Gunung Kidul Regency


Gunungkidul Regency is a regency in the southeast part of the province of Yogyakarta Special Region, Indonesia. It is located on the island of Java. The regency is bordered by the Sleman Regency to the north west, Bantul Regency to the west, the Indian Ocean to the south, Wonogiri Regency to the east and Klaten Regency to the north.
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 on the east side of the beach. On the west side, a river flows out from an almost sea-level cave on the side of the western ridge. The beach itself is khaki-colored and sprawled with traditional fishermen's boats. Beside the main beach, there is a kilometer of almost untouched white sand beach lying beyond its eastern ridge. It can be reached by a 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 Gunungkidul 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.

General condition

Geography

Gunungkidul 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 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 Menoreh Hills in the area south of Yogyakarta in Kulonprogo 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 and horizontal caves. Jomblang cave and Grubug Cave located in the Semanu subdistrict in Kulonprogo, as well as other caves in the area, are well-known to local caving 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 Gunungkidul Regency.

Prehistory

From archaeological findings, the area of Gunungkidul thought to have been inhabited by humans 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

Gunungkidul Regency is located in the limestone uplands of Java, and a delicacy called walang goreng.

Topography

North Zone

North Zone called Agung Batur region with an altitude of 200–700 m above sea level. The situation is hilly, there are sources of groundwater 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 150–200 m above sea level. The soil type is dominated by Mediterranean association with the red and black grumusol limestone. So despite its long dry season, the water particles are still able to survive. There is a river on the land. Groundwater depth ranges 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, with an altitude of 0–300 m above sea level. Constituent bedrock is limestone with characteristic conical hills and the karst area. Underground rivers are often found in this region. The South Zone includes District Saptosari, Paliyan, Girisubo, Tanjungsari, Kecamatan Tepus, Rongkop, Purwosari, Panggang, Ponjong the south, and the southern part Semanu.

Climatology

Gunungkidul 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.

Tombak Kyai Panjolo Panjul

Songsong (Payung) Kyai Robyong

UNESCO Geopark

Gunung Kidul Regency and the nearby Imogiri area and Pacitan Regency 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 are regarded as tourist sites where tubing activities can be carried on.
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 andesite rock formations called "watu wayang" 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 in 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 the dry season, the water level is low.

Administrative districts

Gunungkidul Regency is divided into 18 districts, listed below with their populations at the 2010 Census: