Sulawesi Island

Sulawesi Island Latest News

In a limestone cave on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, a hand stencil has been dated to at least 67,800 years ago, making it the oldest known example of rock art currently identified anywhere in the world.

About Sulawesi Island

• Sulawesi, formerly known as Celebes, is a large island in Southeast Asia, in the Indonesian archipelago.
• It sits centrally within the Indonesian archipelago.
• It is part of the island chain known as the Greater Sunda Islands. 
• It is the 11th largest island in the world. It covers an area of 180,680.7 sq. km.
• The island consists almost entirely of four interconnecting peninsulas. Three large bays, or gulfs, separate these peninsulas.
• Makassar is the largest city on the island.
• The island is surrounded on all sides by other big islands: Borneo to the west, the Philippines to the north, the Maluku Islands to the east, and Flores and Timor to the south.
• The island is highly mountainous, with some active volcanoes.
• The highest peak on the island of Sulawesi is Mt. Ratenkombola, which is also known simply as Mario.
• Sulawesi is known for its rainforests, which once covered the entire island until human activity led to mass deforestation.
• It is home to 127 types of native mammals. A large number, 62% (79 species), are endemic.
• The island contains thirteen freshwater lakes, including the deepest lake, Matano, in Southeast Asia.
• It has several remarkable prehistoric cave paintings depicting ancient hunts and animal life. 
• Seven major ethnic groups inhabit Sulawesi: the Toala, Toraja, Buginese, Makassarese, Minahasan, Mori, and Gorontalese.

Source: TOI

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