English Task: The Natural Phenomenon Sand Dune (Parangkusumo Yogyakarta)

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.