The Doubleside of Merapi: The beauty and The Danger Behind It

Mount Merapi, a symbol of Indonesia’s stunning natural beauty, is located in the middle of Java Island. Mount Merapi is not only a dangerous volcano but also a source of extraordinary natural beauty. Dubbed as the “Volcano that never sleeps”, Mount Merapi is an attractive destination for nature lovers and mountain climbers. The natural beauty around Mount Merapi includes dense forests, volcanic sand seas, and stunning natural scenery.

One of the main attractions of Mount Merapi is its stunning sunrise and sunset panoramas. From the top of the mountain, visitors can watch the sunrise and sunset over the majestic mountain scenery and sandy sea. This scene creates an unforgettable magical moment. This mountain is one of the climbing destinations. Before the eruption in 2010, the peak of Mount Merapi was known as the Garuda Peak because it resembled the spread of a large bird’s wings. But now the peak has collapsed due to the eruption.

Climbers and nature lovers can explore various available tracking routes, from easy to difficult. During the journey, they will be enchanted by the natural beauty and natural wonders created by the geological activity of Mount Merapi. In addition, the beauty of Mount Merapi is also expressed through the diversity of flora and fauna that live around it. Unique endemic plants such as Merapi Edelweiss can be found growing in the area around the mountain. In addition, there are many types of birds and wildlife here.

But behind its beauty, Mount Merapi also holds the potential for disasters that can occur at any time. So it is not surprising that Merapi is like a double-edged sword.

Etymology & Brief History of Merapi

The name Merapi is a compound of Sanskrit Meru meaning “mountain” with Javanese api which means “fire”. Thus Merapi can be loosely translated as “Mountain of Fire” or “Fire Mountain”.

Merapi is the youngest in a group of volcanoes in southern Java. It is situated at a subduction zone, where the Indo-Australian Plate is subducting under the Sunda Plate. It is one of at least 129 active volcanoes in Indonesia, part of the volcano is located in the Southeastern part of the Pacific Ring of Fire—a section of fault lines stretching from the Western Hemisphere through Japan and South East Asia. Stratigraphic analysis reveals that eruptions in the Merapi area began about 400,000 years ago, and from then until about 10,000 years ago, eruptions were typically effusive, and the out flowing lava emitted was basaltic. Since then, eruptions have become more explosive, with viscous andesitic lavas often generating lava domes. Dome collapse has often generated pyroclastic flows, and larger explosions, which have resulted in eruption columns, have also generated pyroclastic flows through column collapse.

Typically, small eruptions occur every two to three years, and larger ones every 10–15 years or so. Notable eruptions, often causing many deaths, have occurred in 1006, 1786, 1822, 1872, and 1930. Thirteen villages were destroyed in the latter one, and 1,400 people were killed by pyroclastic flows. After the records of Merapi’s past eruptions, several eruptions were recorded, namely in 2006, 2010, 2018, 2021, 2023, and 2024.

According to a volcanologist from Illinois University, Susan W. Kieffer, Mount Merapi is an active stratovolcano type like Mount Fuji, Vesuvius, Rainier, and St. Helens.This mountain is special because in addition to being very active, Merapi also produces ash flows that are more dangerous than any other volcano in the world.

The eruption of Mount Merapi is more dangerous than the eruption of Hawaii, because the magma in the stratovolcano is filled with gas. As a result, when the magma finds a channel to the surface, it can form a sticky, hot, gas-rich plug known as a volcanic dome. The dome can build higher and higher, then suddenly collapse under its own weight. This creates a very dangerous mixture of hot gas, ash, and dome fragments that can flow downhill for 10-17 km due to gravity, can wipe out everything on the hilltop due to gas expansion, and can melt glaciers and mix with meltwater to form very hot and dangerous mudflows.

In 2004, an area of 6,410 hectares around Mount Merapi was established as a national park. The decision of the Ministry of Forestry to declare the park has been subsequently challenged in court by The Indonesian Forum for Environment, on grounds of lack of consultation with local residents. During the 2006 eruption of the volcano it was reported that many residents were reluctant to leave because they feared their residences would be confiscated for expansion of the national park, meaning they would not have a house.

Mythology

The Javanese believe that the Earth is not only populated by human beings, but also by spirits (makhluk halus). Villages near Merapi believe that one of the palaces (in Javanese kraton) used by the rulers of the spirit kingdom lies inside Merapi, ruled by Empu Rama and Empu Permadi. This palace is said to be a spiritual counterpart to the Yogyakarta Sultanate, complete with roads, soldiers, princes, vehicles, and domesticated animals. Besides the rulers, the palace is said to also be populated by the spirits of ancestors who died as righteous people. The spirits of these ancestors are said to live in the palace as royal servants (abdi dalem), occasionally visiting their descendants in dreams to give prophecies or warnings. ”

But keep in mind that Mount Merapi is an active volcano so there is always a risk. Therefore, your visit should be supervised by an experienced guide and always follow the warnings from the authorities.

Summary

With its stunning natural beauty and rich history, Mount Merapi is the place to be. Recommended for those of you who are looking for an exciting nature adventure. and the desire to admire the beauty of nature. Indonesia is amazing.

If you want to visit Merapi Volcano and other tourist destinations in Yogyakarta, trust Yogyakarta Tour Yogyakarta Tour to visit various interesting destinations such as Borobudur & Prambanan Temple, Sultan Palace – Tamansari Watercastle, and also Merapi Mount Sunrise.