Aceh has abundant natural resources, including petroleum and natural gas. Some analysts estimate Aceh's natural gas reserves are the largest in the world. Aceh is also famous for its forests located along the Bukit Barisan range from Kutacane in Southeast Aceh to Ulu Masen in Aceh Jaya. A national park called Gunung Leuser National Park (TNGL) was established in Southeast Aceh.
Aceh is the land closest to the epicenter of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. After the earthquake, tsunami waves hit most of the province's west coast. About 170,000 people died or disappeared from the disaster. This disaster also encouraged the creation of a peace agreement between the government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).