Pekanbaru

Pekanbaru, kota (city) and capital of Riau propinsi (or provinsi; province), Indonesia. It is a port city, located on the Siak River, about 100 miles (160 km) upstream from the Strait of Malacca, in the east-central region of the island of Sumatra. The city was established in the late 18th century as the seat of the sultanate of Siak, which was absorbed by the newly proclaimed Republic of Indonesia in 1945. During World War II the Japanese occupied (1942–45) Sumatra and used Allied prisoners of war and Indonesian—mostly Javanese—coolies (or forced labourers) to build a railway to link the western part of the island to Pekanbaru. Thousands of workers died during the construction. The railway began operation just a few days before the war ended, but it never became fully functional. In the 21st century only fragments of the track remain. A memorial, surrounded by graves of many of the fallen labourers, is located in south-central Pekanbaru.

Pekanbaru is a collection centre for agricultural produce from the hinterland, including rubber, tea, and coffee, together with petroleum, bauxite, and gold. Household industries include wood carving, metalwork, basket weaving, and textile production. The city has an airport, which offers domestic flights and limited international service, most notably to Malaysia. Major roads link Pekanbaru with other large cities in Sumatra, including Medan to the north, Jambi to the southeast, and Bukittinggi to the southwest. A large mosque, built in the 18th century, and Riau University (founded 1962) are located in Pekanbaru. The population of the city is predominantly Malay, with a significant ethnic Chinese minority. Pop. (2010) 882,045.