Aceh

Aceh, also spelled Acheh, Achin, or Atjeh, in full Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam or English State of Aceh, Abode of Peace, autonomous daerah istimewa (special district) of Indonesia, with the status of propinsi (or provinsi; province), forming the northern extremity of the island of Sumatra. Aceh is surrounded by water on three sides: the Indian Ocean to the west and north and the Strait of Malacca to the east. Its boundary with the province of North Sumatra (Sumatera Utara) to the southeast extends north-south from Salahaji, on the northeastern coast just north of Aru Bay, to a point on the southwestern coast about midway between Singkil and Barus. The capital is Banda Aceh.

In December 2004 a severe earthquake centred in the Indian Ocean off northwest Sumatra triggered the great Indian Ocean tsunami that devastated much of Aceh’s western coast and killed tens of thousands of people. Area 22,377 square miles (57,956 square km). Pop. (2000) 3,929,234; (2010) 4,494,410.