The Batang Hari is the longest river in Sumatra island, Indonesia, about 600 km northwest of the capital Jakarta.

Hydrology

The river originates in West Sumatra Province, in the Minangkabau Highlands, home of the Minangkabau people, and flows through Jambi Province to the east coast of Sumatra, reaching the sea in Nipah Panjang District of East Tanjung Jabung Regency. The Trans-Sumatran Highway (AH25) crosses the river at the city of Jambi which is located at some distance from the mouth of the river. The Batang Hari is used by the local population for fishing, transportation, mining, and personal hygiene.

Geography

The river flows in the central area of Sumatra with a predominantly tropical rainforest climate (designated as Af in the Köppen–Geiger climate classification). The annual average temperature in the area is 23 C. The warmest month is April, when the average temperature is around 24 C, and the coldest is January, at 22 C. The average annual rainfall is 2383–3183 mm. The wettest month is December, with an average of 344 mm rainfall, and the driest is August, with 90 mm rainfall.