Banda Aceh

Infobox City
official_name = Banda Aceh
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map_caption = Location of Banda Aceh in Indonesia
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Indonesia
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = Aceh
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population_as_of = 2007
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population_total = 260000
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timezone = WIB
utc_offset = +7
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latd=5 |latm=33 |lats=0 |latNS=N
longd=95 |longm=19 |longs=0 |longEW=E
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website = [http://www.bandaaceh.go.id/ www.bandaaceh.go.id]
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Banda Aceh is the provincial capital and largest city of Aceh, Indonesia, located on the island of Sumatra, with an elevation of 21 m. The population was approximately 260,000 in 2006.Fact|date=May 2008

The city name first was named as Kutaraja, determined as the provincial capital in 1956. [Citation| author=Government of Indonesia |title=UU 24/1956, Establishment of Regional Autonomy in the Province of Aceh and Replacement of Regulation about the Establishment of the Province of North Sumatra| publisher=Indonesia Ministry of Justice and Law |url=http://www.legalitas.org/incl-php/buka.php?d=1900+56&f=uu24-1956.htm |accessdate=2007-09-02 |date=25 October 1956 |id=UU 24/1956] Later its name was changed into Banda Aceh, where the first part of its name comes from the Persian "bandar" (بندر) and means "port" or "haven". It is also proudly referred to as the "port to Meccah", as Islam first arrived in Aceh and spread throughout Southeast Asia. Fact|date=May 2008

Until December 26 2004, Banda Aceh was a relatively little known town. On that day the Indian Ocean earthquake struck off the western coast of Sumatra. Banda Aceh was the closest major city to the earthquake's epicenter, and suffered further damage when a tsunami struck shortly afterwards.It was the worst hit area out of all the locations hit. 130,000 people died and many more were injured.

The elected mayor and vice-mayor of Banda Aceh are Mawardi Nurdin and Illiza Saaduddin.

References

* Dallal, Tamalyn. [http://www.40daysand1001nights.com "40 Days & 1001 Nights: One Woman's Dance Through Life in the Islamic World..."] , 2007. ISBN 0979515505 (book). The first part of the journey through the Islamic world goes through Banda Aceh and describes everyday life of the people in this part of Indonesia.

External links

* [http://www.bandaaceh.go.id Official site]
* [http://www.aceh.net Aceh.net]