Ternate facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ternate
City
City of Ternate Kota Ternate
Skyline of Ternate
Coat of arms
Motto(s):  Maku Gawene (Love Each Other)
Location within Maluku Islands
OpenStreetMap
Ternate Location in North Maluku Show map of North Maluku Ternate Location in Halmahera Show map of Halmahera Ternate Location in Indonesia Show map of Indonesia
Country	Indonesia
Region	Maluku Islands
Province	North Maluku
Settled	C. 13th century
Established	15 February 1523
Area
• Land	162.20 km2 (62.63 sq mi)
• Water	5,547.55 km2 (2,141.92 sq mi)
Population  (mid 2023 estimate)
• Total	204,920
Time zone	UTC+9 (Indonesia Eastern Time)
Area code	(+62) 921
HDI	0.800 (Very High)

Ternate is a city and island in Indonesia. It is part of the Maluku Islands and is the largest city in the province of North Maluku. Ternate was once the main capital of North Maluku until 2010.

The city of Ternate is made up of five islands. The biggest is Ternate Island itself. The other islands are Moti, Hiri, Tifure, and Mayau. Tifure and Mayau are part of the Batang Dua Islands. The city covers about 162 square kilometers of land. In mid-2023, about 204,920 people lived there. Ternate is a very important place for business, culture, and education in North Maluku. It was also the capital of the powerful Sultanate of Ternate a long time ago.

History of Ternate

Early Times

People have lived in Ternate for a very long time. Around 1250, some people moved from Halmahera to Ternate because of disagreements. They settled near the Gamalama mountain. The first leaders were called Momole.

In 1257, the leaders of different villages on Ternate decided to choose one ruler. They picked Cico, who became the first "Kolano," meaning "king." The capital moved a few times. Ternate started to become more powerful and took control of nearby islands.

Around 1322, the rulers of the Moluccas islands made an agreement called the Moti Agreement. This helped trade grow and kept things peaceful for a while. Ternate became a big trading port, especially for spices. Traders from China and Arab countries came to Ternate.

Later, Ternate became an Islamic sultanate under Sultan Zainal Abidin (1468–1500). The ruler's title changed from "Kolano" to "Sultan." This also brought new ways of governing, like having a council of religious leaders.

European Arrivals and Conflicts

Ternate and Tidore were the main places in the world that produced cloves. This made their rulers very rich and powerful. They often fought each other for control of the spice trade.

The Sultanate of Ternate was strongest in the late 1500s under Sultan Baabullah. Its influence reached many islands, including parts of Sulawesi and Papua.

Islam spread to Ternate from Java in the late 1400s. At first, only the royal family followed Islam, but then it spread to more people.

The first Europeans to arrive were the Portuguese in 1512. Sultan Abu Lais of Ternate welcomed them. He hoped to make an alliance with them. The Portuguese were allowed to build Fort Kastela on the island.

However, the Portuguese were not always good guests. They tried to control the spice trade and local politics. They also tried to spread Christianity, which caused problems with the Muslim rulers. In 1570, Sultan Hairun was killed by the Portuguese. This made the people of Ternate very angry. They fought back and forced the Portuguese out of their fort in 1575. Sultan Babullah then used the fort as his palace.

In 1579, the famous English explorer Francis Drake visited Ternate. He was more interested in the gold he had taken from Spanish ships than in buying cloves.

Later, the Spanish and Dutch also came to Ternate. They both wanted to control the valuable clove trade. The Spanish captured the old Portuguese fort in 1606 and sent the Sultan of Ternate to Manila. In 1607, the Dutch built their own fort in Ternate. The island was then split between the Spanish and the Dutch. The Spanish were friends with Tidore, and the Dutch were friends with Ternate.

For the Ternatean rulers, the Dutch were helpful because they provided military support against Tidore and the Spanish. Ternate grew its territory under Sultan Hamzah (1627–1648). The Spanish left Ternate in 1663. Some people from Ternate went with them to the Philippines.

By the 1800s, the spice trade was not as important. The Dutch still stayed in Ternate to make sure no other European country took over. Ternate became part of the Dutch government's control. In 1810, the British took over Ternate for a short time, but it was returned to the Dutch in 1817.

Modern Times

During World War II, Japanese forces occupied Ternate. After the war, Indonesia became independent. Ternate became a city in 1946, then a district, and then a city again in 1981. The Sultanate of Ternate still exists today, but the sultan's role is mostly cultural.

Ternate was the main capital of the new North Maluku province until 2010. Even though Sofifi is now the official capital, Ternate is still the busiest and most important city in the province.

Geography of Ternate

Ternate is in an area where earthquakes and volcanoes are common. It is part of the "Ring of Fire," a chain of volcanoes around the Pacific Ocean. The island is dominated by the volcanic Gamalama mountain, which is 1,715 meters tall. Mount Gamalama has erupted several times, most recently in 2011.

Ternate

Native name: Pulau Ternate
Location map of Ternate
Topographic map of Ternate, within the Maluku Islands
Geography
Location	Pacific Ocean
Coordinates	0°48′N 127°20′E / 0.800°N 127.333°E / 0.800; 127.333
Archipelago	Maluku
Area	162.20 km2 (62.63 sq mi)
Highest elevation	5,627 ft (1,715.1 m)
Highest point	Gamalama
Administration
Indonesia
Province	North Maluku
Demographics
Demonym	Ternateans
Population	201.244 (2021)
Pop. density	4,695,7 /sq mi (18,130.2 /km2)
Additional information
Time zone	IEST (UTC+09:00)

You can find clove trees growing on the lower parts of the volcano. You can also climb to the top of Mount Gamalama. The airport is on the northeast coast.

Hiri Island is another volcano near Ternate. Moti Island is also a volcano, located between Tidore and Mare Islands. There is a lake called Tolire Lake on Ternate Island. It is known for having crocodiles and is surrounded by steep cliffs. Ternate has several beaches, including Sulamadaha, Afetaduma, Jouburiki, and the beach at Kastela village.

Ternate's Climate

Ternate has a tropical rainforest climate. This means it gets a lot of rain all year round.

How Ternate is Governed

City Districts

Ternate city is divided into eight main areas called districts. Five of these districts are on Ternate Island itself. The other three districts are on smaller islands nearby. Each district has its own administrative center and a number of villages.

Ternate's Economy

Ternate's economy is quite varied. A large part of its income comes from services like trade and wholesale. Transportation, public services, and communication are also big parts of the economy. Unlike some nearby areas, Ternate does not rely much on mining or farming.

In 2020, the fastest-growing areas were public services and communication. However, the transportation and trading sectors saw a decrease in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Historically, Ternate and the surrounding region were famous for producing nutmeg. Today, nutmeg is still harvested, along with cloves, mangoes, and other fruits and vegetables. Many people in Ternate work in trade and commerce. There are also many small and medium-sized businesses in the city.

Ternate is also a place for tourists. In 2019, many local and international tourists visited the city.

People of Ternate

Religion in Ternate (2023)      Islam (96.96%)     Protestantism (2.61%)     Roman Catholic (0.31%)     Hinduism (0.02%)     Buddhism (0.05%)     Confucianism (0.05%)     Folk religion and others (0.00%)

The district with the most people is South Ternate. Most people in Ternate are Muslim. There is also a small group of Protestants, many of whom have moved from other areas.

The local people of Ternate speak the Ternate language. This language is different from most languages in Indonesia. Many people also speak Ternate Malay to communicate with others.

Education in Ternate

Ternate is known as the "Education City" because it has many schools and universities. In 2020, there were many kindergartens, elementary schools, and high schools. All three public universities in North Maluku are located in Ternate.

Khairun University is the main public university in the province. There is also the Ternate State Islamic Institute and Ternate Medical Polytech. Many private universities and colleges are also in the city. Ternate also has Islamic boarding schools.

Most children in Ternate go to school. Almost all 15-year-olds attend school. Girls' enrollment in school is even higher than boys'. Most people in Ternate can read and write. Even though some smaller islands have fewer teachers, the overall number of teachers per student in Ternate is good.

Healthcare in Ternate

Ternate has several hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies. The main public hospital is Dr. H. Chasan Boesoirie Regional Hospital. There is also a new Ternate City Regional Hospital and an army hospital. Private hospitals are also available.

Many people in Ternate have government health insurance. Most babies born in Ternate are helped by professional healthcare workers. The average life expectancy in Ternate is about 71 years, which is similar to the rest of Indonesia.

Culture and Fun in Ternate

Historical Places

Ternate has many old forts built by Europeans and the Ternate sultanate. These include Kalamata Fort, Kastela Fort, Oranje Fort, and Santo Pedro Fort. Fort Tolukko and Fort Kalamata were built by the Portuguese. Fort Oranje was a temporary base for the Dutch.

The palace of the Ternate sultanate is still standing and is now a museum. It is called Kedaton Sultan Ternate and is an important cultural site. The Ternate Sultanate Mosque is another historical building.

Festivals and Celebrations

The city celebrates the kora-kora festival every December for its city anniversary. This festival features a parade of decorated traditional boats, rowing races, and traditional dances.

Another important event is the Legu Gam Festival. This festival celebrates the sultan's birthday with many traditional dance performances. Both festivals are supported by the Ministry of Tourism.

City Parks and Shopping

Ternate has several parks, like Nukila Park. Moya Park was once a dump site but has been turned into a green space.

For shopping, Ternate has several malls, including Jatiland Mall, Hypermart Ternate, and Muara Mall.

Getting Around Ternate

Ternate has many roads, most of which are paved. Since Ternate is made up of several islands, water transport is very important. Goods are mainly transported through Ahmad Yani Port, which is a large port. Passenger ships also use this port. There is also a separate port for fishing boats.

The city has an airport called Sultan Babullah Airport. For getting around the city, people use angkots (public minibuses) and online ride-hailing services like Gojek.

Media in Ternate

Ternate has several media companies, including digital and printed news. There are local TV stations like Gamalama TV, and branches of national TV channels. Printed newspapers include Malut Post and Fajar Malut. Radio Republik Indonesia also has a local radio station in Ternate.

Notable People

• Zamrony (born 1988) - footballer

Images for kids

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  Gate of the palace of Ternate Sultanate.

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  Early map of northern Maluku made during the Age of Discovery. North is on the right, with Ternate as the rightmost followed by Tidore, Mare, Moti and Makian islands. The bottom is the Gilolo (Jailolo or Halmahera) Island. The inset on the top is Bacan Island. Willem Blaeu, 1630

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  Colonial-era painting of Ternate island, c. 1883–1889.

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  Sultan of Ternate's guard.

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  Ternate city from above, Nukila Park can be seen close to waterfront