Sulawesi

Island in eastern Indonesia, one of the Sunda Islands; area (with dependent islands) 190,000 sq km/73,000 sq mi. It includes the provinces of Sulawesi Selatan, population (2000 est) 8,059,627, capital Ujung Pandang; Sulawesi Tengah, population (2000 est) 2,218,435, capital Palu; Sulawesi Tenggara, population (2000 est), capital Kendari; and Sulawesi Utara, population (2000 est) 2,847,142, capital Manado. A mountainous and forested island, it lies off the coast of eastern Borneo. Maize, rice, yams, copra, coffee, and tobacco are the leading crops, and minerals worked include sulphur, iron, nickel, gold, and diamonds.

Dutch control of the area began with a trading settlement here in 1607. In 1949, after World War II, Sulawesi joined the republic of Indonesia. Animal life includes the anoa (or dwarf buffalo) and the babirusa (or pig deer), both of which are unique to the island.