Geological Lembeh Manado

Lembeh Strait is situated between the tip of Northern Sulawesi and the Island of Lembeh. The isolation of this area during the Pleistocene period times led to unmatched and the highest known “speciation”: -- the development of new species.

Recognized as an epicenter of marine biodiversity, North Sulawesi is known for the exceptional variety of its terrestrial and underwater life. Sulawesi straddles both the Asian and the Australian biogeographical zones, hosting the highest number of coral, plant and fish species on earth. There are at least 450 species of hard coral in this small area, compared to the 60 species found in the entire Caribbean.

Furthermore, a 30 cm difference between the water levels of the Pacific and Indian Oceans cause a huge massive movement of nutrient-rich water to flow through the Lembeh Strait. Nutrients from these upwellings are retained in the Strait by the actions of small eddies, slow water whirls, created by the narrowness of the passage and the fast changing water flows.