In
Indonesia, we would have found Sahara desert like in Africa. This is the
natural phenomenon is occurring in Indonesia. Interestingly, this desert is
formed in tropical areas with high rainfall. Of some existing data, desert in
Indonesia is claimed as the only desert in Southeast Asia. Yogyakarta has a
unique natural phenomenon of sand dune located near Parangtritis beach area.
This
place are close to beautiful unmainstream beach, such as, Parangtritis Beach, Depok
Beach, Parangendog Beach, Langse Cave, Imogiri Royal Cemetary etc. It just only
one way to the site. The sand dune is the one and only sand dune found in the
Southeast Asia and is said to be the world’s heritage.
The
sand dune or “Gumuk Pasir Parangkusumo” according to local tongue, were formed
in thousand years of natural process. This is unique because it is rarely found
especially in a country with high rainfall like Indonesia. What makes
Parangkusumo sand dune unique is the type of sand dune. Barchan is the type of
sand dune. The occurrence of sand dune or sand bank is considered an unusual
phenomenon in an area that has a very high rainfall. It is different from other
sand dunes in the world.
Some
experts said that the sands were actually volcanic materials erupted by
Mt.Merapi which flowed along the stream of Opak and Progo rivers to their
estuaries in the south sea. The materials then been brought to the shore by
strong waves, and after dried by the sun, the smooth and light sands blew by
strong wind came from the ocean. Since Parangtritis beach was bordered by
limestone hills, the sands could not pass the hills and fell before them, made
a desert like area on an open part of the land between the hills and the beach.
The wind that blew continuously in the area from various directions in a
certain times made the sands became sand dunes with various unique forms. This
is probably why the colour of the sand is greyish.
This
location is not only used as a tourist attraction where visitors just come,
look around and enjoy the scenery around or playing a sandboarding. The sand
dune is also the target of the photographer to capture those precious moments
such as pre-wedding and photo session.