Geology
According to plate reconstructions, the island is believed to have been formed by the collision of terranes from the Asian Plate (forming the west and southwest), from the Australian Plate (forming the southeast and Banggai), and from island arcs previously in the Pacific (forming the north and east peninsulas). Because of its tectonic origin, several faults scar the land; as a result, the island is prone to earthquakes.
The contour of the island presents a sharp contrast, from deep seas surrounding the island to a mountainous interior forming a backbone along the narrow peninsulas. The central part of Sulawesi is a high mountainous area, but mostly non-volcanic. Active volcanoes are found in the northern Minahassa Peninsula, continuously stretching to the north to the Sangihe Islands. The northern peninsula contains active volcanoes such as Mount Lokon, Mount Awu, Soputan, and Karangetang.
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