ABSTRACT
The newly created Province of Gorontalo lies just to the north of the Equator, a mountainous land mass that stretches from east to west and is located on the northernmost arm of the main island of Sulawesi (Celebes). The province covers an area of 11,257 sq km, making it the smallest on the island. Until February 2001 Gorontalo was part of North Sulawesi (Sulawesi Utara), the rump of which lies to the east, occupying the end of the peninsula. Central Sulawesi (Sulawesi Tengah) occupies the peninsula to the west and the mainland southwards across the Gulf of Tomini. The northern border of Gorontalo is defined by the Celebes Sea and, in the north-west, Central Sulawesi, where it thrusts further along the shore. Altitude varies between sea level and 2,100 m above sea level, inclusive of a number of small islands (estimated at 67). The total length of the coastline is 590 km. The provincial territorial waters cover 10,500 sq km; with the 40,000 sq km of exclusive economic zone, there is a total marine area of 50,500 sq km.
