West Sulawesi, Province in Sulawesi Island, Indonesia
West Sulawesi is a province on the western coast of Sulawesi island in Indonesia, stretching between the Makassar Strait and the inland mountains. The territory comprises six regencies with coastal plains, dense forests and steep slopes rising into the highlands.
The five southern regencies separated from South Sulawesi in 2004 and formed their own administrative unit. The reorganization followed years of discussion about regional autonomy and recognition of Mandar identity within national governance.
The Mandar inhabit the coastal areas and maintain their boatbuilding tradition in small shipyards along the bay. Fishermen bring fresh catch ashore each morning while villages supply their local markets with spices and handwoven cloth.
The capital Mamuju sits along the coast and serves as a starting point for trips to communities around the bay or into the mountainous interior. Roads link coastal towns together while mountain routes climb steeply through forested areas.
A limestone cave in the region preserves prehistoric wall paintings depicting hunting scenes and ranking among the oldest known human artworks. Researchers date these images to around 44,000 years ago and discovered them in a remote cave far from settlements.
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