Central Sulawesi (Sulawesi Tengah) is a province of Indonesia located in the heart of Sulawesi. It was established on April 13, 1964.
Central Sulawesi has an area of 68,033 km² (26,268 sq mi) and is surrounded by Gorontalo in the north, South Sulawesi and South East Sulawesi in the south, Maluku in the east, and the Makassar Strait in the west.
Regencies
The Central Sulawesi province is divided into several regencies and one municipality:
* Banggai
* Banggai Island
* Buol Regency
* Donggala Regency
* Morowali
* Parigi Moutong
* Poso Regency
* Tojo Una-Una
* Toli-Toli
* Palu (municipality)
Cities
Palu is the province’s capital. Major cities are:
* Ampana
* Banggai
* Bungku
* Buol
* Donggala
* Kolonodale
* Luwuk
* Parigi
* Poso
* Toli-toli
Population
Year Population Density
1990 1,711,327 25
1995 1,938,071 28
2000 2,218,435 35
Population growth between 1990 and 2000: 2.57%
Climate
* Minimum temperatures: 19.80- 22.60°C
* Maximum temperatures: 34.00- 37.00°C
* Humidity: 78 – 83%
* Places of Interest:
POSO
Poso is the city main port and port town and terminal in north coast Central Sulawesi region. For tourist, Poso is sojourn town (transit) before continue the journey to some tourism locations around Poso for example to the beach or to Ampana for then join with others ship towards to Togean Island. However, Poso self is pleasing town for a take a rest before continue the journey.
Poso is a regular small town, and you can go wherever you want in this town only by feet. Poso Downtown located in Sumatera Street and the around area which has a number of hotels, restaurant and shop area.
TENTENA
Tentena which located in back part of north Poso Lake is the wider village and more beautifully from Pendolo. This place encircled of hilly that grew by clove crop. When bloomy clove (finite June to November), clove tree will release clove interest fragrance. Tentena have accommodations facility and complete restaurants, but the beach in Tentena still beautiful compared to in Pendolo. The interesting location, which must be visited when you to reside in Tentena is bridge along 210 meters length that reside in back part to be north Poso Lake. Under the bridge, lake water rapidly flows to enter river to start the length journey towards to sea. Tentena is famous with eel animal with length reach two meters. These animals live in lake base and a lot to exit follow the water current towards river. In the riparian there is Pamona Cave. Panorama near to this cave is enough beautirfull. Farther to the town, in roadway towards to Kolonodale there is Latea cave that contain of dead body bones that buried during in the past.
PALU
Palu is the capital Central Sulawesi Province, which geographically this region located in upstate. Town which seldom has rain known as one of dry town in Indonesia with hot air in the afternoon and nocturnal cold. In it history, Palu has ever occupied by Japan army in world second. In general, the tourist visit Palu because wishing trekking to Lore Hindu National Park that reside in south Palu or Tanjung Karang that is reside in north. If reside in Palu it is possible you can visit Central Sulawesi Province Museum that have collection of folk art objects as well as archaeological object. You also can visit traditional house Banua Souraja and Datu Karama. Palu Beach is the cleanness beach.
KOLONODALE
This small town located in one of Tomori Bay angle with the beautiful panorama. Kolonodale is the gateway towards Morowali Garden, which is preserve area. This area has level of height rainfall and takes place approximant during the year. The best time to visit this place is during September and November. Most of lodging, shop and market reside in located area not far from the main dock. The intersecting street in front of market is also functioned as bus terminal.
DONGGALA
During colonial, Donggala is port town and commerce that is enough busy in Central Sulawesi region. But when Donggala port had superficiality, hence trade ships that were usually halting-place to this place, move to other port. Now on, Donggala position for tourist, is only as transit town before towards to ‘Tanjung Karang’, which is the important tourism location in this region.
TOGEAN ARCHIPELAGO
Foreign tourist, who is visit Togean archipelago for the first time, will feel fall in love with its rock islands beauty in this place. The beauties of Togean nature make many tourists finally choose to remain longer from initially plan. Archipelago that is located in the middle of Tomini Bat is grew by forest area, which have not touched and become shelter for the animals in it. But the real beauty resides in the beach and sea. Various combinations forms of rock unite bluely of clear seawater make the beauty of this place become hardly impressing.
Togean Archipelago is the only place in Indonesia that has three different rock areas but stay in one same area. The three rock areas is atoll rock, barrier rock and coastal rock, all become flora and sea fauna habitat. Atoll rock is coral island form that midst of its there is deep lake. Barrier rock is in a row consecutive rock encircle the island look like fortress or wall on the sea that protect other island in nearness from the sea wave dashing against. This rock height start from finite base to sea level reach 200 meters, this is not including part of rock on the surface, which able to reach some meters height, again.
BATU DAKA ISLAND
Bata Daka Island is the biggest island and easiest to reached in Togean archipelago. In Batu Daka Island there are two villages that is Bomba and Wakai. Bomba village, they are the settlement area, which located in northwest back part of Togean archipelago. Bomba is the most beautiful place in Togean area and not crowded, hence most tourists’ pass this place is just for towards main purpose that is to Wakai in Kadidiri Island. However Bomba is interesting place. Here, the visitor can swim and snorkeling in good location. You also can visit bat cave, which located near to Bomba but to visit this place required by guide.
WAKAI
The biggest settlement area in Togean is Wakai. This place is point of departure for ships, which would towards to Kadidiri Island. In this place there are two lodgings and a number of haberdashery shops. Some kilometers towards hinterland there is waterfall. Tourist can do the pleasing journey towards to waterfall through the villages, which stay in this area. Two lodgings in this place are Wakai Cottages and Togian Island Hotel.
KADIDIRI ISLAND
Kadidiri Island, which is located not far from Wakai, is the center of tourism area in Togean Island. Kadidiri Island is very popular island among tourist because the beach is a real good with snorkeling location and dive a real prima and it also available many doss houses. In Westside of the coastal there is consecutive precipitous reef that become rock crab habitat.
MALENGE ISLAND
Malenge Island is island, which rather cloistered but has a real good water territory area for snorkeling with the location not far from the beach. The local resident with NGO help have built the journey route to pass is ambient forest and mangrove forest which good for assisting to know the places or animal habitat in this island like monkey, hornbill, polecat and salamanders. Lodging in this island can be met at near to dock for example Malenge Indah Motel, Lestari Motel and Honeymoon Beach Bungalows.
WALEA KODI ISLAND
The only settlement in Walea Kodi Island is in Dolong village, which is fisherman village that is enough stirred. The tourism facility and transportation in this place are very limited. Dolong, have coast that is not too good but there are a number of locations to snorkeling. The lodging in this place is Lima Hotel and Walea Dive Center Resort.
LAIRIANG RIVER
Lairiang River. Lairiang is the longest river in Sulawesi Island running down from Napu, Besoa, Bada and Gimpu valleys ending into Makassar straits in the west. Napu, Sobek (white water rafting team) form America discovered Lariang River is one of the best rivers for rafting. It has the score IVV grade. Most of these trekkers take this area for their trekking and rafting as well. The rumbling of Lairiang river could be heard from a remote distance, nothing you can see except the huge bluish tropical rain forest as far as your eyes can see.
LORE LINDU NATIONAL PARK
Lore Lindu National Park. The second biggest lake in Central Sulawesi is Lake Lindu covering the area of 3,150 ha. It is located on highland about 1,200 m from the sea level. The beautiful panoramic view and it has a cool climate. Lake Lindu can be reached by car from Palu to Rahmat village then trekking through the thick tropical rainforest for about 4 hours. The visitor can stay at cottages. Barkcloth which is made in Bada, Kulawi and Napu valleys. Some megalithic statues of thousands of years at Napu, Besoa and Bada Valleys are consider to have relation with their ancestor worship. The statues with 1,5 m to 4 m height and 3000 years B.C. to 1500 years A. D.
