Komodo Island

Komodo National Park is located in the center of the Indonesian archipelago, between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores. Established in 1980, initially the main purpose of the Park was to conserve the unique Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) and its habitat. However, over the years, the goals for the Park have expanded to protecting its entire biodiversity, both terrestrial and marine. In 1986, the Park was declared a World Heritage Site and a Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, both indications of the Park's biological importance.

Komodo National Park includes three major islands: Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as numerous smaller islands creating a total surface area (marine and land) of 1817km (proposed extensions would bring the total surface area up to 2,321km²). As well as being home to the Komodo dragon, the Park provides refuge for many other  notable terrestrial species such as the orange-footed scrub fowl, an endemic rat, and the Timor deer. Moreover, the Park includes one of the richest marine environments including coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, seamounts, and semi-enclosed bays. These habitats harbor more than 1,000 species of fish, some 260 species of reef-building coral, and 70 species of sponges. Dugong, sharks, manta rays, at least 14 species of whales, dolphins, and sea turtles also make Komodo National Park their home.

  

Threats to terrestrial biodiversity include the increasing pressure on forest cover and water sources as the local human population has increased 800% over the past 60 years. In addition, the Timor deer population, the preferred prey source for the endangered Komodo dragon, is still being poached. Destructive fishing practices such as dynamite-, cyanide, and compressor fishing severely threaten the Park's marine resources by destroying both the habitat (coral reefs) and the resource itself (fish and invertebrate stocks). The present situation in the Park is characterized by reduced but continuing destructive fishing practices primarily by immigrant fishers, and high pressure on demersal stocks like lobsters, shellfish, groupers and napoleon wrasse. Pollution inputs, ranging from raw sewage to chemicals, are increasing and may pose a major threat in the future.

Today, the PKA Balai Taman Nasional Komodo and PT. Putri Naga Komodo are working together to protect the Park's vast resources. Our goals are to protect the Park's biodiversity (both marine and terrestrial) and the breeding stocks of commercial fishes for replenishment of surrounding fishing grounds. The main challenge is to reduce both threats to the resources and conflicts between incompatible activities. Both parties have a long term commitment to protecting the marine biodiversity of Komodo National Park. 

Ujung Genteng

Ujung Genteng merupakan daerah pesisir pantai selatan Jawa Barat yang terletak di Kecamatan Ciracap, Kabupaten Sukabumi dengan jarak tempuh sekitar 220 kilometer dari Ibu Kota Jakarta atau 230 kilometer dari Kota Bandung. Waktu tempuhnya sekitar enam atau tujuh jam perjalanan bermobil. Selain jalannya cukup mulus juga terdapat beberapa jalur alternatif serta sarana angkutan umum yang memadai menuju tempat tujuan.

Pantai Ujung Genteng memiliki karakteristik umumnya pantai selatan Pulau Jawa yang terkenal bersih airnya dan ombaknya yang besar. Walaupun demikian, pantai ini jauh berbeda jika dibandingkan dengan pantai Pelabuhan Ratu yang terkenal rawan dan sering merenggut korban jiwa karena ombaknya yang ganas. Walaupun pantai Ujung Genteng menghadap bebas ke Samudera Hindia, namun ombaknya yang besar tak membahayakan pelancong yang gemar bermain-main di laut. Ombak besar dari tengah samudera lebih dulu pecah berserak lantaran terhalang gugusan karang laut di depan bibir pantai, sehingga kita dapat menikmati alam dengan pantai yang indah, aman, dan nyaman. Anak-anak boleh berenang di laut sepuasnya dan memungkinkan memandang sekumpulan ikan berwarna-warni di sela-sela batu karang, menandakan betapa alaminya lingkungan Ujung Genteng.

Di daerah Ujung Genteng sendiri terdapat banyak tempat menarik, seperti melihat langsung penyu hijau (Chelonia Mydas) di pantai Pangumbahan. Ada juga lokasi di mana Anda bisa berselancar di atas ombak yang cukup menantang yang terkenal dengan sebutan ”ombak tujuh”. Lokasi ini merupakan kawasan favorit bagi wisatawan mancanegara untuk olahraga selancar. Sebutan ombak tujuh menurut penduduk karena ombaknya selalu berurutan tujuh ombak dan selalu besar-besar. Untuk yang suka memancing, di Ujung Genteng merupakan tempat yang cocok di mana ikannya cukup banyak dan bervariasi.

Disamping objek wisata alam, Ujunggenteng juga memiliki objek wisata dalam bentuk proses pembuatan gula kelapa oleh masyarakat setempat. Pembuatannya sederhana sekali yakni dengan memanfaatkan perkebunan kelapa luas, para penduduk memasang bokor untuk menampung cairan dari kembang kelapa lalu di kumpulkan dan dimasak dikuali lalu dicetak dengan potongan bambu yang ukurannya lebih besar dari ukuran gula kelapa yang ada di pasaran.

Kelimutu Lake

Kelimutu (Keli'mutu) is a volcano, close to the town of Moni in central Flores Island of Indonesia containing three summit crater lakes of varying colors. Tiwu Ata Mbupu (Lake of Old People) is usually blue and is the westernmost of the three lakes. The other two lakes, Tiwu Nuwa Muri Koo Fai (Lake of Young Men and Maidens) and Tiwu Ata Polo (Bewitched or Enchanted Lake) are separated by a shared crater wall and are typically green or red in color, respectively. The lake colors do vary on a periodic basis. Subaqueous fumaroles are the probable cause of active upwelling that occurs at the two eastern lakes.

The lake have been a source of minor phreactic eruption in historical time. The summit of the compound 1639-m-high Kelimutu volcano is elongated two km in a WNW-ESE direction; the older cones of Kelido and Kelibara are located respectively three km to the north and two km to the south. The scenic lakes are a popular tourist destination. Keli Mutu is also of interest to geologists because the three lakes are different colors yet reside at the crest of the same volcano.

According to the local officer at Kelimutu National Park, the colour changed by chemical reaction of any minerals contained in the lake in triggered by volcano gas activity. The closest airports are Maumere, and Ende. There are regular flights to Maumere from Bali. The drive from Maumere to Moni, the town at the base of Keli Mutu, takes about 3 hours.