Geography of Sulawesi Island (Indonesia)

Sulawesi, formerly known as Celebes by the Portuguese, is divided into the north (Minahasa), east, south, and southeast, which roughly correspond to the island's four peninsulas. In the waters around the main island, there are other tiny islands worth visiting, including the Gulfs of Tomini between the north and east, Gulfs of Tolo between the east and southeast, and Gulfs of Bone between the south and southeast. Sulawesi is home to several different civilizations, including the famous maritime Bugis, the Tana Torajans, and the Minahasans in the north.

It also has a ton of natural attractions, including national parks, volcanoes, lakes, and world-class diving and snorkelling. The majority of people are Muslim, but Christians make up about 5% of the population. Followers of either religion are free to worship local gods.

Physical Features

Sulawesi, at 174,600 square kilometres, is the second-largest island in the world, right behind Ellesmere Island in Canada. The words "sula," which means "island," and "besi," which means iron, are said to have combined to form the name "Sulawesi," probably alluding to the historical export of iron from the Lake Matano iron mines. Along with the aforementioned Celebes Sea, the island has also been referred to as Celebes. The term "Sulawesi" may have originated from Portuguese explorers who gave the island its name. But once Indonesia earned its independence, the word "Sulawesi" came to be used frequently for the island.

In the middle of Indonesia's archipelago is the island of Sulawesi. It is a member of the Greater Sunda Islands Island chain. The Philippines may be seen across the Celebes Sea, which the island's northern boundary is. The Lesser Sunda Islands and the Flores Sea are to the south of Sulawesi. Sulawesi is located to the west of the Makassar Strait, and Borneo is located across the strait. To the east of Sulawesi are the Banda Sea, the Molucca Sea, and the islands of the Banda Arc, which include the Bacan Islands, Buru, and Taliabu Island.

Given that the island is made up almost entirely of four interconnected peninsulas, it is infamously referred to as a large island with no interior. Its 6,000 kilometres of long and winding coastline are vast. Other large islands completely encircle the island: Borneo to the west, the Philippines to the north, the Maluku islands to the east, and Flores and Timor to the south. Borneo is one of the world's largest islands. Mamuju (West Sulawesi), Manado (North Sulawesi), Palu (Central Sulawesi), Makassar (South Sulawesi), Kendari (Southeast Sulawesi), and Gorontalo are the six Indonesian provinces that make up Sulawesi politically. The main city on the island, Makassar, is located on the peninsula in the southwest and has a population of 1.25 million.

Several plates from Asia, Australia, and the Pacific islands collided to form the odd shape of Sulawesi, which consists of five connected peninsulas with little to keep them together. The island is home to thirteen freshwater lakes, including Matano, Southeast Asia's deepest lake.

Biodiversity

The flora and wildlife of Sulawesi are remarkably diverse, and the marine life along its coastline is abundant. The unusual island, which is situated on Wallace's Line, is home to a variety of species that have Australasian and Asian ancestry, however the majority are Australasian in origin. The proportion of endemic species on land is especially significant. One of the greatest percentages of endemic mammals in the world (62%), with 72 of the 127 identified mammals being endemic. The number increases to an incredible 98 percent when bats are taken out of the equation because they have a higher propensity for migration.

Furthermore, 34% of the island of Sulawesi's nearly 1500 bird species are endemic. Unfortunately, little is known about other wildlife. There are at least 52 terrestrial snake species, forty lizard species, and twenty-five amphibian species recognized. Additionally, the island is home to 38 different species of the enormous swallow-tailed butterflies that so enthralled Alfred Russell Wallace during his visit. The vanishing mangrove forests of Sulawesi are home to 67 endemic species of fish, according to researchers. Bunaken National Park, which safeguards a rich coral ecological system, has been proposed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Geology

The heart of the island is a high hilly region that is primarily non-volcanic and slopes upward from the coastlines of the deep waters that surround it. The northern Minahassa Peninsula, which extends to the Sangihe Islands, is home to active volcanoes. Numerous active volcanoes, including Mount Lokon, Mount Awu, Soputan, and Karangetang, may be found on the northern peninsula. The island is thought to have been created by the collision of terranes from the Asian Plate, which formed the island's west and southwest, and the Australian Plate, which formed the island's southeast and Banggai, with island arcs that were previously in the Pacific, which formed the island's north and east peninsulas.

The island is susceptible to earthquakes because of its numerous tectonic origins, which have left the terrain scarred by numerous faults, notably the fatal quakes of 2018 and 2021. Unlike the majority of the other islands in the biogeographical region of Wallacea, Sulawesi is a composite island at the heart of the Asia-Australia collision zone and is not really oceanic. A portion of the island was once joined to either the Australian or Asian continental margin, but vicariant processes caused it to become split from these regions.

In the Eocene, around 45 Mya, the emergence of the Makassar Strait divided West Sulawesi from Sundaland. It has recently been proposed that extensional fragmentation followed a single Miocene collision of West Sulawesi with the Sula Spur, the western end of an ancient folded belt of Variscan origin in the Late Paleozoic, which replaced the traditional view of collisions of multiple micro-continental fragments sliced from New Guinea with an active volcanic margin in West Sulawesi since the Early Miocene c. 20 Mya.

Conclusion

The alluring Indonesian island of Sulawesi, which is fashioned like a four-legged octopus, is home to a diversified environment, a thriving fauna, and an intriguing cultural history. Sulawesi is a large island that is divided into four peninsulas, each of which has a distinct culture and a variety of natural landmarks, such as national parks, volcanoes, and beautiful lakes. More than 6,000 km of the Celebes Sea, Borneo, the Philippines, the Maluku islands, Flores, and Timor encircle its shore.

The geological history of the island is characterized by tectonic movement and volcanic landscapes. Sulawesi distinguishes out as a biodiversity hotspot due to its amazing number of endemic species, which makes it a unique tourist destination.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the geographical shape of Sulawesi?

Sulawesi resembles a crooked four-legged octopus and is the second-largest island in the world, covering 174,600 square kilometers.

What are the main provinces in Sulawesi?

Sulawesi is politically divided into six Indonesian provinces: West Sulawesi, North Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, and Gorontalo.

What is the biodiversity like on Sulawesi?

Sulawesi is home to diverse flora and fauna, with a significant percentage of endemic species. It boasts the world's highest percentage of endemic mammals and a large number of endemic bird species.

What geological processes shaped Sulawesi's landscape?

Sulawesi's landscape was shaped by the collision of several tectonic plates, resulting in diverse geological formations and active volcanoes.

Is Sulawesi prone to earthquakes?

Yes, Sulawesi is susceptible to earthquakes due to its tectonic origins, and it has experienced significant seismic activity over the years.