North Sulawesi

North Sulawesi

North Sulawesi is a land of magnificent coral reefs protecting virginwhite beaches, mountains and active volcanos, reminding the islanders and the world of the potential power of one of the earth’s most awesome forces. It is a land of vast coconut plantations fringed along the coastline, which is why the area is also known as “Bumi Nyiur Melambai” or “The Land of Waving Coconut Palms.”

The origins of both the names Sulawesi, which has only become common after the Indonesian Independence, and the island’s original name Celebes are not clear. Celebes is said to come from the Portuguese, who landed as the first Europeans on the island. When they sailed around it they called it Ponto dos Celebres which means point of the notorious/ill-famed/ill-reputed. This might refer to the many pirates that were sailing in Sulawesi (and Indonesian) waters those days, or to the strong Monsoon winds which caused many ships to sink.

A local myth says that when the Portuguese first landed on the island, the captain of the ship met a man who was busy working as a blacksmith. The captain asked the man – in Portuguese – what the name of the island was. The blacksmith, not understanding, thought the captain had asked him what he was doing, and answered “sele besi”, which means “heat iron” or “work with iron”. The captain was satisfied with the answer and registered Selebesi as name of the island in his logbook.

The modern name Sulawesi is said to be derived from the two words sula (island) and besi (iron), referring to the rich sources of iron on the island.

Geography

The province of North Sulawesi with an area of 1,533,698 ha is located at 0º30″- 4º 3″ North Latitude and 121º127″ East Longitude. To the north the region borders on the Republic of the Philippines, Sulawesi Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The Eastern part is on the Maluku Sea and the Southern side is the Tomini Gulf. The western part borders Gorontalo Province, which until the end of 2000 was a part of North Sulawesi and then became an own province.

The terrain is extremely mountainous and hilly, stretching from the Lembean – Wulur Mahatus mountain chain in Minahasa to Mount Ambang – Mount Gambuta in Bolaang Mongondow. There are some active active and many extinct volcanoes, some towering 1,800 – 2,000 meters. Rich volcanic ash has blessed North Sulawesi with fertile lands; the highlands and lowlands producing rice, coconut, clove, nutmeg, vanilla and vegetables. The plains produce rice and corn in Dumoga, Ayong and Sangkub (Bolaang Mongondow). Plateaus in Tondano (Minahasa) also produce rice and corn, while Modoinding is known for its vegetables. Sangihe Talaud is recognized for its high quality nutmeg and Rumbia Trees (The Sago Palm is the source of a special flour for traditional cookies/snacks).

Sulawesi is surrounded by deep waters, the Sulawesi Sea in North Sulawesi is approx. 6,200 m deep.

North Sulawesi is endowed with many lakes like Lake Tondano and Lake Moat. The rivers like Ongkag Mongondow, Ongkag Dumoga, Sungai Sangkub, Randangan, Bulia and others are utilized mostly for irrigation of the rice fields. The Tondano River is used to generate electrical power for the Manado and Minahasa regions.

Time Zones

Located on the equator, the Indonesian archipelago experiences relatively little change in the length of daylight hours from one season to the next; the difference between the longest day and the shortest day of the year is only forty-eight minutes.
Time Zones of Indonesia The archipelago stretches across three time zones: Western Indonesian Time-seven hours in advance of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)- includes Sumatra, Java, and eastern Kalimantan; Central Indonesian Time -eight hours head of GMT- includes western Kalimantan, Nusa Tenggara, and Sulawesi; and Eastern Indonesian Time -nine hours ahead of GMT- includes the Moluccas and Irian Jaya. The boundary between the western and central time zones -established in 1988- is a line running north between Java and Bali through the center of Kalimantan. The border between central and eastern time zones runs north from the eastern tip of Timor to the eastern tip of Sulawesi.

Climate

Like other regions in Indonesia, North Sulawesi has a typical equatorial climate with two seasons: rainy and dry. Starting in September, cool Northwesterly winds pick up moisture while crossing the South China Sea and arrive in the Sulawesi Sea about November. The wet season lasts from about November to March, but it is usually less pronounced than in many other parts of Southeast Asia and thus not really a serious concern in North Sulawesi. You are practically free to consider your own schedules, and those of others to perhaps avoid the holiday crowds.

Mean temperatures at sea level are uniform, varying by only a few degrees throughout the region, and throughout the year 78°- 82°F (25°- 28°C). However, temperatures are decreasing 2°F (1°C) for every 656 feet (200m) of altitude, which provides a cool pleasant climate in upland communities.

Strong cyclones and typhoons, which normally occur in higher latitudes, are absent in Indonesia, but afternoon thunderstorms are common.

Air
Sam Ratulangi International Airport in Manado has regular international flight service to/from Singapore (Silk Air), Kuala Lumpur (Air Asia) and Davao/Philippines (Wings Air). Most of the destinations within Indonesia are also easily accessible from the international standard airport. This terminal building forms a new landmark with its traditional Minahasan architecture, called “Wale Wangko”.

The building which can accommodate approximately 600 domestic passengers and 250 international passengers during the peak hours is certainly a credit to North Sulawesi. In addition to the arrival, departure and operational areas, the terminal building also features public facilities including, retail shops, banks, well-wishers area and a restaurant including a terrace with superb view of the apron, runway and the surrounding area.

There are 15 check in counters of which 6 are equipped with electronic baggage conveyors, 5 gates for boarding of which 3 are equipped with aviobridge connections.

Airlines
Batavia Air
Ph: (62) (431) 855878
Fax: (62) (431) 855766

Garuda Indonesia Airways
Ph: (62) (431) 877727
Fax: (62) (431) 862242

Lion Air
Ph: (62) (431) 847000
Fax: (62) (431) 814196

Mandala Airlines
Ph (62) (431) 850555
Fax: (62) (431) 811070

Merpati Nusantara Airlines
Ph: (62) (431) 842000
Fax: (62) (431) 851525

Silk Air
Ph: (62) (431) 863744
Fax: (62) (431) 853841
Email: slkmdc@indosat.net.id

By Boat
PELNI has six large passenger boats calling at the deep-water port of Bitung, plus there are many smaller ferries out of Manado itself. They call at ports along the coast, go north to Tahuna (Sangihe) and Lirung (Talaud) or over to Ternate and Ambon.

The following PT PELNI passenger ships will take you to Bitung harbour, which is located about 45 km from Manado:

MV Ceremai:
Tg. Priok (Jakarta) – Semarang – Makassar – Bau-Bau – Banggai – Bitung – Ternate – Sorong – Manokwari – Biak – Jayapura – Biak – Manokwari – Sorong – Ternate – Bitung – Banggai – Bau-Bau – Makasaar – Tg. Priok

MV Kambuna:
Tg. Priok (Jakarta) – Surabaya – Makassar – Balikpapan – Pantoloan (Palu) – Toli-Toli – Kwandang – Bitung – Kwandang – Toli-Toli – Pantoloan (Palu) – Balikpapan – Makassar – Surabaya – Tg. Priok (Jakarta) – Padang – Tg. Priok (Jakarta)

MV Lambelu:
Ambon – Namlea – Bitung – Ternate – Namlea – Ambon – Bau-Bau – Makassar – Surabaya – Tg. Priok – Padang – Nias/GNS – Sibolga – Padang – Tg.Priok – Surabaya – Makassar – Bau-Bau – Ambon

MV Tilongkabila:
Kolonedale – Luwuk – Gorontalo – Bitung – Tahuna – Lirung – Tahuna – Bitung – Gorontalo – Luwuk – Kolonedale – Kendari – Raha – Bau-Bau – Makassar – Labuanbajo – Bima – Lembar – Denpasar – Lembar – Bima – Labuanbajo – Makassar – Bau-Bau – Raha – Kendari – Kolonedale

MV Umsini:
Sorong – Bitung – Kwandang – Balikpapan – Makassar – Semarang – Kijang – Semarang – Makassar – Balikpapan – Kwandang – Bitung – Sorong

MV Nggapulu:
Serui – Biak – Jayapura – Biak – Serui – Nabire – Manokwari – Sorong – Ternate – Bitung – Pantoloan (Palu) – Balikpapan – Surabaya – Tg. Priok – Surabaya – Balikpapan – Pantoloan (Palu) – Bitung – Ternate – Sorong – Manokwari – Nabire – Serui

Additional schedules are available at www.pelni.co.id.
Besides Bitung harbour, there are smaller harbours like Manado, Amurang, Likupang, Tanawangko and Belang served by smaller ships with shorter routes.

By Bus
Buses to Gorontalo (about 10 hrs) are leaving several times a day from Malalayang terminal in Manado, south of town. The highway goes all the way to Makassar in South Sulawesi – so do the buses if you can tolerate the three-day haul. Allow for possible delays during wet weather.

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