Apart from the importance of its 115 islands (19 have remained unnamed) for spices, North Hamahera was a World War II base camp.

From the island of Morotai, Americans headed by the General of the Army Douglas MacArthur prepared for an attack on the Philippines.

Marine biodiversity data on reef fishes was collected during a rapid survey conducted at 28 locations in 2005 in the south-western part of Halmahera.

A larger region, called Moro, included the island of Morotai and parts of the North Halmahera coastline.

The Portuguese were a formidable presence in the area and they built a number of fortifications and controlled the island Ternate, off the southwest coast of the North Halmahera Regency.

This created conflict with Muslims who at the time controlled Ternate and Halmahera and in 1571, they drove the Christians from Morotai.

[9] In the early 17th century, the town of Dodinga, strategically located on Halmahera's west coast grew in influence.

Since the 1980s, mining development and logging has dramatically increased in the area, often causing conflict with local inhabitants.

The communities are dependent on fishing and forests and the financial benefits of these resources have gone to Jakarta and local elites outside Halmahera.

[10] The Christians of North Halmahera were traditionally said to generally live a peaceful co-existence with Muslims, but violence broke out between the two religious groups in December 1999 and has since been the primary cause of conflict in the region.

[10] When the decision was made to create the regency of North Halmahera, it was promised in the national parliament in Jakarta that a duty-free port similar to Batam would be established on Morotai Island.

It formerly included the larger island of Morotai to the northeast of the headland but this was administratively separated to form its own regency on 29 October 2008.

[14] The Wildlife Conservation Society is working with the Department of Marine Fisheries-DKP of the provincial government of North Maluku to monitor this environment.

The remaining 10% are immigrants, mainly from Java, Sulawesi and other parts of North Maluku, especially Makian Island.

Aside from those mentioned above, the main crops grown are banana, rice, corn, peanuts, soybeans, cassava, maize, coffee, cocoa, nutmeg and some types of fruits such as oranges, mango and durian.

Most people in North Halmahera Regency inhabit coastal areas and depend upon these marine ecosystems as a source of social economic life.

There is an availability of facilities and infrastructure to support the economy such as ports, banks, markets and primary business activity which is predominantly concentrated in the capital of Tobelo.

[16] A wedding is typically accompanied by traditional Tobelorese music, played with gongs and drums and a Cakele dance is usually performed in front of the bride as she approaches the groom.

This disturbed the peace that existed between the two communities in Ternate, Tidore, Galela and Tobelo, before spreading to the rest of the province.

Several thousand Christians fled from Ternate and Central Halmahera and took shelter in Tobelo and it turned into a refugee camp.

However, outside forces like the Laskar Jihad precipitated the issue and there was a gradual built up of tension in the region, which ultimately resulted in the worst rioting in Tobelo on 24 December 1999, which spread to other towns as well and it continued until fall 2000.

[19] Galela is another town where remnants of strife (burnt out churches and mosques) between religious groups are still seen with military checkposts.

[20] North Halmahera Regency has a large number of beaches, islands, parks, lakes, historic monuments, volcano and springs and so forth.

[23] Sumsum island, a small islet about 3 miles from Daruba town (the port of Morotai), is of historical interest because General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, commander of the Allied Forces in the Asia Pacific region during World War II stayed here and prepared for attack on the Philippines.

Tobotobo coral gardens of Loloda Islands district, approached from Dorume beach, have reefs which are good for diving and snorkeling.

It has white sand on its beaches and also coral gardens, and the marine life is found in depths of 2–10 metres (6.6–32.8 ft) and is also good for diving.

[24] Kupakupa beach has large banyan trees on its shores that provide sheltered location in the bay and keeps the waters quiet.

Sunset views from the cape to its north, from Mount Tarakani and the coast of Galela are an attraction to visitors.

[22] Telaga Paca is a small crater lake close to Tobelo town to the south – a few km off the main road.

[23] World War II Japanese tunnels, located below the road, are in the Samuda and Duma villages of West Galela District.