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Southeast Sulawesi

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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.

Global Forest Change tree-cover loss year in Southeast Sulawesi, 2001-2024
Global Forest Change tree-cover loss year in Southeast Sulawesi, 2001-2024

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.

Wakatobi beach 2006
Wakatobi beach 2006

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

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File:Global Forest Change tree-cover loss year in Southeast Sulawesi, 2001-2024.png
Global Forest Change tree-cover loss year...
File:Wakatobi beach 2006.jpg
Wakatobi beach 2006.jpg
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