Sulawesi

Sulawesi, also called Celebes, is a big island in Indonesia. It is one of the four Greater Sunda Islands and the world's 11th-biggest island. Sulawesi is east of Borneo, west of the Maluku Islands, and south of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago.

The island has four main parts that stick out, called peninsulas: the northern Minahasa Peninsula, the East Peninsula, the South Peninsula, and the Southeast Peninsula. These peninsulas are separated by three large gaps in the water, called gulfs: the Gulf of Tomini, the Tolo Gulf, and the Gulf of Boni.

Only three islands in Indonesia are bigger than Sulawesi: Sumatra, Borneo, and Papua. But only Java and Sumatra have more people living on them than Sulawesi does. The Strait of Makassar runs along the west side of Sulawesi, separating it from Borneo.

Etymology

The name Sulawesi may come from two words: sula, meaning "island," and besi, meaning "iron." This name could refer to the iron found near Lake Matano and iron deposits. People began using the name Sulawesi more after Indonesia became independent.

Long ago, Portuguese explorers called the island Celebes. We do not know exactly what this name means, but it might be how the Portuguese heard the local name "Sulawesi."

Geography

Sulawesi is a big island in Indonesia. It is the world's eleventh-largest island. The island has tall mountains in the middle, which makes some parts feel far apart. Sulawesi has four main parts that stick out, separated by three bays: the Tomini, the Tolo, and the Boni.

The island is near other lands and seas. To the west is Borneo, to the north are the Philippines, to the east is Maluku, and to the south are Flores and Timor. Several smaller islands are also part of Sulawesi, such as the Selayar Islands, Sangihe Islands, Talaud Islands, Buton, Muna Islands, Togian Islands, Peleng Island, and Banggai Islands.

Geology

Sulawesi is a large island that rises up from the sea. It has high, mountainous land that is not made from volcanoes. In the northern part called the Minahasa Peninsula, there are active volcanoes like Mount Lokon, Mount Awu, Soputan, and Karangetang.

The island was formed when pieces of the Asian Plate and the Australian Plate bumped into each other. This created cracks in the earth and makes the island likely to have earthquakes.

There is a place called the Bone Basin between the southeastern and southern parts of Sulawesi. It was formed by stretching forces and has layers of rocks that might contain oil and gas. However, the cracks make this area complicated.

Prehistory

See also: Prehistoric Indonesia

The oldest signs of people on Sulawesi are stone tools made by early humans over one million years ago. These tools were found near the village of Ujung. They show that humans lived on the island long ago. Other tools from around 200,000 to 100,000 years ago have also been found.

In October 2014, amazing cave paintings in Maros were found to be about 40,000 years old. These paintings are some of the oldest known in the world. They include images of hands and animals, showing that early people liked to create art. Later discoveries found even older paintings, showing more about how people lived thousands of years ago. In 2026, new paintings of hands and people were found to be over 67,000 years old, making them the oldest known rock art in the world.

History

Sulawesi has a long and interesting history. Long ago, the island was influenced by Hindu and Buddhist cultures. Important statues and other objects show this.

By the 1300s, small kingdoms began to form and trade with each other.

Later, European explorers came to the island. The first were Portuguese sailors in the 1500s. The Dutch came after them and set up trading places. Eventually, the Dutch controlled the island and it became part of their colony.

After World War II, Sulawesi became part of the new country of Indonesia in 1949. The island still has many cultural traditions today, including dances like the Tandako and Padjogé that people still perform.

Population

Sulawesi, an island in Indonesia, is home to many people. In the year 2000, about 14.9 million lived there. By 2020, the number grew to nearly 20 million. The largest city is Makassar.

Most people on Sulawesi follow Islam. They began following Islam in the early 1600s. Today, most are Sunnis.

Christians live in smaller groups, especially near Manado and Tana Toraja. There are also a few Buddhists and Hindus, often among Chinese, Balinese, and Indian communities. Many people also keep older local traditions and beliefs alongside their main ones.

Main article: Languages of Sulawesi

Economy

Main article: Economy of Sulawesi

The economy of Sulawesi mainly relies on farming, fishing, mining, and caring for forests. These activities help provide food and resources for many people living on the island.

Administration

Sulawesi used to be one big area, but now it is split into six parts. These parts are called provinces. They are Gorontalo, West Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, and North Sulawesi. Some of these provinces were made recently, like Gorontalo in 2000 and West Sulawesi in 2004.

The largest cities on Sulawesi are Makassar, Manado, Palu, Kendari, and Gorontalo. There are also many smaller cities on the island.

Flora and fauna

See also: Sulawesi lowland rain forests and Sulawesi montane rain forests

Sulawesi is part of Wallacea, which means it has plants and animals from both Indomalayan and Australasian regions. The island has one type of eucalyptus tree, called E. deglupta. There are 8 national parks on Sulawesi, and 4 of these are underwater. The biggest land parks are Bogani Nani Wartabone and Lore Lindu National Park. Bunaken National Park protects bright coral reefs and could become a World Heritage Site. The northern coast of Sulawesi is important for sea life, especially in the Coral Triangle.

Sulawesi has many animals that live only there. There are 127 types of mammals, and 79 of these are found nowhere else. Two small buffalos called anoa are the largest mammals. Other animals include unusual pigs called babirusas, and several types of night-living primates called tarsiers. There are also many types of rodents and bats that are unique to the island.

There are around 350 kinds of birds on Sulawesi. Some of these birds, like the maleo, are only found on Sulawesi and nearby islands. Other special birds include the snoring rail, the fiery-browed starling, and the Sulawesi masked owl.

Sulawesi has many types of reptiles, both large and small. Some of these include pythons, cobras, and monitor lizards. There are also many kinds of snakes and lizards, some of which are only found on the island.

The island has many kinds of frogs and other amphibians, several of which live only in Sulawesi. There are also more than 70 types of freshwater fish, with many of these found nowhere else in the world.

Sulawesi is also home to many special kinds of freshwater shrimp, crabs, and snails, some of which are only found in certain lakes or caves on the island. The waters around Sulawesi include special animals like the Indonesian coelacanth and the mimic octopus.

Environment

Sulawesi has many beautiful natural spaces, but they face big challenges. Many of the island's forests have been cut down for logging, big farms, and mining. This puts many special animals in danger. Almost all of the wetlands have been lost or hurt.

The island has six national parks, nineteen nature reserves, and three marine protected areas. However, these important places are also at risk from logging, mining, and farming.