1 West Sumatra Province Provincial Emblem Flag Province . Body : West Sumatra Regional Government Government . Governor: Irwan Prayitno (PKS) . Vice Governor: Nasrul Abit Capital: Padang Royal capital: - Population: 5,321,500 (2017) Area: 42,012.89 km2 Administrative divisions West Sumatra Province is subdivided into twelve regencies and seven autonomous cities, which lie outside any regency. The regencies and cities are listed below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Census and at the most recent (January 2014) estimates. Demographics The Census population of West Sumatra was 2.8 million in 1971, 3.4 million in 1980, 2 4.0 million in 1990, 4.25 million in 2000, and 4.85 million in 2010, the latter with 2,404,472 males and 2,442,437 females. In 2014, West Sumatra's population was an estimated 5,098,790 people, of whom 4,486,935 (88%) were recorded by the Badan Pusat Statistik as Minangkabau people. Batak people, mainly from Mandailing sub-ethnic group, and Javanese comprised 4% of the population respectively, while Mentawai people who live in the Mentawai islands made up 1%. Geography West Sumatra lies in the middle of the western coast of Sumatra, and has an area of 42,130.82 km2. Geographic features include plains, mountainous volcanic highlands formed by the Barisan mountain range that runs from north-west to south-east, and an offshore island archipelago called the Mentawai Islands. The West Sumatran coastline faces the Indian Ocean and stretches 375 km from North Sumatra province in the north-west to Bengkulu in the south-east. The lakes of West Sumatra include: Maninjau (99.5 km2), Singkarak (130.1 km2), Diatas (31.5 km2), Dibawah (14.0 km2), Talang (5.0 km2). The rivers of West Sumatra include: Kuranji, Anai, Ombilin, Suliki, Agam, Sinamar, Arau. The mountains & volcanoes of West Sumatra include: Kerinci (3,805 m), Marapi (2,891 m), Sago (2,271 m), Singgalang (2,877 m), Talakmau (2,912 m), Talang (2,572 m), Tandikat (2,438 m). West Sumatra is one of the earthquake-prone areas in Indonesia, due to its location in the tectonic slab located between the confluence of two major continental plates (the Eurasian plate and Indo-Australian plate) and Great Sumatran fault, plus the activity of the active volcanoes. Large earthquakes that occurred recently in West Sumatra earthquake were the 2009 Sumatra earthquake and the 2010 Mentawai earthquake and tsunami. Tourist attractions The favourite tourism places are : . Jam Gadang – the clocktower in the downtown of Bukittinggi . Panorama – Viewing to Sianok valley . Air Manih beach – The beach that stretch from the north to south of Padang coastal . Padang mountain . Caroline beach . Pagaruyung Palace in Batusangkar . Harau valley . Lake Maninjau . Lake Singkarak . Lake Diatas and Lake Dibawah . Sikuai Island There are 25 islands at Pesisir Selatan Regency potential to be tourist sites. Cubadak Island (9 hectares), Pagang Island (12 hectares) and Pulau Penyu (Turtle Island) have been developed well. At the northern part will be developed Semangki Besar Island, Semangki 3 Kecil Island, Marak Island, Setan Terusan Island, and Karao Island. At the southern part will be developed Kerabak Ketek Island, Kerabak Gadang Island, and Kosong Island. The traditional dance is "Tari Piring" or Plate Dance which is originally came from Solok, West Sumatra. .