east of Ampana and along the mountain range of
the northern peninsula, support religions in which sjamanism
plays a role. The Dutch reformed church and the Salvation Army
have realised a limited amount of conversions, but over 75 per
cent of the population is Muslem. This percentage is even
higher in the densely populated coastal areas and the valleys,
where the traders, farmers and fishers of Buginese, Mandarese
and Gorontolan origin brought Islam when they settled
there. Geologically, the province forms a splendid mozaic.
Vulcanic activities and landslides, from which the island is
created, left behind a network of rivers, valleys and craters
which later became rivers, lakes and high plains. With a size
of 68033 sq.km., ab out the size of Ireland, this is the
biggest of the provinces in Sulawesi.
Sulawesi is, however, a major source of copra, and corn,
rice, cassava, yams, tobacco, and spices are grown. Tourism
was developed in the 1990s, and Sulawesi has become especially
attractive to divers. The inhabitants are Malayan, except for
some indigenous ethnic groups in the interior. The largest
ethnic group is the Makasarese-Bugis, who are renowned as
seafaring traders; they are Muslim. In the north are the
Minahassa, who are Christian. The Portuguese first visited the
island in 1512. The Dutch expelled the Portuguese in the 1600s
and conquered the natives in the Makasar War (1666–69). In
1950, it became one of 10 provinces of newly created
Indonesia; it has since been divided into 4 provinces. Since
1998 the island has been the site of violence between Muslims
and Christians. The Univ. of North and Central Sulawesi is in
Manado, and private universities are in Manado, Gorontalo, and
Ujung Pandang. The Celebes Sea. is north of the island,
between it and the Philippines
For descriptive
itinerary, Tour Price, flight details, airfares, further
information and private trip arrangement, please contact
us
SALES & MARKETING OFFICE : Jl. Cendrawasih V 103, Makassar ( UjungPandang
) South Sulawesi, East Indonesia - 90123 Phone :
+ ( 62 ) 411852445 Urgent Reservation via SMS :
081342256779 (inside
Indonesia)
+ ( 62 ) 81342256779 (outside Indonesia) Fascimile : + ( 62
411 ) 872061 Air-mail address : P.O.Box 1684 - Makassar,
East Indonesia E-mail :
info@sulawesiexplore.cjb.net
: spanish@sulawesiexplore.cjb.net
( Spanish - Division ) Website :http://www.sulawesiexplore.cjb.net
CONTACT PERSON Ziaur Rahman E-mail :
ziaur@sulawesiexplore.cjb.net |