Iguazu Falls

Apparently, I just finished reading WWF our earth page and I found this interesting information about Iguazu falls which is in the "All Time Top 10 Places to See". Since, I never heard anything about this place before. Iguazu falls is on the number 8 from the list, beating Madagascar and The Alps.

So, basically Iguazu Falls are series of waterfalls on the Iguazu River that stretch in a "U" or horseshoe shape with the length of 2 miles area along the the border of Argentina and Brazil. The term Iguazu means "big water" in Guarana language, and this falls live up to their name. Iguazu Falls consists of about 270 waterfalls and the height up to 82 meters. The thunderous roaring of the falls can be heared from miles away and the mist forms rainbows, bigger than North America's Niagara Falls.

 Breathtaking scenery of Iguazu Falls

The legend says that a god intended to marry a beautiful girl called Naipu. However, the girl ran away with her lover in a canoe. The god became furious and the god sliced the river, creating the waterfalls, punishing the lovers to an eternal fall.

Source:

WWF© . (2010). Iguazu Falls. Retrieved from http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/teacher_resources/best_place_species/current_top_10/iguazu_falls.cfm

Indonesia's Environmental Problems

Indonesia is a rich country with a plenty of natural resources in almost every sectors such as, agricultures, fisheries, and even forestry. Nowadays, across the world has been demanding for Indonesia's natural resources such as fish, palm oil, timber, gold, oil and gas. To supplying the demands of the another country and also to keep Indonesia's financial status, Indonesia keeps exporting its natural resources. The problem is that a lot of these activities are illegal.

Kalimantan forest loss for years

One example of the activities is deforestation. Indonesia lost a massive 1,87 ha of forest every year. In 5 years Indonesia lost 9.36 million ha which is the same size of Portugal. Several impacts occurred such as habitat loss for endangered species, loss of livelihoods, and the worst is loss of revenue for the governments. The major cause of deforestation is a huge demand for palm oil, since palm oil is the major source of Indonesia's income and this sector give a massive amount of job opportunities. However, this sector comes at a heavy price, because where plantations are created in high conservation forests area, there will be a complete loss of forest ecological functions and socioeconomic benefits for locals. 

Riau, Sumatera deforestation rate

Source:

WWF©. (2007). Environmental problems in Indonesia. Retrieved from 

http://wwf.panda.org/who_we_are/wwf_offices/indonesia/environmental_problems_indonesia/

Indonesia's Last Glaciers

Indonesia is one of the strangest regions with glaciers can be found. As we know, Indonesia is an equatorial island which means, there is always sunshine. On the mountain range of Pegunungan Maoke, in the Irian Jaya (East Part of Indonesia) there are ice fields that still remain, sadly they are shrinking continuously.

Location of the highest mountains in Papua.

Predominant rainy weather and warming the bedrock triggers the rapid melting of the remaining ice. In 2003, the ice field of the high mountain of Puncak Mandala and Puncak Trikora disappeared. The ice-archive on the Indonesia’s mountains is important record for the climate at the Pacific Ocean. 

Peak of Jaya Wijaya in 1936

Peak of Jaya Wijaya in 1972

References:

Bressan, David. (2010). Indonesia's Last Glaciers. Retrieved from http://historyofgeology.blogspot.com/2010/08/indonesias-last-glacier.html

Mt. Merapi news!

As we know, Indonesia was ambushed by several natural disasters lately. The explosion of Mt. Merapi for example, which was happened in late October, killed 153 people and 320,000 were displaced. This explosion caused several impacts on environment and also on humans, whether it’s physical and mental suffering from loss and death of relatives. This eruption changed from a beautiful green valley to a barren and eerie place, it’s completely shocking. Here  are some of the newest photos about what’s happening there.

6 November 2010
Eruption intensity was increasing 

 Continuous incandescent rockfall

NASA thermal image from space during the explosion

The surge clouds are spreading out

 View from the nearest devastated village to the volcano

Devastated village, it was all fine ash. 

The zone below Merapi where pyroclastic flow in a small canyon is 

converted to lahar by the rainfall.

The eruption survivors with some burned parts on their body

 Burned cows, luckily cow's skin is very thick and research said that the Mt. Merapi's hot ash is about 200 Celcius, which means cows really have thick skins.

 Another unfortunate victim.

Condition of the house, fully covered by ash and completely destroyed everything

Mass-burial of the victims, may them rest in peace :)

Another lucky survivor, this monkey was curled in its cage, protecting its face, tail, and paw.

References: 

Montserrat Volcano Observatory. (2010). Merapi 2010: pyroclastic surges wreck villages in  front of the world's press. Retrieved from http://www.montserratvolcano.org/Merapi.htm

Andi Hidayat. (2010). Dampak Letusan di Sekitar Lereng Merapi. Retrieved from http://andimanwno.wordpress.com/2010/11/30/studi-merapi-17/