Cot Darat – a small settlement in the Kecamatan Samatiga area, Kabupaten Aceh Barat
Cot Darat is a small Indonesian settlement belonging to the Kecamatan Samatiga administrative district as part of Kabupaten Aceh Barat in Aceh province, on the western coast of Sumatra island. Based on its coordinates (4.2122312° N, 96.070567° E), it is located in the coastal, flat areas of the region. Kabupaten Aceh Barat, as one of the kabupaten of Aceh province, had a population of approximately 207,690 as of mid-2024, and its current area following administrative reorganization is 2,927.95 km². As a settlement-level unit, no detailed source material is available specifically for Cot Darat; therefore, the following presentation of the village's context is based on verified data about the broader district and region.
General overview
Cot Darat is not among the more widely known Indonesian settlements or those visited by tourists; it is primarily home to a community relying on local agricultural and fishing activities. Kecamatan Samatiga is one of the districts of Kabupaten Aceh Barat, with its seat in Meulaboh city, the regency-level center. Prior to territorial reforms, Kabupaten Aceh Barat covered a significant portion of Sumatra's western and southern coastline, from the foothills of the Geurutee range to the Krueng Seumayam river, with a total coastline of 250 km. Under its current, reduced territory, the regency's economy is determined primarily by agriculture, fishing, and the extraction of natural resources. Cot Darat, as a small rural unit belonging to the Samatiga district, is likely characterized similarly: small-scale local livelihood and compact community life, though specific, verifiable data on this are not found in the available sources.
Real estate and investment
No direct, itemized verifiable data is available regarding Cot Darat's real estate market. At the broader regency level of Aceh Barat, it can be noted that in the West Aceh areas, real estate prices are generally considerably lower than at more developed Indonesian tourist destinations, and investment activity is also more modest. According to general Indonesian regulations regarding foreign purchasers, foreigners cannot acquire full ownership rights (Hak Milik) over land in Indonesia; for them, Hak Pakai (usage rights) and in certain cases Hak Sewa (lease arrangements) are available, typically for a defined duration. This legal framework applies throughout the country and is applicable in Kabupaten Aceh Barat as well. Due to the limited size of the local real estate market and relatively low development level, Cot Darat and its immediate surroundings are not considered typical investment destinations; transactions in the region occur primarily among local residents, with foreign capital inflow being rare.
Safety and security
No specific public safety statistics regarding Cot Darat are available in the examined sources. Aceh province in general stabilized following the reconstruction period after the 2004 tsunami; the province holds special autonomy status within Indonesia and applies a distinct local regulatory system. Kabupaten Aceh Barat, of which Cot Darat is part, is a collection of rural areas where, compared to major cities, crime rates are generally lower; however, in more remote districts, law enforcement infrastructure may also be more limited. This reflects the general context of the region; we do not provide specific, itemized verifiable data on local conditions.
Tourist attractions
No named tourist attractions in the immediate vicinity of Cot Darat can be identified in the available sources. Regarding the broader region of Kabupaten Aceh Barat, it may be noted that the regency is the birthplace of the national hero Teuku Umar; in Meulaboh city, Universitas Teuku Umar (a state university) and Komando Resor Militer 012/Teuku Umar (a military command headquarters) both bear his name. Meulaboh, as the regency seat, may be located at a relatively close distance to Cot Darat along the coast based on the available coordinates, though verified data on the exact distance in kilometers is not found in the sources. The territory of Kabupaten Aceh Barat once—before administrative expansion—encompassed a 250 km coastline on which various natural beaches and coastal areas are found; however, these cannot be specifically linked to Cot Darat but rather represent the more general geographical attributes of the regency.
Summary
Cot Darat is a small, rural Indonesian village belonging to Kecamatan Samatiga district in Kabupaten Aceh Barat, in Aceh province on the western coast of Sumatra. According to data available at the regency level, the area had a regency-level population of approximately 207,690 as of mid-2024 and is known as the birthplace of the national hero Teuku Umar. Cot Darat itself is not considered either a tourist destination or a significant investment target; the available sources contain no particular infrastructural or economic distinguishing facts about the village. For detailed and current local information, consultation of official administrative sources of Kabupaten Aceh Barat is recommended.
