Mount Semeru is an active volcano located in East Java, Indonesia. It is the highest mountain on the island of Java. This stratovolcano is also known as Mahameru, meaning 'The Great Mountain.The name derived from the Hindu-Buddhist mythical mo untain of Meru or Sumeru, the abode of gods.
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| MT. SEMERU - EAST JAVA - INDONESIA |
Semeru is named from Sumeru, the central world-mountain in Buddhist cosmology and by extension Hinduism. As stated in legend, it was transplanted from India; the tale is recorded in the 15th-century East Javanese work Tantu Pagelaran. It was originally placed in the western part of the island, but that caused the island to tip, so it was moved eastward. On that journey, parts kept coming off the lower rim, forming the mountains Lawu, Wilis, Kelut, Kawi, Arjuno and Welirang. The damage thus caused to the foot of the mountain caused it to shake, and the top came off and created Penanggungan as well. Indonesian Hindus also hold a belief that the mountain is the abode of Shiva in Java.
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| Bromo - Tengger - Semeru |
Semeru is one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes. What stands out most about this mountain is the fact that it erupts periodically (and very reliably so). Every 20 minutes (August 2003) the volcano belches out a huge cloud of steam and smoke, sometimes interspersed with ash and stones. The scenery on the way is beautiful (the erupting volcano, the mountain savannah, the lake), and the views from the top are spectacular. You see the vast Sandsea caldera with other volcanoes, among them Bromo and Batok, and the sea. Semeru is a must for all mountaineers, hikers and nature lovers who happen to be in Indonesia. If you are flying from Denpasar to Surabaya, you can see Semeru, and you may see a horizontal chain of clouds stretching away from the peak. These clouds all have the same distance to each other due to the volcano's periodic activity. Many people climb this mountain, tourists and Indonesians alike.
The steep-sided volcano rises abruptly to 3,676 m above coastal plains to the south. It is located at the southern end of a volcanic massif extending north to the 16-km-wide Tengger caldera. The Tengger caldera actually consists of five calderas, the most recent being the 9-km-wide Sandsea caldera, with its cluster of post-caldera cones. The youngest of these cones is Bromo, another of Indonesia's most active volcanoes, and the country's most frequently visited.
You don't need a guide to find the way up the mountain: once you have left the village behind and are on the track, you can't miss the summit.
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| Welcome Gate to Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park |
Section 1: Ranupane - Lake Kumbolo (Ranu Kumbolo)
There are two tracks leading from Ranupane to Lake Kumbolo. From the eastern track you get a spectacular view of Semeru (see signature photo).
Eastern approach (via Watu Rejeng): Leaving the village of Ranupane (about 2,000 m), walk up the road to Lumajang for a few hundred meters and turn right just before the road starts going down. There is a signpost and also the rangers are very helpful to put you on the track. Follow the path up through mountain forest to Lake Kumbolo (2,390 m). It will take you about 3 hours to get there.
Western approach: Info about the western track will be greatly appreciated.
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| Ranu Kumbolo 2390 M |
Section 2: Lake Kumbolo - Kalimati (base camp)
This is an easy and beautiful hike through tussock savannah. It will take you another 3 hours. You can even walk up to Kalimati at night if, for instance, you chose to do Bromo in the morning, set out from Ranupane in the afternoon, and want to reach the base camp on the same day. In a moonlit night, this can be a rewarding experience.
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| Oro Oro Ombo |
Section 3: Kalimati (base camp) - summit
From Kalimati a path leads up through mountain forest to the treeline (about 2 hours). The final ascent, above the treeline, is a steep and somewhat strenuous walk over volcanic scree and sand, which will take you another 1 to 2 hours. The top is a rather big, flat area. The present-day crater is a bit further on, below the summit, to the south. From the top, you cannot look inside the crater. For your own safety, stay clear of the crater rim.
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Summit - MAHAMERU |
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| View on MAHAMERU |
Source : www.wonderfulland.top
