SULAWESI TENGAH

English Central Celebes propinsi (province), consisting of the northeastern peninsula, the north central part of Celebes island, and a part of the northernmost peninsula, Indonesia. It is bounded by the Makassar Strait on the west, the Celebes Sea on the north, the Teluk (gulf) Tomeni and Teluk Tolo on the east, and the provinces of Sulawesi Utara (North Celebes) on the northeast, Sulawesi Tenggara (Southeast Celebes) on the southeast, and Sulawesi Selatan (South Celebes) on the southwest. It covers an area of 26,921 sq mi (69,726 sq km) and includes the Kepulanan (islands) Togian in the Teluk Tomini, and the Banggai and Bowokan island groups in the Teluk Tolo. The central area, like the rest of Celebes, had Indian settlements from the 2nd century AD and was part of the Buddhist and Hindu empires that ruled Indonesia until the arrival of Islam in the beginning of the 16th century. Subsequently, a number of Muslim states, including Makasar (now the city of Ujung Pandang) and Bone (now Watampone), ruled the island at the beginning of the 17th century. The Makasarese state of Gowa emerged as one of the most powerful and brought nearly all of Celebes under its control. Its chief rivals were the state of Bone and the Dutch (who had entered the region in 1609). The Dutch conspired with the Buginese of Bone (led by Arung Palakka) and succeeded in overthrowing Gowa. Arung Palakka emerged in 166869 as the most powerful ruler in the island; internecine warfare, however, paved the way for the gradual extension of the Dutch hegemony. Celebes, briefly occupied by the British in 181016, reverted to the Dutch in 1817. Although rebellions against the Dutch broke out, they were crushed, and Dutch colonial supremacy was firmly established by 1860. The Japanese occupied the islands during World War II (194245), and, after the war, Sulawesi Tengah was included in the Dutch-sponsored state of East Indonesia until the formation of the Republic of Indonesia in 1950. The general topography is mountainous, marked by volcanic cones including Bukit (mount) Malino, (8,015 ft ), Gunung (mount) Ogoamas (9,557 ft), and Bulu (mount) Nokilalaki (10,863 ft). Extensive uplifting, faulting, and subsidence have formed deep valleys and gorges, particularly in north central Celebes, where there are a number of lakes, including Danau (lake) Poso. The coastal lowlands are discontinuous and relatively narrow. There are extensive coral reefs in Teluk Tomini and Teluk Tolo. Rapid, perennial streams include the Palu, Poso, Lanang, and Bongka. Luxuriant tropical rain forests (with many ferns) cover most of the area up to 1,000 ft in elevation, and dense forests of teak, sal (Shorea), and ironwood occur at higher altitudes. Agriculture is the principal means of livelihood; its products include rattan, resin, sugarcane, copra, and rice. Ironwood and ebony are also important. Industries include wood carving and rice milling and the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and mats and baskets, and the extraction of palm oil. Transport is by river and road (mainly located along the coasts). Palu (the provincial capital), Poso, and Luwuk have airports and, together with Douggala, Kolonodale, and Tolitoli, are the important towns. Pop. (1980) 1,289,635.