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Pekanbaru is the capital of Riau Province and is the third largest city on the island
of Sumatra, after Medan in the North and Palembang in South Sumatra. A large and clean city,
In the old days, the town was a main trade and distribution hub for commodities and goods
that include coffee and coal produced in the highlands of the Minangkabau in West Sumatra,
to be carried to the busy trading ports along the Straits of Malacca.
The palace of the Sultan of Siak also lies at the mouth of the Siak river by the Straits
of Malacca in the town of Siak Sri Indrapura, some 130 km. northwest of Pekanbaru.
Lately the Riau province has come into international limelight when UK's Steve King broke his own
world record by surfing up the Kampar river on the Bono bore, covering the length of 20.65
km (12.8 miles) in 1 hour and 4 minutes, setting a new World Record for the Longest, Continuous
Bore Ride.
Also by the Kampar Kanan river In a jungle clearing are the ruins of the enigmatic 9th
century Muara Takus Buddhist temple complex. Muara Takus lies 122 km. from Pekanbaru.