Mount Batur Bali, The First Indonesia's Geopark by UNESCO

Mount Batur in Bali finally recognized as the first World Geopark in Indonesia. Mount Batur geopark recognition as the world (Global Geopark) in Indonesia was announced by UNESCO (Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) in its official website on last 22 September 2012.

While the establishment of Mount Batur as the world's geopark (Global Geopark), has carried out a day earlier by the Global Geoparks Network Bureau. The decision is the result of the meeting of the 11th European Geoparks Conference held in Arouca, Portugal, on 19 September-21 September.

Together with Mount Batur, set also 3 other new site called The Bakony-Balaton (Hungary), Geological and Mining Park in Catalonia (Spain), and a group of high mountain in Jiangxi Province (China). With that, the Global Geopark Network already has 91 sites located in 27 countries around the world.

Geopark (also known as the garden of the earth) is a region or geological heritage sites that have ecological value and cultural heritage and serves as a conservation, education and sustainable development. The Geopark set in the Global Geopark Network Geoparks (GGN), a group formed by UNESCO that conducted every 2 years.

Mount Batur is an active volcano located in the district of Kintamani Bangli regency, Bali, Indonesia. Mountain with an altitude of 1,717 meters above sea level has a large and beautiful caldera. Mount Batur caldera is formed by two large eruptions occurred in 29.300 and 20.150 years ago. In the middle of Batur caldera there is a lake that shaped as crescent. Lake Batur, measuring about 7.5 km in length and a maximum width of 2.5 km with a circumference reaches 22 km and an area of ​​about 16 km2.

Mount Batur is part of the 'Ring of Fire' Pacific (Ring of Fire) and became one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia. Recorded since 1804 which is now designated as Global Geopark mount has erupted more than 26 times.
 

Determination of Mount Batur caldera as a Global Geopark is inseparable from the unique geological landscapes and charming scenery. The uniqueness and beauty of geology, especially the crater, caldera and lake Batur, has become the mainstay attractions in Bali.

Furthermore, in terms of culture, communities around Mount Batur also present unique traditions associated with the Balinese Hindu religion. One of the traditions is cemetery that held at Terunyan village, Kintamani. In this village the death bodies just placed on a large stone in three specific locations. Uniquely after days though not embalmed and continue to experience the process of decomposition, the remains death body were not spreading a foul smell.