GEOGRAPHIC OF MOROTAI ISLAND
Morotai Island is one of the largest islands in North Maluku, the northern most of Maluku Province, just off the northern tip of Halmahera. The island has the natural resources potential are relatively abundant, both in agriculture, forestry, fishery, mining and tourism potential, especially historical relics of the Second World War. The potential can be used as a primary sector has a good economic value to improve the prosperity of North Maluku in general and especially for Morotai society as well as an increase in foreign exchange for the region.
From the geographical aspect of Morotai Island has a strategic position of Asia-Pacific trade lanes. The geographical position is located at coordinates 2000 to 2040 NL and 128 015 to 128040 EL. As for the administrative boundaries by the district are as follows:
- North: Pacific Ocean
- West: Celebes Sea
- East: Halmahera Sea
- South: Morotai Strait
Morotai Island Regency has an area of 4,301.53 km2, with a land area covering of 2,330.60 km2 and sea area as far as 4 miles area of 1,970.93 km2. With 311,217 km long coastline. Number of small islands of 33 with details of 7 inhabited islands and 26 uninhabited islands
HISTORY OF MOROTAI ISLAND
During the 15th and 16th century, Morotai was under the control of the Sultanate Ternate. The island is the large main area are called Moro included the island and the coast of Halmahera closest to Morotai to the south.
In the middle of 16th century, the island became a Portuguese Jesuit mission. Moslem Sultanate of Ternate and Halmahera offended will pioneer the spread of religious activity and try to prevent the mission from the island in 1571, as a result, the Portuguese leave the region. In the 17th century, Ternate use its power over Morotai by repeatedly ordered the resident to move from the island. At the beginning of the century, its inhabitants moved to Dodinga, a small town on the west coast of Halmahera strategic point. Then in 1627 and 1628, Sultan Hamzah from Ternate ordered the relocation of the Christian population to Malay, Ternate, to be more easily controlled.
As the separated island from Halmahera, Morotai Island natives have settled for generations. Now, residents settled on Morotai came from the Tobelo and Galela tribe in Halmahera Island, precisely in North Halmahera. Both parts (sub-ethnic) dominated the majority of Morotai population until now.
Besides there are two ethnic group (Tobelo and Galela), other ethnic groups who inhabit in Morotai are South Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, North Sulawesi, Java, Sumatra, Maluku China, and others. Some of them get relationship with the local indigenous people and staying there temporarily for a living. The majority of residents of Morotai are Muslims and Christians, a minority of other religions Confucianism, Hinduism, and Buddhism.
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