- published: 17 Dec 2015
- views: 13301
Coordinates: 1°29′35″N 124°50′28.54″E / 1.49306°N 124.8412611°E / 1.49306; 124.8412611
Manado (pronounced [məˈnado][citation needed]) is the capital of the North Sulawesi province of Indonesia. Manado is located at the Bay of Manado, and is surrounded by a mountainous area. The city has about 405,715 inhabitants, making it the second-largest city in Sulawesi after Makassar. The municipality of Manado is divided into nine districts: Malalayang, Sario, Wanea, Tikala, Wenang, Mapanget, Singkil, Tuminting and Bunaken.
The name Manado comes from manadou or wanazou meaning "on the far coast" or "in the distance," and originally referred to the further of two islands which can be seen from the mainland. When the settlement on this island was relocated to the mainland, the name Manado was brought with it, after which the island itself became referred to as Manado Tua ("Old Manado").
The first mention of Manado comes from a world map by cartographer Nicolas Desliens, where it showed the island Manarow (today's Manado Tua). Before Europeans arrived to North Sulawesi the area was under the rule of the Sultan of Ternate, who exacted tribute and introduced the Muslim religion among some of its inhabitants. The Portuguese made the Sultan their vassal, taking possession of the Minahasa and established a factory in Wenang.