News: The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) reported that a 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck Sulawesi, Indonesia.
About Sulawesi Island
- Sulawesi, formerly called Celebes, is a major island in Southeast Asia. It forms part of Indonesia’s Greater Sunda Islands chain.
- It is ranked as the 11th largest island in the world.
- It is shaped by four interconnecting peninsulas and surrounded by other large islands:
- Borneo (west)
- Philippines (north)
- Maluku Islands (east)
- Flores & Timor (south)
- It is highly mountainous island with some active volcanoes. It was once entirely covered with rainforests, but large areas have been lost to deforestation.
- It contains 13 freshwater lakes, including Lake Matano, the deepest lake in Southeast Asia.
- The highest peak is Mount Ratenkombola (Mario), standing at 3,455 meters.
- It is home to seven major ethnic groups: Toala, Toraja, Buginese, Makassarese, Minahasan, Mori, and Gorontalese.
- Makassar is the island’s largest city and an important cultural and economic hub.
