Sulawesi

Sulawesi
Topographic map of Sulawesi
Provincial division of Sulawesi
Other namesCelebes
Geography
LocationIndonesia
Coordinates02°S 121°E / 2°S 121°E / -2; 121
ArchipelagoIndonesian Archipelago
Greater Sunda Islands
Area174,416.16 km2 (67,342.46 sq mi)
Area rank11th
Highest elevation3,478 m (11411 ft)
Highest pointLatimojong
Administration
Indonesia
Provinces
(capital)
Largest settlementMakassar (pop. 1,432,200)
Demographics
Population20,568,411 (mid 2023 estimate)
Pop. density110.5/km2 (286.2/sq mi)
Ethnic groupsMakassarese, Buginese, Mandar, Minahasa, Gorontalo, Kaili, Toraja, Butonese, Muna, Tolaki, Bajau, Mongondow, Sangihe

Sulawesi (/ˌsləˈwsi/ SOO-lə-WAY-see),[1] also known as Celebes (/ˈsɛlɪbz, səˈlbz/ SEL-ib-eez, sə-LEE-beez),[2] is an island in Indonesia. One of the four Greater Sunda Islands, and the world's 11th-largest island, it is situated east of Borneo, west of the Maluku Islands, and south of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago. Within Indonesia, only Sumatra, Borneo, and Papua are larger in territory, and only Java and Sumatra are more populous.

The landmass of Sulawesi includes four peninsulas: the northern Minahasa Peninsula, the East Peninsula, the South Peninsula, and the Southeast Peninsula. Three gulfs separate these peninsulas: the Gulf of Tomini between the northern Minahasa and East peninsulas, the Tolo Gulf between the East and Southeast peninsulas, and the Bone Gulf between the South and Southeast peninsulas. The Strait of Makassar runs along the western side of the island and separates the island from Borneo.

  1. ^ "Sulawesi". Dictionary.com Unabridged (Online). n.d.
  2. ^ "Celebes". Dictionary.com Unabridged (Online). n.d.