Southeast Sulawesi

Southeast Sulawesi is a part of Indonesia. It sits on the edge of a big island.

There are many islands in the sea there. Some are large and some are small. Many people live on these islands.

The land has big mountains. It also has long rivers.

There are no big roads to the rest of the island. People must take a boat to travel. A ferry carries them across the water.

The capital city is named Kendari. It is a busy place by the coast.

Southeast Sulawesi is a province in Indonesia. It sits on the edge of the island of Sulawesi. It forms a large peninsula.

Many islands sit in the sea nearby. These include Buton, Muna, Kabaena, and Wawonii. The land has two big mountain ranges. They are named Tanggeasinua and Mekongga. Three major rivers flow through the area. They are the Lalinda, the Lasolo, and the Sampara.

There is no highway to the rest of the island. People use a ferry to cross the Bone Gulf. This boat travels between Watampone and Kolaka. The capital city is Kendari. It sits on the east coast.

Many different groups of people live here. They have many different names for their ethnic groups. Most people in the province are Muslim. About 2.8 million people live in this area. Many people live on the islands of Buton and Muna. Others live near the city of Kendari. The area is also home to the Wakatobi National Park.

Southeast Sulawesi is a province located in Indonesia. It sits on the southeastern peninsula of the island of Sulawesi.

Many large islands sit in the sea nearby. These include Buton, Muna, Kabaena, and Wawonii. The province also has many smaller islands around it. It shares borders with South Sulawesi and Central Sulawesi to the north. To the east, it shares a sea border with Maluku and North Maluku. To the south, it is near East Nusa Tenggara and East Timor.

The land in this province has many different features. There are two major mountain ranges called Tanggeasinua and Mekongga. Three big rivers flow through the area. These rivers are the Lalinda, the Lasolo, and the Sampara. Traveling around the province can be a bit tricky. There is no highway road that connects it to the rest of Sulawesi. Instead, people often use a ferry to cross the Bone Gulf. This boat travels between Watampone and the port of Kolaka.

The history of this region goes back a long time. From the seventeenth century until the early twentieth century, it was the site of the Buton Sultanate. Today, the province is divided into many different parts for local government. It has fifteen regencies and two cities. In 1995, there were only four regencies in the whole province. These were Buton, Kolaka, Konawe, and Muna. Over the years, many new regencies were created from these original areas.

Many people live in Southeast Sulawesi. The population was about 2.2 million in 2010. By 2020, it grew to about 2.6 million people. A recent estimate for mid-2025 says there are about 2,836,740 people. Most people, about 96.2%, follow the religion of Islam. There are also Hindus, Protestants, Roman Catholics, Buddhists, and others. Many people live on the islands of Buton and Muna. About 15% of the people live in or around the capital city, Kendari.

There are many different ethnic groups in the province. Some groups include the Buton, Muna, Wakatobi, and Tolaki. Other groups are the Culambacu, Kalisusu, Moronene, and Wawonii. Each group has its own unique identity. The province is also known for the Wakatobi National Park.

You can find several airports and ports to help people travel. These include Haluoleo Airport and the many ferry ports near the islands.

Southeast Sulawesi, often called Sultra, is a province in Indonesia. It occupies the southeastern peninsula of the island of Sulawesi. The province also includes several large offshore islands. These include Buton, Muna, Kabaena, and Wawonii. Many smaller islands are also part of this region.

The province shares land borders with South Sulawesi and Central Sulawesi to the north. To the east, it has a maritime border with Maluku and North Maluku. To the south, it borders East Nusa Tenggara and East Timor.

The geography of the province is defined by rugged terrain and water. Two major mountain ranges dominate the landscape: the Tanggeasinua Range and the Mekongga Range. Water flows through the region via three major rivers. These are the Lalinda, the Lasolo, and the Sampara. Traveling through the province requires specific routes. There is no highway that connects Southeast Sulawesi to the rest of the island. Instead, the primary link is a ferry service. This ferry crosses the Bone Gulf between Watampone in South Sulawesi and the port of Kolaka.

Administratively, the province is divided into fifteen regencies and two autonomous cities. The capital city is Kendari, located on the east coast of the peninsula. The government structure has changed significantly over time. In 1995, the province contained only four regencies: Buton, Kolaka, Konawe, and Muna. Since then, many new divisions have been created. For example, the city of Kendari was formed from part of Konawe Regency on August 3, 1995. The city of Bau-Bau was created from Buton Regency in 2001. Many other regencies were established in 2003, 2007, 2013, and 2014.

The history of the region is long and established. From the seventeenth century until the early twentieth century, the area was the site of the Buton Sultanate. This historical period shaped the identity of the local people. Today, the province is a key part of Indonesia's political system. It forms one of the nation's 84 national electoral districts. This district elects six members to the People's Representative Council. This council is the body that represents the people in the Indonesian government.

Demographics show a growing and diverse population. The population was 2,232,586 during the 2010 census. It increased to 2,624,875 in the 2020 census. A mid-2025 estimate placed the population at 2,836,740. People are spread across the peninsula and the islands. One third of the population lives on Buton and Muna islands. Another 15% of the people live in or around the capital, Kendari. The four most populous regencies are Konawe Selatan, Konawe, Kolaka, and Muna.

Religion and culture are central to life in Southeast Sulawesi. Islam is the predominant religion, practiced by 96.2% of the people. This equals approximately 2,560,000 individuals. Other religious groups include Hindus, Protestants, Roman Catholics, Buddhists, and Confucians. The province is also home to many distinct ethnic groups. These include the Buton, Muna, Wakatobi, Tolaki, and Moronene groups. Each group brings unique traditions to the province.

Transportation is vital for connecting the islands and the mainland. The province uses several airports to move people quickly. These include Haluoleo Airport in South Konawe and Betoambari Airport in Baubau. Many ferry ports also serve the various islands. Ports like the Kendari Nusantara and Muna Murhum connect different parts of the province.

One notable natural feature is the Wakatobi National Park. This area is a significant part of the region's natural identity.