Southeast Sulawesi

Sulawesi Tenggara is a province of Indonesia on the island of Sulawesi. It comprises the south-eastern peninsula that extends between the Banda Sea and the Gulf of Bone.

The province comprises one of the most remote parts of the island, it is not connected by highways with the other provinces of the island. The main transport is the ferry across the Gulf of Bone to Sulawesi Selatan and the flight connections to and from Makassar ( capital of South Sulawesi ). Capital of the province is Kendari on the east coast. Kolaka is located on the West Coast as a major city.

The population is made up of several nations together, including Tolaki, Morunene, Butonese, Munanesen ( locally called ' Wuna ') and Bajo, all of whom speak the Malay languages. The majority of the population (57% ) is committed to Islam. Today In addition to these five ethnic groups still Bugis and in recent years, immigrant transmigrants from Bali and Java. The Tolaki settle in the areas around Kendari and Kolaka. The group of Moronene inhabits the south of the island and the island of Buton Kabaena. The Butonese form the main group on the island of Buton. They are divided into 15 sub-groups. The Munanesen live on the island of Muna and form six groups, which differ in culture and language. Bajau are sailors who originally lived in huts on the sea, but now more and more settled on the coasts of islands. They retain their original lifestyle with a variety of rituals and festivals, while other ethnic groups are beginning to take advantage of the use of modern technologies.

In the economy dominates agriculture, plantations, among other coconuts, cocoa and soybeans are grown. Meaning also has the timber industry ( teak ) and fishing. The South Sulawesi Province is known for its ikat weaving.

The history of Southeast Sulawesi began in the 13th century with the founding of Butonesischen kingdom. The then resulting art and culture has preserved over many generations until the present time. The relics of this kingdom can be found in the building complex of the palace Butonesischen such as Baruga, an old mosque and the Badia Palace again. The region was a long time under the influence of the Empire of Bone in southern Sulawesi, who also brought Islam in the 17th century in the province. The Dutch subjugated the region in the 19th century. Following a brief Japanese occupation during the Second World War, it became part of independent Indonesia,

Administrative divisions

Southeast Sulawesi consists of ten regencies ( kabupaten ) and two cities ( kota ).

National Parks

• National Park Rawa Aopa Watumohai
• Wakatobi Islands