Makassar Facts For Kids
Makassar is a lively city on Sulawesi island in Indonesia, with a busy port, yummy fresh seafood, and warm weather that draws people from everywhere.
About this topic
This lively place is the largest city in eastern Indonesia. It ranks as the fifth-biggest urban center in the whole country, after Jakarta, Surabaya, Medan, and Bandung. People come from far and wide for its busy port, fresh seafood, and warm tropical weather.
Makassar has a rich history of trade, kings, and adventurers from across the seas.
Quick Facts
Key Points
Photos of Makassar
Pete-pete share taxi in Makassar
Bank Rakyat Indonesia's Makassar Branch Office, one of the largest banks operated in the city.
Market Street (Passarstraat) in the early 20th century
Hasanuddin University rectorate campus
Makassar — photo 6
District map of Makassar
📘 How Makassar Got Its Name
When the Dutch came, they wrote it as Makasser or Makassar. Even after Indonesia became independent, folks kept the double 's' in the name. That's because the Dutch spelling stuck around, even though the Indonesian language doesn't usually double letters like that.
Today, Makassar is the name everyone uses for this special port city.
🔎 The Mighty Gowa Kingdom
Traders from Malay lands arrived first, then Portuguese sailors in the 1540s. They used Makassar's port to sail to the spicy Maluku Islands. The city welcomed everyone with free trade rules, making it super important.
Makassarese fishers were brave explorers too. Some even reached faraway Australia in their boats!
🧭 Dutch Rule And Fort Rotterdam
They built the grand Fort Rotterdam around an older fort called Ujung Pandang. This stone stronghold protected their ships and goods. The city's main area moved north from the old center.
The Gowa Sultan had to live outside the city after his forces lost. Later, in the 1800s, a famous fighter named Diponegoro was held there until he passed away.
💡 Independence And Modern Times
Later, the city had a different name, Ujungpandang, from 1971 until 1999. Then, on October 13, 1999, it proudly changed back to Makassar. Today, it's a bustling modern city growing fast with busy ports, schools, and tall buildings, connecting its rich past to a bright future.
This history makes Makassar a special place full of stories about bravery and change.
🌟 Makassar's Tropical Climate
Rain falls on about 163 days a year, totaling over 3,000 mm! The wet season from December to February brings lots of showers—sometimes more than 500 mm in a month. August is the driest time, perfect for outdoor fun. During rainy days, kids might play inside or splash in puddles.
This climate helps farms grow rice and fruits, but people build strong houses to handle the heavy rains.
🧩 Getting Around Makassar
Bigger options include government buses and ride-hailing apps like Gojek on scooters or cars. The Trans Mamminasata is a speedy bus system started in 2014, with special lanes to avoid traffic. Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport brings visitors from far away, and the Soekarno-Hatta Sea Port sends ships loaded with goods.
Whether by bike, bus, or boat, getting around is an adventure in this lively city!
🗺️ Delicious Traditional Foods
Try konro, tender ribs cooked with rich spices and served with sticky burasa rice or ketupat—rice cakes wrapped in leaves. Ayam goreng Sulawesi is crispy fried chicken marinated in soy sauce, paired with rice, broth, and spicy sambal.
For sweets, head to Losari Beach for pisang epe—pressed bananas grilled with palm sugar—or pisang ijo, green bananas in sticky coconut sauce. These treats make every meal a tasty adventure!
🔬 Schools And Universities
The city is also home to big universities like Hasanuddin University and State University of Makassar. These are places for grown-ups to study subjects like teaching, medicine, and business. Thousands of students attend classes, do experiments, and make new friends. Universities help Makassar grow by training smart people for important jobs.
Because of these schools and universities, young people in Makassar get a strong start in life.
📘 Fishing And Links To Australia
Long ago, Makassan fishers sailed far across the ocean to northern Australia. This was before Europeans arrived there in 1788. They traded trepang with Indigenous Australians, sharing stories and skills. These trips built friendly links between the people.
Today, fishing still connects Makassar to the world, bringing food and trade to the city.
🧠 Take the Quiz about Makassar
Frequently asked questions
Where is Makassar located?
Makassar is a bustling city on the southwest coast of Sulawesi, a big island in Indonesia. It sits right by the Makassar Strait, a wide stretch of sea that connects to the ocean. It is the capital of South Sulawesi province.
Why is Makassar the fifth-biggest city?
Makassar is the largest city in eastern Indonesia and ranks as the fifth-biggest urban center in the country after Jakarta, Surabaya, Medan, and Bandung. People come from far and wide for its busy port, fresh seafood, and warm tropical weather.
How did Makassar get its name?
Long ago, people in Europe spelled it Macassar, and the Portuguese called it Macáçar in the 1600s. The Dutch wrote it as Makassar, and that spelling stuck even after Indonesia became independent. Today, Makassar is the name everyone uses for this special port city.
What was the Gowa Kingdom?
Long ago, Makassar was the heart of the powerful Gowa Kingdom, also called the Gowa Sultanate. In the 1500s, the ninth king teamed up with nearby Tallo to build a strong trading hub. Makassarese fishers were brave explorers who even reached faraway Australia in their boats.
What is Makassar's tropical climate like?
Makassar has a tropical monsoon climate that is always warm, with an average temperature around 27.5°C all year. It has wet and dry seasons, with rain on about 163 days a year totaling over 3,000 mm. The wet season from December to February brings lots of showers.
What are pete-pete and becak?
Pete-pete are colorful share taxis like mini buses that hop between neighborhoods for a small fare. Becak are pedicabs pedaled by friendly drivers, great for short rides through busy streets. Getting around Makassar by these is an adventure!