Ternate is an island in the Maluku Islands (Moluccas) of eastern Indonesia and is the center of the powerful former Sultanate of Ternate. It is located off the west coast of the larger island of Halmahera.
Like its neighbouring island, Tidore, Ternate is a visually dramatic cone-shaped island. The islands are ancient Islamic sultanates with a long history of bitter rivalry. The islands were the world's single major producer of cloves, upon which their sultans became among the wealthiest and most powerful sultans in the Indonesian region. In the precolonial era, Ternate was the dominant political and economic power over most of the "Spice Islands" of Maluku.
Today, Ternate City is the largest town in the province of North Maluku, within which the island constitutes a municipality (kotamadya). It is, however, no longer the provincial capital which is now the town of Sofifi on Halmahera.
Ternate is an island in the Maluku Islands (Moluccas) of eastern Indonesia and is the center of the powerful former Sultanate of Ternate. It is located off the west coast of the larger island of Halmahera.
Like its neighbouring island, Tidore, Ternate is a visually dramatic cone-shaped island. The islands are ancient Islamic sultanates with a long history of bitter rivalry. The islands were the world's single major producer of cloves, upon which their sultans became among the wealthiest and most powerful sultans in the Indonesian region. In the precolonial era, Ternate was the dominant political and economic power over most of the "Spice Islands" of Maluku.
Today, Ternate City is the largest town in the province of North Maluku, within which the island constitutes a municipality (kotamadya). It is, however, no longer the provincial capital which is now the town of Sofifi on Halmahera.