New Observatory Tower amid Southeast Asia’s Largest Mangrove Forests Introduced in Indonesia’s Aceh

KOMPAS.com – Travelers, especially outdoor enthusiasts, can now pamper their eyes with the green scenery overlooking 8,000 hectares of mangrove forests in Langsa city in Aceh on the northern tip of Indonesia’s Sumatera.

To see the largest mangrove forest in Southeast Asia, visitors can take advantage of the newly-built Tower of Mangrove Forest Park. The 45-meter-tall tower was officiated by the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno on Friday, April 15.

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The eight-floor structure can accommodate up to 100 visitors. From the tower, Sandiaga said visitors could take advantage of the beautiful scenery of the mangrove forests and even the Strait of Malacca, a waterway connecting the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.

“The tower will not only become the new tourism icon in Aceh but also in Indonesia,” the minister said in a statement on Friday, April 15.

Dok. Kementerian Pariwisata dan Ekonomi Kreatif An image of the Tower of Mangrove Forest Park in Langsa city in Aceh on the northern tip of Indonesia's Sumatera.

The mangrove forests stand about 184 kilometers or a four-hour drive from the Malikussaleh Airport in the North Aceh regency.

“This is a unique tourist attraction. This location is also known as the largest mangrove forest in Southeast Asia,” he said.

“It is necessary to hold a regional event here to promote and strengthen the tourism,” Sandiaga said.

Also read: Sandiaga Uno’s Strategy to Stimulate Indonesia’s Tourism Industry

Meanwhile, Langsa Mayor Usman Abdullah said that the development of the tower began in 2018 and was completed this year. “About 30 species of mangroves grow here and they are rare, too,” Antara state news quoted Usman as saying on Friday.

(Writer: Ni Nyoman Wira Widyanti | Editor: Ni Nyoman Wira Widyanti)

Source: https://travel.kompas.com/read/2022/04/15/230500127/menparekraf-resmikan-tower-mangrove-langsa-tempat-wisata-baru-di-aceh.