Abstract Eastern Indonesia is the site of intense deformation related to convergence between Australia, Eurasia, the Pacific and the Philippine Sea Plate. Our analysis of the tectonic geomorphology, drainage patterns, exhumed faults and historical seismicity in this region has highlighted faults that have been active during the Quaternary (Pleistocene to present day), even if instrumental records suggest that some are presently inactive. Of the 27 largely onshore fault systems studied, 11 showed evidence of a maximal tectonic rate and a further five showed evidence of rapid tectonic activity. Three faults indicating a slow to minimal tectonic rate nonetheless showed indications of Quaternary activity and may simply have long interseismic periods. Although most studied fault systems are highly segmented, many are linked by narrow (<3 km) step-overs to form one or more long, quasi-continuous segment capable of producing M > 7.5 earthquakes. Sinistral shear across the soft-linked Yapen and Tarera–Aiduna faults and their continuation into the transpressive Seram fold–thrust belt represents perhaps the most active belt of deformation and hence the greatest seismic hazard in the region. However, the Palu–Koro Fault, which is long, straight and capable of generating super-shear ruptures, is considered to represent the greatest seismic risk of all the faults evaluated in this region in view of important strike-slip strands that appear to traverse the thick Quaternary basin-fill below Palu city.

Extract from beginning of chapter: ON THE CHINA SEA The many-colored sea was glorious in the splendid weather that favored us—deep blue-green far out; lighter and brighter green toward the coast, turning to yellowish and yellow where it mingled with river waters along the shore. The Yellow Sea 1 is well named, colored with the muddy waters of the Yangtze and the Yellow Rivers. In places there were great purplish streaks. On Sunday evening [1910], we were quietly anchored in the Min River, ten miles below Foochow, 2 one of the most beautiful spots I was ever in. The entrance to the river is picturesque with mountains on both sides of a tortuous bay. There was a long trip up a fascinating valley with inlets and branches, between steep hills cultivated in horizontal terraces, in places to the highest points, with rice fields on either shore. We stopped in a lake-like expanse with stretches of river in three directions, each presenting a different mountainous scene. Rugged granite peaks formed the skyline in several directions at different distances. A low, reedy island was in one foreground; a wooded hill topped by a tall pagoda formed another. A green terraced ridge with artificially flat crests and scattered pines outlined against distant hills made a third, each view with its peculiar charm. Soon the steamer was surrounded by sampans, the locals climbing up the sides of the ship, struggling to unpack their stocks of all kinds on the lower deck. The whole family came in the sampan, the cleanest