Gorontalo

Gorontalo is a province that stretches across the central part of the Minahasa Peninsula in Sulawesi, positioned between the Celebes Sea to the north and Tomini Gulf to the south. The territory consists of five regencies and one city, with highlands in the interior and coastal plains along both shorelines.

The area became an independent province in 2000 through legislation, after splitting from North Sulawesi. For centuries the region was a sultanate before falling under Dutch colonial rule in the 19th century.

Residents speak the Gorontalo language alongside Indonesian, a tongue belonging to the Sulawesian language family. Traditional ceremonies and crafts remain part of village life while urban markets and mosques serve as centers of daily activity.

Gorontalo City serves as a starting point for travel to other regencies and has connections to other parts of Sulawesi. Many coastal settlements are accessible by boat while the interior features hilly roads.

The marine area of the province is more than four times larger than its land territory. The economic zone at sea extends to the Philippine border and forms one of Indonesia's major fishing regions.

Location: Indonesia

Inception: 2000

Capital city: Gorontalo

Elevation above the sea: 43 m

Reference: GO-33

Shares border with: North Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi

Website: http://gorontaloprov.go.id

GPS coordinates: 0.66667,123.00000

Latest update: December 15, 2025 02:03