Muna Island

island and regency, Indonesia

Also known as: Moena Eiland, Pulau Muna

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Article History

Indonesian:: Pulau Muna

Dutch:: Moena Eiland

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Muna Island, island and kabupaten (regency), Southeast Sulawesi (Sulawesi Tenggara) propinsi (or provinsi; province), Indonesia. The island lies in the Flores Sea south of the southeastern arm of Celebes. With an area of 658 square miles (1,704 square km), it has a hilly surface, rising to 1,460 feet (445 metres). The north and northeast have teak forests. The Muna, a Muslim people speaking an Austronesian language, practice agriculture, raising rice and tubers. Their other food sources are sago and sea cucumbers. The hoglike babirusa and the marsupial cuscus are found on the island. The main town and principal port is Raha, on the northeastern coast across the Strait of Buton from the neighbouring island of Buton to the east.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Virginia Gorlinski.