Nias Island

The island of Nias is heavily green with thick tropical forests edging into the settlements along the narrow roads that skirt the island. The terrain is hilly, green, lush, with frequent steep river valleys draining water from the interior’s highlands, crossed by numerous bridges. From the air and from the ground, the sea around the island can appear murky from the runoff of all the rivers and the fertile soils they run through. Roughly 75% of the population is farmers and there are open-air markets selling fresh produce all along the roads. When school lets out at mid-day the narrow roads become clogged with kids in school uniforms heading home on foot and moped. Sections of the coastline are rough, jagged limestone reef rock. Areas of Nias were dramatically altered by the tsunami of 2004.