Dairi Regency (A Brief Information)

Administrative Map of Dairi

Dairi Regency is a regency on the northwest shore of Lake Toba in North Sumatra. In 2011, the regency covered an area of 1.927,8 square kilometres (744 sq mi) square kilometres and according to the 2011 census had a population of 327.926 people. Its seat is Sidikalang. 

Geography and Climate

Dairi covers a total area of 1.927,8 square kilometres (744 sq mi). It is mostly hills and mountains, averaging 700 to 1,650 metres (2,300 to 4,100 ft) above sea level. It has a tropical rainforest climate, with the heaviest rainfall between September and May.
Dairi is bordered on its north by Southeast Aceh and Karo, to its south by Pakpak Bharat, to its east by Toba Samosir, and to its west by South Aceh.

Demographics

Njuah-Njuah Festival, Dairi

Population pyramid for Dairi as of 2011; males are in blue and females are in red
According to 2011 census, Dairi's population at 327.926, with a sex ratio of 99.43. Of the population, 39.96% is under the age of 14. As of 2009. Dairi has 15 districts (kecamatan) and 169 administrative villages (161 desa and 8 kelurahan). Most of people in Dairi are Christians where GKPPD as the largest church in Dairi.

Coat of arms

Gedung Nasional Djauli Manik, Sidikalang

The coat of arms of Dairi has many connotations. Indonesia's date of independence, 17 August 1945, is indicated by the 17-budded cotton plant on the left side, 8 rattan branches in the center, and 45 seeds of rice on a stalk to the right. The shield in the centre is divided into five, four parts indicating different cash crops important to the area (benzoin resin, coffee, tobacco and patchouli), while the fifth shows a traditional Pakpak Batak house; the house signifies protection. The five point star in the top center signifies the Pancasila-respecting habits of the Dairi people, while the mountains represent tranquility and the chains represent gotong royong, or cooperating and collaborating. The central sharpened bamboo spear represents the Dairi people's struggle for independence.

History

An early Dutch settlement in Dairi


Prior to the arrival of the Dutch East India Company, the people of what is now Dairi lived in traditional adat-regulated communities, with unelected local leaders. After the arrival of the Dutch they established an ethnic-Dutch controleur to be in charge of the Dairi onder afdeling, as well as a native Indonesian demang, or lieutenant. When the Japanese occupied Indonesia beginning in 1942, the Dairi area was also occupied; during this time, local youths were used as forced labour to build the 65 kilometres (40 mi) long Sidikalang road and the Dutch were removed.


After Indonesia's independence, the residents attempted to build a foundation for a new government. However, after the Dutch army recaptured nearby East Sumatra in 1947, they chose a new leader for the Dairi area. Another leader was chosen in 1949; later that year, after the Netherlands recognized of Indonesia's indepence.

Tourism Object

Tao Silalahi, Dairi

1. Tao Silalahi Lake
2. Sidiangkat Hill
3. Lae Pondom
4. Traditional Pakpak House
5. Sicike-Cike Lake
6. Aek Nauli
7. Lae Basbas Waterfall
8. Kempawa Lake
9. Panorama Letter "S"
10. Taman Iman Wisata Sitinjo
11. Kendet Liang Cave
12. Lae Pendaroh Waterfall
13. Aceh Stone
14. Jerro
15. Kangkung
16. Uruk Sembelin
17. Mata Air Bonian
18. Silemboyah
19. Kerbo Stone
20. Sitanduk-tanduk Cave