Merapi Lava Tour

Merapi area at this time

Merapi area at this time

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Communities in Yogyakarta and Central Java must be familiar with the beauty and ferocity of Mount Merapi. With a title as one of the world's most active volcano, Merapi holds the potential of natural disasters in the form of an eruption or eruption. It has long geological researchers propose various theories about the malignancy of the eruption of Merapi. One of them came from the famous Dutch geologist, Reinout Willem van Bemmelen, who filed the assumption that the great Merapi volcano had erupted in 1006. This great eruption, by archaeologists and then interpreted as the cause for the centers of the kingdom of Mataram Kuna decline and then moved from Central Java to East Java.

After the beginning of the second Millennium, Merapi has erupted several times, including in 1672, 1786, 1822, 1872, and 1930. In the eruption in 1672, hot clouds and lava floods killed about 300 people. Meanwhile, the eruption in 1930 claimed more victims, which is about 1369 people. Then in subsequent years, the eruption of 1954, 1961, 1969, and 1972 to 1973, claiming dozens of lives each person. Another eruption occurred in 1994 that killed dozens of people, while the 1998 eruption did not cause casualties, due to eruptive pointing upward.

In the third Millennium, once again shows the ferocity of Merapi. This time it happened in the year June 14, 2006, in which the brunt of lava and hot clouds can break down the barrier wall of the southern part of the so-called sensation Boyo (crocodile's back), so that the hot material is then piled campsite Merapi. Eruptions that only 2 weeks apart before the Earthquake struck Yogyakarta and Central Java has killed two volunteer community evacuation slopes of Merapi, which Sudarwanto and Suwarjono. They are trapped in foxholes (bunker) when hot lava bunkers piled about three feet tall.

 

Merapi Eruption 2010

Merapi Eruption 2010

Merapi is the farthest reach of the brunt of lava and hot clouds (in local language called wedhus trash) when the eruption in 2006. The villages around Merapi, as Kinahrejo (where Mbah Maridjan, Merapi caretaker residence), survivors of the catastrophic eruption. Thousands of cubic meters of sand-stone stockpile area Merapi Merapi has changed the face of the earth to the green camp into a barren stretch of land is very broad. The area is buried former Merapi lava is then opened as a tourist attraction by name Merapi Lava Tour. Domestic and foreign tourists can visit these attractions to see directly the Merapi eruption of material used and the bunker where the protection of two volunteers who died.

Most recent eruption and terdahsyat within 100 knows this is in October-November 2010, occurred 3 eruption within 2 weeks. The first eruption menwaskan approximately 30 people including the Interpreter Lock Mbah Maridjan own place on 26 October 2010 at 17:30 local time, the second eruption occurred 5 days later but there were no casualties. And that terdahsyat is Letusanke 3 dated 5 November 2010 that killed more than 200 people, and make residents evacuate 3counties place outside a radius of 25 Kilometers from the top trim.

The eruption of Merapi in the photo from Selo Area - Boyolali central java

B. Feature

Merapi is a plateau region in the south of Mount Merapi. From this region, tourists can see the towering peak of Merapi, with visibility about 2 miles. Enchantment majesty of the mountain as high as 2965 meters above sea level (asl) is decorated by smoke sulfatara that never stop rising from the crater's mouth, showing that the mountain has never stopped the move.

 

Merapi area at this time

Merapi area at this time

Merapi area at this time

Besides watching the beautiful peak of Merapi, the tourists who visit during the day to see evidence of geologic eruption of Merapi in 2006, namely sand-stone which is the eruption of material and two volunteers bunker former hideout. Arid region is just overgrown bushes and shrubs are visible contrast to green vegetation on the hills around it. Before the eruption, Merapi is a campground that has various facilities, such as rooms, toilet, permanent stalls, viewing post, basecamp climbing Merapi, as well as a large area to camp. Now these buildings have been buried, leaving only the top of the building of walls that have been destroyed.

 

Yellow River Current Flow

Yellow River Current Flow

Yellow River Current Flow

Yellow River Current Flow

Evidence of malignancy other Merapi can be seen in the bunker which becomes a hiding place volunteers. Originally, the bunker is believed to protect the volunteers if at any time Merapi spewing hot clouds. However, as expressed by Christian Awuy, a trekking guide region of Merapi, Merapi eruption was not just spewing hot clouds, but also the hot material that is able to topple Geger Boyo (hill in southern peak of Merapi) so that hoard Merapi region. As a result, two volunteers who were hiding in the bunker buried material about 3 feet tall, with the heat reaching 1,000 degrees centigrade. Although made from 25 cm-thick concrete and steel door, because the very hot temperatures, the two volunteers who took refuge in the bunker was finally killed. A volunteer found dead soak in the tub, while others in front of an iron door.

 

The atmosphere and the thickness of the Dust When Explosion

The atmosphere and the thickness of the Dust When Explosion

The atmosphere and the thickness of the Dust When Explosion

The atmosphere and the thickness of the Dust When Explosion

The atmosphere and the thickness of the Dust When Explosion

Tourists can see the bunker is located at a depth of about 2 meters in the land. This bunker has now been cleared of sand material and coated with white paint so that the contrast with surrounding color. In front of the door there is an inscription that describes briefly history of this bunker. Entering the bunker, humid and sultry weather blanketing visitors instantly felt as if proclaiming the mystical aura. True or not, according to Christian Awuy clear, if you want to enter the bunker, we recommend that visitors are not alone, because it feared could be affected such a mystical atmosphere.

 

Merapi in photos

Merapi in photos

Merapi in photos

In addition to the visit during the day, a visit at night is equally interesting. At night, tourists can watch the molten lava down a lava dome. Landscape molten lava colored bright red, of course, contrasts with pekatnya night. But do not forget, if you visit at night, travelers should wear enough warm clothing, because the night air in this region is very cold.


C. Location

Administratively, attractions Merapi Lava Tour Kepuharjo located in the Village, District, Cangkringan, Sleman District, Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia.


D. Access

Merapi is located about 35 kilometers north of Yogyakarta. Until now, there is no public transport serving the direct trip from Yogyakarta to Merapi. There was only a bus or a car that serves the route of Yogyakarta-Ground. Therefore, for tourists who want to visit Merapi and other tourist resorts on the slopes of Mount Merapi are advised to use a private vehicle or rental vehicle. In this way, tourists can visit not only Merapi Lava Tour, but also other tourist objects more easily.

E. Ticket Prices

Tourists visiting Merapi Lava Tour ticket fee of USD 5000.00 per person. If bringing a private vehicle, visitors will also be charged extra for parking, at $ 5000.00 for cars and USD $ 3000.00 for the motor.

F. Accommodation and Other Facilities

Merapi and the surrounding area has been enlivened by shops that sell food and soft drinks for visitors. Not only that, if travelers did not get to witness firsthand the events of molten lava at night, food stalls around Merapi also sell photographs and video CD that describes the molten lava and eruption in 2006. Photos and video CD also presents an overview of the evacuation of victims buried under the hot material in the bunker. The photos sold for Rp 15.000,00 terseut up to Rp 20.000,00 per photo. While the Video CD sells for Rp. 30.000.00 to Rp. 50.000.00 per video CD.

If intending to spend the night in the area of ​​the slopes of Merapi, travelers can book accommodations in the area of ​​Ground situated in the west of Merapi. In Kaliurang there are many inns, hotels and guesthouses are good not only be used for lodging, but also training, meetings, or family gatherings because almost every hotel and inn has a meeting room. In this place too many hawker stalls and unique culinary Kaliurang, the misbegotten and tempeh bacem, and sate kelici delicious and tasty. Near Ground Area there are also many other interesting attractions, such as Tlogo Princess, Garden Kaliurang, and Sentry Pandang Merapi.