South East Sulawesi (Indonesian: Sulawesi Tenggara) is a province of Indonesia on the island of Sulawesi. The capital of the province is Kendari, on the east coast of the peninsula.
The province is one of the most remote regions of Sulawesi; no highway connects it to the cities on the rest of the island, so the primary transportation link is a ferry across the Bone Sea between Watampone (Bone) in South Sulawesi and the port of Kolaka.
Formerly called the Celebes, Sulawesi is one of the world's most uniquely shaped islands. It is often referred to as the "Orchid Shaped Island". Historically, Sultans ruled this land and the Local area is Governed by regents. Today, Sulawesi is divided into four provinces, one of them being Southeast Sulawesi, covering the lower eastern leg of this beautiful island.
Southeast 
Sulawesi is an Indonesia province on Sulawesi Island. The capital of the province is Kendari, on the east coast of the peninsula. The province is one of the most remote regions of Sulawesi; no highway connects it to the cities on the rest of the island, so the primary transportation link is a ferry across Bone Sea between Watampone (Bone) in South Sulawesi and Kolaka port.
The population of the province is 1.771,951 (in 2000 Census), most of which is centered on Buton island of the Sulawesi south coast, and around Kendari. From the seventeenth century until the early twentieth century, the region was the site of the Buton (Butung) sultanate.
The Southeast Province is populated by more than 1,2 million people, in five diverse and interesting cultural groups: Tolaki, Morunene, Buton, Muna (Locally called Wuna), and Bajo. All offer the visitor a glimpse of life-styles, which have survived man's rush to modernization while using much of today's technology to their advantage.
Most of the land area of southeast Sulawesi is covered by natural jungle, with extensive plantations of teak and ironwood, which are used for local handicraft and contribute to the local economy. Much of the beauty of the region has been preserved for prosperity by declaring it "National Parks" and "Nature Preserve.
Wonereous animals, living freely, easily seen and appreciated by visitors, inhabit the entire province. Deer, Wild Pigs, Small Rodent-Like animals called Kus-Kus, Monkey, Snakes, Anoa (small buffalo) and numerous varieties of birds abound. But the hunting of animals is forbidden in national parks preserves and carefully controlled by local government, in other areas.
The friendly of the Sulawesi People, the local flora, fauna, and untouched beaches, are the highlights of this unique located. It is truly one of the world's last remaining. Natural habitats are waiting to show for the visitor who can appreciate such natural beauty and the people who live in it.
From the seventeenth century until the early twentieth century, the region was the site of the Buton (Butung) sultanate.
Ethnic groups
The main ethnic groups in South East Sulawesi are "Tolaki", "Buton", "Muna" etc.
Regencies
South East Sulawesi is divided into 2 municipalities and several regencies :
* Kolaka
* Kolaka Utara
* Kendari
* Konawe Selatan
* Bombana
* Buton
* Muna
* Wakatobi
And municipalities :
* Kendari
* Baubau
History
The Southeast Sulawesi Province is populated by more than 1.2 million people, in five diverse and interesting cultural groups: The Tolaki, Morunene, Buton, Muna (locally called the Wuna), and the Bajo. All offer the visitor a glimpse of life styles which have survived man's rush to modernization while using much of today's technology to their advantage. Most of the beauty of the region has been preserved for prosperity by declaring it "National Parks" and "Nature Preserve".
The entire
province is inhabited by wonereous animals, living freely, easily seen and appreciated by visitor. Deer, Wild Pigs, Small Rodent- like animals called Kus-Kus, Monkey, Snakes, Anoa (Small Buffalo) and numerous varieties of bird abound. But the hunting of animals is forbidden in national parks and preserves and carefully controlled by local government, in other areas. The warmth of the Sulawesi people, the local flora, fauna, and untouched beaches, are the highlights of this unique loacale. It is truly one of the world's last remaining natural habitants waiting so show off for the visitor who can appreciate such natural beauty and the people who live in it.
C L I M A T E
The highest temperature in the province is about 31o c, the lowest is 19o C, and average is 25o C to 27o C. The rainfall in Southeast Sulawesi generally is not same in all regions, so that, this province can be divided in two regions, namely:
Wet region, with total rainfall of more than 2,000 mm per year is Northern part region of Kendari - Kolaka, and Northern part of Buton and Wakatobi area.
Semi-dry region, with a total rainfall of less than 2,000 mm per year the region of Kendari and Kolaka and Southern part of Southeast Sulawesi peninsula.
During five years later, the average rainfall in this province is about 1,904 mm per years, and the average of rainy-dry-days is 109 days per year.
There are two 
seasons all over Indonesia as well as on Sulawesi Island. Temperature range from 21 C to 35 C. Average temperature through the year is 27. Dry season is from May to October and rainy season is from November to April. The heavy rain happened in January and February.
TRANSPORTATION
Mainland transportation system is very important for further Southeast Sulawesi economic development. The improvement and extension of road system will provide to motivate marketable commodities and row materials into and out the rural agriculture production areas, and to the manufacturing and distribution center's.
Until the end of 1998 the length of road is Southeast Sulawesi has been developing about 8,444.78 kilometers.
Ferry Transportation
The rapid mainland transportation activities, which connects Southeast Sulawesi and South Sulawesi, Torobulu to Tampo and Tolandona to Bau-Bau, has an important role for the region economic growth. The Government has a great emphasis of the improvement of this ferry transportation system.
Sea Transportation
There are five harbors visited by ocean-going ship, inter-island ship, local and special ships. There are an also ocean fishing harbor named Kendari Ocean Fishing Harbor as center of fishing industrial activities.
Air Transportation
There are four airports in the region follows:
- Wolter Mongonsidi Airport : Kendari Regency
- Betoambari Airport : Buton Regency
- Pomalaa Airport : Kolaka Regency
- Sugimanaru Airport : Muna Regency.
Flight Schedule of Kendari to Ujung Pandang (South Sulawesi) is available daily. This route flight is served by Merpati Nusantara Airlines.
O C E A N O G R P H Y
The offshore water of Southeast Sulawesi covering about 110,000 sq. Km and has an abundance of fish. The potential resource is estimated at 500,000 tons of Fish annually. Permanent potency is 250,000 tons consist of Tuna, Skipjack, yellow fin, lobsters, shrimp, trout's and some other sea-products such as seaweed, sea cucumbers, and pearls.
Wakatobi Islands - Southeast Sulawesi Travel Guides
The Tukang Besi Islands ( WAKATOBI ISLANDS )The Tukang Besi Islands are located in the northeastern part of the Flores Sea, southeast of the island of Buton. There are five main inhabited islands — Wanci, Kambode, Kaledupa, Tomia and Binongko — and a number of smaller, mostly uninhabited, islands. The islands previously formed part of the realm of the Sultanate of Buton, but since 1964 they have been part of the province of Southeast Sulawesi (Sulawesi Tenggara). The capital of the province is the sprawling town of Kendari, located on the shores of Kendari Bay. Until recently, the Tukang Besi Islands were part of the Regency of Buton, with its administrative centre at Baubau, and the region was divided into four sub-districts (kecamatan): Wangi Wangi, Kaledupa, Tomia and Binongko (Map 2-2).
The chain of islands is adjacent to one of the largest and most biologically diverse coral reef systems in Indonesia (Tomascik et al. 1997: 754). In July 1996 the Tukang Besi Archipelago was declared a Marine National Park by the Directorate General of Forest Protection and Nature. The Wakatobi Marine National Park [1] includes all the reefs and islands in the archipelago and covers 1.39 million hectares (13 900 km2), which make it the second largest designated marine protected area in Indonesia (Stanzel and Newman 1997).
The Tukang Besi people are well known throughout Indonesia and beyond as ‘daring seafarers, shipbuilders and maritime traders’ (Evers 1991: 147). The maritime economy in the Tukang Besi Islands developed because these relatively infertile islands can only support a limited amount of small-scale agriculture, mainly during the period of the west monsoon. During the dry or east monsoon season the economy focuses on maritime activities, including collecting, fishing and trading. The trading routes can range as far as Singapore, Malaysia, Java and West Papua, and the trade involves a range of cargoes including timber, salt, tubers, second-hand clothes, copra and spices. These are mostly derived from other parts of Indonesia, particularly from Maluku and Java. The main town of Wanci is located in the metropolitan Wanse-Pongo area. Government departments and services, junior and senior high schools, and a losmen (guest house) are all located in Pongo. The main market was in Pongo, but a few years ago was shifted to the village of Mandati I, which is the closest land village to Mola Utara. [3] Wanci can be reached by a number of routes, all involving long and arduous journeys. From Baubau, the capital of Buton, buses travel to the village of Lasalimu on the eastern coast of Buton, which is usually a three-hour trip. From here a Wanci-based ferry, and more recently a passenger speedboat, travel daily between the islands, which is usually a two- to three-hour trip. Ferries also make a 16-hour trip directly from Kendari to Wanci, usually once or twice a week.The old capital of the vassal state of Kaledupa was Buranga, but now Ambeua is the official capital of the kecamatan which includes Kaledupa Island, the nearby island of Hoga, and the two uninhabited islands of Lintea and Tiwolu. There are ten desa on Kaledupa. Daily transport operates between Wanse