Most tourist sites in West Sumatra involve beautiful canyon views, waterfalls and lakes. But in addition to those natural points of interests, culture has created Jam Gadang (a famous clocktower in Bukittinggi) and the Japanese tunnels that are carved into the side of the mountain in which Bukittinggi rests (created for the Japanese army during World War II).
West Sumatra is rich with different types of ecosystems that give life to fresh and saltwater fish, buffalos and fertile rice fields, coconut trees, and a plethora of roots and spices.
Indonesia is located in an area called the "ring of fire," meaning a collection of volcanoes that are active, or ready to explode at a moment's notice. In West Sumatra in particular, the area is susceptible (or prone to) earthquakes, tsunamis, and landslides. These are cause by tremors caused by the earth's ever moving tectonic plates. In 2009, a tsunami devastated the port city of Padang, which caused several buildings to collapse and roads to be closed. Sadly, the disaster affected over a million and a quarter people.
People adapt by simply rebuilding with greater wisdom from experience. Many of the new buildings or renovated buildings are built in a way to move and shift up and down in response to an earthquake. This gives buildings "wiggle-room" to prevent collapse. There are also several buildings that serve as tsunami shelters. They are very high off the ground and stocked with essential supplies like food and medicine.
