Musi River

Musi River is both very broad as well as long, It is about 750 kilometers long
comparable to those found on the big island of Kalimantan, formerly Borneo. The
river flows right through the city, cutting it in two halves called the Ulu bank and the
Ilir bank and linked by a bridge of considerable size and length, called Ampera
Bridge. If the visitors do not care to make an interesting or unique boat trip down the
river, they could still take a walk halfway over the bridge to see the vast panorama
surrounding them, rare at any other place in Indonesia. Down below they will see
unbelievable traffic of boats, big and small, crisscrossing water lines without
accidents as if steered by the most able navigators. From the same spot both halves
of the city are clearly visible as well. And if the times were right, sunrises and sunsets
as witnessed from the bridge would be an unforgettable sight of beauty. Worthwhile
noticing are the floating restaurants and shops on both sides of the river, and other
curious scenes of daily habits of the citys inhabitants.

There is an annual event, which is held around the Independence Day, each
17th of August, and is known as Bidar Race in which boats measuring 24.5 m long
and only 0,75 m wide compete. Each boat carries as many as 50 oarsmen.