South Nias Regency

Nias Selatan (South Nias) Regency is a regency in North Sumatra province, Indonesia. In 2015, the regency covered an area of 2,487.98 square kilometres and according to the 2010 census had a population of 289,708;[2] the 2015 Census showed a population of 308,281[3] and the latest estimate (for 2019) is 360,683.[4] Its administrative centre is the port of Teluk Dalam. Apart from the southern portion of Nias Island, the regency also includes the smaller Batu Islands (Pulau Pulau Batu) to the south, lying between Nias and Siberut.

South Nias Regency (Kabupaten Nias Selatan)
Regency
Seal
Country	Indonesia
Province	Sumatera Utara
Regency seat	Teluk Dalam
Government
• Regent	Hilarius Duha
• Vice Regent	Sozanolo Ndruru
• Chairman of Council of Representatives	Elisati Halawa (PDI-P)
• Vice Chairmen of Council of Representatives	Fa'atulö Sarumaha (Nasdem) and Agustana Ndruru (Golkar)
Area
• Total	2,487.98 km^2 (960.61 sq mi)
Population  (2019)[1]
• Total	360,683
• Density	140/km^2 (380/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+7 (WIB)
Website	niasselatankab.go.id

Group of warriors in South Nias. Photo by Christiaan Benjamin Nieuwenhuis

Girls at an offering house at the entrance of a kampong in South Nias

Female dancers

Administrative districts

The regency was divided into eighteen districts (kecamatan) at the time of the 2010 Census, However, since 2010 seventeen additional districts have been created from parts of existing districts, notably in the Batu Islands where there are now seven districts compared with the three in 2010, but also on Nias Island itself where there are now twenty-eight districts within the Regency compared with fifteen in 2010. These are all tabulated below with their areas (in km²) and their 2010[5] and 2015[6] Census populations:

Name	Area in km^2	Population Census 2010[7]	Population Census 2015[8]
Hibala	225.75	9,620	4,449
Tanah Masa	451.43	^(a)	3,626
Pulau Pulau Batu (Batu Islands)	105.09	16,365	6,491
Pulau Pulau Batu Timur (East Batu Islands)	372.05	2,483	1,678
Simuk	20.42	^(b)	1,217
Pulau Pulau Batu Barat (West Batu Islands)	21.06	^(b)	1,511
Pulau Pulau Batu Utara (North Batu Islands)	6.30	^(b)	2,447
Total Kepulauan Batu	1,201.10	28,468	21,419
Teluk Dalam	41.30	27,801	19,129
Fanayama	82.49	19,844	18,400
Toma	41.26	8,013	10,367
Maniamolo	75.32	13,434	9,802
Mazino	39.49	8,274	10,931
Luahagundre Maniamolo	50.39	^(c)	8,452
Onolalau	25.37	^(c)	5,278
Amandraya	76.76	17,099	10,478
Aramo	63.49	7,762	14,622
Ulususua	57.18	^(c)	11,180
Lahusa	80.36	34,915	21,854
Sidua'ori	62.40	^(c)	7,253
Somambawa	40.63	^(c)	12,301
Gomo	37.56	25,078	9,626
Susua	28.23	14,966	18,457
Mazo	29.03	15,129	10,052
Umbunasi	32.81	7,840	10,186
Idanotae	28.31	^(c)	9,837
Ulu Idanotae	14.33	^(c)	6,460
Boronadu	29.33	^(c)	8,339
Lolomatua	21.59	25,198	7,912
Ulunoyo	48.99	^(c)	9,108
Huruna	49.28	^(c)	10,330
Lolowa'u	48.03	30,088	5,816
Hilimegai	40.15	5,799	5,628
O'o'u	73.16	^(c)	5,813
Onahazumba	28.45	^(c)	4,940
Hilisalawa	40.19	^(c)	4,311

Notes:
^(a) The 2010 population of Tanah Masa District (comprising that part of Tanahmasa Island previously part of Hibala District) is included in the 2010 population of Hibala District.
^(b) The 2010 populations of Simuk District (Simuk Island), Pulau Pulau Batu Barat District and Pulau Pulau Batu Utara District are included in the 2010 population of Pulau Pulau Batu District.
^(c) The 2010 populations of the thirteen new districts on Nias Island are included in the 2010 populations of the districts from which they were split off.

The four new districts in the Batu Islands are Pulau Pulau Batu Barat (West Batu Islands), Pulau Pulau Batu Utara (North Batu Islands), Simuk (Simuk Island) and Tanah Masa (that part of Tanahmasa Island previously part of Hibala District). The thirteen new districts on Nias Island itself are Hilisalawa'ahe, O'o'u, Onohazumba, Ulususua, Ulunoyo, Huruna, Luahagundre Maniomolo, Onolalu, Boronadu, Sidua'ori, Somambawa, Ulu Idanotae, and Idanotae.

Tourism

Surfer in South Nias

South Nias Regency is paradise for surfers with 4 surfer beaches:

• Sorake Beach (Lagundri Bay) is second best in the world after Hawaii Beach for surfing. It has 5 level of waves which only occurs here.[9] Located in Luahagundre Maniamolo district with wave height maximum 3-4 meters and it depends on the wind.
• Beaches in Pulau Pulau Batu, Pulau Pulau Batu Barat, and Pulau Pulau Batu Utara districts with wave height maximum 8-9 meters, but have only limited infrastructures.[10]

References

1. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2018.
2. Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
3. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2018.
4. DKCS (Dinas Kependudukan dan Catatan Sipil), Jakarta, 2019.
5. Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
6. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2018.
7. Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
8. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2018.
9. "Pantai Sorake, Idaman Peselancar Dunia". December 7, 2011.
10. Irwan Arfa (September 18, 2016). "South Nias, Paradise for Surfers".