later served merchant vessels transfer export goods northern sumatra year vessels pass indonesian government declared gain economic benefit establishing port hub international vessels passing deep water harbour port facilities developed served located currently serving airport nearest airport sultan airport located airport half hour drive close center ferries ferry harbour leaving known underwater diving hiking volcanic mountain beach resorts main attractions small village known location diving meters known coral reefs dive operators ecosystem conducted survey coral reef area according survey coral diversity relatively low fish species variation rich species found survey include march specimen rare unusual species shark shark washed ashore beach shark distinctive large mouth short snout broadly rounded dorsal view specimen said 21st 23rd sighting species discovery male shark measuring metres length weighing pounds frozen sent scientific study findings sharks pacific indian atlantic oceans earthquake affected island ecosystem large destroyed debris land deposited nearby reefs result save forest apart underwater ecosystem island habitat threatened species species known island heavy island survival species uncertain held september participants expected australia united_states england germany malaysia singapore thailand hong_kong tourism small island beaches visited day rental vehicles public transport black sandy beach half hour drive port small fee visitor enter beautiful scenery miles hour drive modest stalls accommodations dive resort busiest beach cheaper white sandy beach metres long considered paradise directly offshore
Weh Island