Sangihe Islands

The Sangihe Islands (also spelled "Sangir", "Sanghir" or "Sangi") – Indonesian: Kepulauan Sangihe – are a group of islands which constitute two regencies within the province of North Sulawesi, in northern Indonesia, the Sangihe Islands Regency (Kabupaten Kepulauan Sangihe) and the Sitaro Islands Regency (Kabupaten Siau Tagulandang Biaro). They are located north-east of Sulawesi between the Celebes Sea and the Molucca Sea, roughly halfway between Sulawesi and Mindanao, in the Philippines; the Sangihes form the eastern limit of the Celebes Sea. The islands combine to total 813 square kilometres (314 square miles), with many of the islands being actively volcanic with fertile soil and mountains.

The main islands of the group are, north to south, Sangir Besar (or Sangir Island), Siau (or Siao), Tahulandang, and Biaro. The largest island is Sangir Besar and contains an active volcano, Mount Awu (1,320 metres (4,330 ft)). Tahuna is the chief town and port, also hosting the islands' sole airport, Naha Airport.

The area came under Dutch control in 1677, and became part of Indonesia when it declared independence from the Netherlands in 1945.

The Sangir language is spoken in the islands; this Austronesian language is also spoken in some islands in the Philippines, and on the extreme northern tip of Sulawesi.

The Sangihe tectonic plate is named after the island arc and is very active.

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