Sulawesi Utara

Sulawesi Utara
Basic data
Area :	11,066 km²
Residents :	2,265,937
Population density :	205 inhabitants / km²
Capital :	Manado
governor	Sinyo Harry Sarundajang
Location in Indonesia

Sulawesi Utara is an Indonesian province on the northeast tip of the island of Sulawesi . In the west it borders on the province of Gorontalo , in the north on the Celebes Sea , in the south on the Gulf of Tomini and in the east on the Molucca Sea . The province also includes the Sangihe and Talaud Islands , which are connected to the Philippine island of Mindanao .

The largest population group in Sulawesi Utara belongs to the Minahasa people , who predominantly profess Christianity , a specialty in otherwise Muslim Indonesia, which only shares the province with the nearby Moluccas and the Nusa Tenggara Timur province . The capital is Manado with around 450,000 inhabitants. 69% of the population belongs to Christianity (60% of them Protestants and 9% Catholics). There are also Muslims (29%) and Hindus.

The province is predominantly agricultural; palm oil and coconuts are produced for export . Fishing and its processing are also important. The local government wants to promote tourism with references to the political stability and quiet location of the province.

The Portuguese and Spaniards were the first Europeans to visit the region from the 16th century. In the 17th century, the Minahasa allied themselves with the Dutch to suppress the influence of the Muslim sultanates in southern Sulawesi, and as a result, northern Sulawesi came under Dutch colonial rule. During the Second World War , Sulawesi was occupied by the Japanese. In contrast to other regions of Indonesia, enthusiasm for the struggle for independence was subdued in North Sulawesi, and there was fear of paternalism from the Muslim majority population. Nonetheless, the province became part of the now independent Indonesia in 1950.

Administrative division

North Sulawesi is divided into 11 administrative districts ( Kabupaten ) and four cities ( Kota ).

Administrative district	Area (km 2 )	Population census 2010	Seat of government
Bolaang Mongondow		213.223	Kotamobagu
Bolaang Mongondow Selatan		56,546	Molibagu
Bolaang Mongondow Timur		63,593	Tutuyan
Bolaang Mongondow Utara		70,629	Boroko
Kepulauan Sangihe		126.133	Tahuna
Kepulauan Siau Tagulandang Biaro	275.96	63,543	Ondong Siau
Kepulauan Talaud		83,441	Melonguan
Minahasa		309.876	Tondano
Minahasa Selatan		195.087	Amurang
Minahasa Tenggara		100,305	Ratahan
Minahasa Utara		188,467	Airmadidi

City (Kota)	Area (km 2 )	Population census 2010
Bitung	304.00	187.932
Kotamobagu	184.30	107.216
Manado	157.26	408.354
Tomohon	114.20	91,592

Web links

Commons : Sulawesi Utara  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 1 ° 0 '  N , 124 ° 42'  E