Mount Rinjani, mountain adventure

Mount Rinjani or Gunung Rinjani is an active volcano in Indonesia on the island of Lombok. Administratively the mountain is in the Regency of North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (Indonesian: Nusa Tenggara Barat, NTB). It rises to 3,726 metres (12,224 ft), making it the second highest volcano in Indonesia.
On the top of the volcano is a 6 km by 8.5 km caldera, which is filled partially by the crater lake known as Segara Anak (Child of the Sea). This lake is approximately 2000 metres above sea level and estimated at being around 200 metres deep; the caldera also contains hot springs.



CHARACTERISTICS OF MOUNTAIN RINJANI

Forests in Gunung Rinjani including heterogeneous and homogeneous forest types in certain regions. At an altitude of 1000 - 2000 masl we can find types of plants such as Beringin (Ficus superb), Garu (Dysoxylum sp), Bayur, and farm residents who planted vegetables like cabbage, peppers, onions, and potatoes. At an altitude of 2000 - 3000 masl, the dominant vegetation is the mountain pine (Casuarina junghuniana). At an altitude of 3000 meters above sea level upwards there are only a kind of grasses and perennial flowers (edelweiss). One of the exotic Mount Rinjani is the Segara Anak Lake is formed by the volcanic eruption of Mount Rinjani. The lake is situated at an altitude of 2800 meters above sea level, rich in fish and other flora and fauna. The wealth of the lake is often exploited by local residents to take fish. But one point to note here is the existence of indigenous local population so that exploitation is not to cause environmental damage. The fish are numerous in this lake are goldfish, tilapia and fish Harper. In February 2005 the team of climbers from Astacala successfully speared goldfish weighing 3.5 kg. Segara Anak Lake is trusted by the people around have a dagger that can cure the disease, also to get a cult object - a sacred object. Near the Lake Segara Anak there is a small mountain called the Baru Mountain. Rarely one can to the top of the Baru Mount even though according to the information already there is a path to get there. Could be this is because the Baru Mount is still active and out of gas. Mount Rinjani can be said to be safe from the threat of wild animals. Birds, monkeys hanging on the woods and chickens that are often encountered in the forest. After traveling about 7 hours, arrived at Pelawangan (mountain ridge) Sembalun Lawang. Location is overgrown with mountain pine (Casuarina junghuniana) This is the last station climb before heading to the summit. Pelawangan Sembalun Lawang is located right on the slopes of Segara Anakan Lake. While resting, climbers can watch as much the excotic giant lake formed by volcanic eruption of Mount Rinjani. Unfortunately the weather at this altitude is very easy to change. The attack can come suddenly mist cold weather replace heat. Quite often wind storm capable of ripping even fly tent. However, the charm of sunrise and sunset into an unforgettable moment of a lifetime.

Geography

Lombok is one of the Lesser Sunda Islands, a small archipelago which, from west to east, consists of Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, Sumba and the Timor islands; all are located at the edge of the Australian continental shelf. Volcanoes in the area are formed due to the action of oceanic crusts and the movement of the shelf itself. Rinjani is one of at least 129 active volcanoes in Indonesia, four of which belong to the volcanoes of the Sunda Arc trench system forming part of the Pacific Ring of Fire – a section of fault lines stretching from the Western Hemisphere through Japan and South East Asia. The islands of Lombok and Sumbawa lie in the central portion of the Sunda Arc. The Sunda Arc is home to some of the world's most dangerous and explosive volcanoes. The eruption of nearby Mount Tambora on Sumbawa is known for the most violent eruption in recorded history on 15 April 1815, with a scale 7 on the VEI.
The highlands are forest clad and mostly undeveloped. The lowlands are highly cultivated. Rice, soybeans, coffee, tobacco, cotton, cinnamon, cacao, cloves, cassava, corn, coconuts, copra, bananas and vanilla are the major crops grown in the fertile soils of the island. The slopes are populated by the indigenous Sasak population. There are also some basic tourist related activities established on Rinjani primarily in or about the village of Senaru.
Rinjani volcano on the island of Lombok rises to 3,726 metres (12,224 ft), second in height among Indonesian volcanoes only to Sumatra's Kerinci volcano. Rinjani has a steep-sided conical profile when viewed from the east, but the western side of the compound volcano is truncated by the 6 x 8.5 km, oval-shaped Segara Anak caldera. The western half of the caldera contains a 230 metre-deep lake whose crescentic form results from growth of the post-caldera cone Barujari at the eastern end of the caldera.

Rinjani National Park

The volcano and the caldera are protected by the Gunung Rinjani National Park established in 1997. Tourism is increasingly popular with trekkers able to visit the rim, make their way into the caldera or even to make the more arduous climb to the highest point; fatalities, however, are not uncommon. In July 2009 the summit route was closed due to volcanic activity at that time and subsequently reopened when the activity decreased. During early 2010 up to and including May 2010 access to Rinjani was at times again restricted due to volcanic activity.
The park is popular for mountain climbs and trekking and represents an important nature reserve and water catchement area. The park is officially 41,330 hectares within the park boundaries and includes a further 66,000 hectares of protected forest outside. The mountain and its satellites form the Mount Rinjani National Park (Taman Nasional Gunung Rinjani) - officially 41,000 hectares within the park boundaries and a further 66,000 hectares of protected forest outside. In 2008, the Indonesian government proposed to UNESCO that Mount Rinjani be one of the world's official geoparks. If this was approved by UNESCO, Mount Rinjani would become the first such geological park in Indonesia.
It has been claimed that the preliminary documentation required for UNESCO registration has not received sufficient support from the Nusa Teggara Barat government offices. Among the requirements to become a geo-park sufficient information must be supplied to show that the location has sufficient and appropriate management, information services, access to educational instruction to facilitate "knowledge-based geotourism", the implementation of a sustainable regional economy, biodiversity conservation, and to have established public access to the park area.
Mount Rinjani has obtained the World Legacy Award from Conservation International and Traveller (2004), and was a finalist for Tourism for Tomorrow Awards (2005 dan 2008) from the World Travel Tourism Council (WTTC).
In December 2010, a photo of eruption of Rinjani won 2010 National Geographic Photography Contest. The photo, taken by Singaporean photographer Aaron Lim Boon Teck won the contest, and described by the judge as "best represented the craft of photography. Not only is the light subtle and beautiful, and not only is it a lovely scene, but there's a volcanic eruption going on in the background.