Country Indonesia Capital Wonosari Post Code 55800 Area 1,485 km² Area code 0274 | Special Administrative Region Yogyakarta Time zone WIB (UTC+7) Vehicle registration AB Population 702,104 (2014) University Gunung Kidul University | |
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Province Special Region of Yogyakarta Points of interest Sri Gethuk Waterfall, Pok Tunggal Beach, Ngrenehan Beach, Drini Beach, Jomblang Cave | ||
Gunungkidul Regency is a regency in the southeast part of the province of Yogyakarta Special Region, Indonesia. The regency (the name of which means South Hills in Javanese) is bordered by the city of Yogyakarta to the north west, Bantul Regency to the west, Sleman Regency to the north west and the Indian Ocean to the south.
Contents
- Map of Gunung Kidul Regency Special Region of Yogyakarta Indonesia
- Geography
- Caves
- Prehistory
- Borderline
- Culture
- North Zone
- Central Zone
- South Zone
- Climatology
- Tombak Kyai Marga Salurung
- UNESCO Geopark
- Administrative districts
- Regent
- References
Map of Gunung Kidul Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia
The southern coast of Gunungkidul is rough and wild but exotic with several beautiful beaches: Baron, Kukup, Krakal, Drini, Sepanjang, Sundak, Siung Beach, Wediombo and Sadeng. Some of these beaches provide fresh fish and other sea product supplied by local fisherman. The most notable is Baron beach. There is a park next to the beach surrounded by seafood restaurants and hostels. There is a fresh fish market in the east side of the beach. On the west side, a river flows out from an almost sea-level cave on the side of western ridge. The beach itself is khaki-colored and sprawled with traditional fishermens' boat. Beside the main beach there is a kilometre of almost untouched white sand beach lying beyond its eastern ridge. It can be reach by small hike; there is a rest area with a beautiful view on top of the eastern hill.
There are also tourist sites to visit near the beach area of Parangtritis which is located on the border of the Kidul and Bantul districts. There are some temples, springs, and underground rivers in the village of Girijati near Parangtritis.
The Gunungkidul area in earlier times was heavily forested. However most of the teak forests have now been removed and many reforestation projects occur on the western edge of the regency. The regency has been subject to extensive drought and famine within the last hundred years. Water shortages and poverty remain serious problems in the region.
Geography
Gunung Kidul Regency is in a karst region. This leads to difficult geography for farmers and contributes to considerable poverty in the area because of water shortages. Much of the Regency is included in the Mount Sewu (literally "thousand mountains") collection of limestone hills which stretches across parts of southern Java from parts of Kebumen Regency in the west near the border with West Java across to close to the city of Malang in East Java. The Menaroh Hills in the area south of Yogyakarta in Kulon Progo Regency, for example, are part of this series of limestone hills.
Caves
The limestone hills are reported to contain hundreds of caves. These are classified locally as vertical caves (known as luweng in Javanese) and horizontal caves. Jomblang cave (Luweng Jomblang) and Grubug Cave (Luwung Grubug) located in the Semanu subdistrict in Kulon Progo, as well as other caves in the area, are well-known to local caving (speleological) groups. Some of the caves are quite long; Cerme cave, for example, has an entrance in Bantul Regency and stretches for quite a distance eastward into Panggang subdistrict in Gunung Kidul Regency.
Prehistory
From archaeological findings, the area of Gunungkidul thought to have been inhabited by humans ( Homo sapiens ) from 700 thousand years ago. Many find the instructions of human existence found in caves and niches in karst of Gunungkidul , especially in Ponjong sub-district. The human propensity Gunung occupy the time it caused most of the lowland in Yogyakarta is still flooded. The arrival of the first humans in Gunungkidul occurred at the end of the Pleistocene period . At that time , the human race Australoid migrated from the Pegunungan Sewu in Pacitan, East Java passing Wonogiri karst valleys, Central Java until it reaches the southern coast of Gunungkidul through ancient, Bengawan Solo.
Borderline
Culture
Gunung Kidul Regency is located in the limestone uplands of Java, thus soils are not very good for growing rice. Cassava replaced rice in this area. Some famous Gunung Kidul cuisine includes thiwul, gathot (both are cassava-based food), and a delicacy called walang goreng (fried grasshoppers).
North Zone
North Zone called Agung Batur region with an altitude of 200 m - 700 m above sea level. The situation is hilly, there are sources of ground water depth of 6m - 12m from the ground. Latosol soil types dominated by volcanic and sedimentary parent hurricane stones. This area includes the District Patuk, Gedangsari, Nglipar, Ngawen, Semin, and the northern part of the District Ponjong.
Central Zone
Central Zone called Ledok Wonosari development, with an altitude of 150 m - 200 m above sea level. The soil type is dominated by mediterranean association with the red and black grumosol limestone. So although it's long dry season, the water particles are still able to survive. There is a river on the land. Ground water depth ranging between 60–120 m below the ground surface. This area includes the District Playen, Wonosari, Karangmojo, Ponjong the central and northern parts Semanu
South Zone
South Zone called Pegunungan Seribu development area (Duizon gebergton or Zuider gebergton) , with an altitude of 0 m - 300 m above sea level. Constituent bedrock is limestone with characteristic conical hills (Conical limestone) and the karst area. In this region often found underground river. The South Zone includes District Saptosari, Paliyan, Girisubo, Tanjungsari, Kecamatan Tepus, Rongkop, Purwosari, Panggang, Ponjong the south, and the southern part Semanu.
Climatology
Gunung Kidul regency including tropical area, the topography of a region dominated by karst region area . The southern region is dominated by karst region, that are numerous natural caves and underground rivers flowing. Under these conditions cause the condition of the land in the southern area which resulted in less fertile agricultural cultivation in this region is less than optimal. Gunungkidul climatological conditions generally exhibit the following conditions:
Tombak Kyai Marga Salurung
Tombak Kyai Marga Salurung is one of heirloom gift from the King of Yogyakarta, Hamengkubuwono X on Sunday, May 27, 2001 , when the Celebration of 170th Anniversary of Gunungkidul Regency. Spear heirloom that has a new dhapur cekel, warangka kajeng sanakeling symbolize that the district government of Gunungkidul still has a major commitment to achieve lofty ideals are deeply rooted and always siding with the people . The leaders and the people have the attitude or the direction salurung approval , accord , saiyeg - saeka- kapti in the corridors of democracy , which means heavy hands make light work , conscious of their rights, but also respect the rights of others and known for certain obligations.
UNESCO Geopark
Gunung Kidul Regency and the nearby Imogiri area (in Bantul Regency) and Pacitan Regency (East Java Province) is being promoted by the Indonesia government to be a UNESCO Geopark, due to their unique and scenic karst landscape. An accessor from UNESCO has visited 4 areas in July 2014. These include:
As a karst region Gunung Kidul Regency has many caves, some of which have underground rivers. At least two of them (Pindul Cave in the Bejiharjo area and Kalisuci Cave in the Semanu area) are regarded as tourist sites where tubing activities can be carried on.
Nglanggeran primeval volcano in the Patuk area is only 600 meters high but there are excellent views from the peak to the north towards Mount Merapi and to the south across to the coast of Java. Scattered giant granite and andesit rock formations called "watu wayang" (puppet rocks) are found at the Mt Nglanggeran area as well as a nearby man-made lake. It takes around 3 hours to hike from the Pendopo Kali Song entrance point to the peak.
Siung Beach Bay is about 300 meters length, but swimming is prohibited because of dangerous rocks and severe waves. The cliff surrounding the beach, with over 200 tracks, is suitable for rock climbing.
200 meters east of Siung Beach there is a 10-meter Jogan Tide Fall in Tepus district which is 70 kilometers from Yogyakarta in 2 hours drive. Rainy season is the best time to see the Jogan Tide Fall, because in dry season the water level is low.
Administrative districts
Gunung Kidul Regency is divided into 18 districts (kecamatan), listed below with their populations at the 2010 Census: