Ternate, also known as the City of Ternate, is located in Indonesia within the Maluku Islands. It is situated off the west coast of Halmahera and consists of five islands: Ternate, which is the largest and main island, along with Moti, Hiri, Tifure, and Mayau. The city covers a total land area of 162.20 square kilometres.
As the most populous and densely populated city in the province of North Maluku, Ternate serves as the region's economic, cultural, and educational center. It functioned as the de facto provincial capital until Sofifi became the official capital in 2010. Historically, it was the capital of the Sultanate of Ternate during the 15th and 16th centuries, where it competed with the Sultanate of Tidore for control of the spice trade before attracting interest from various European powers.