Dieng-Plateau

The Dieng Plateau (from Di - Hyang, home of the gods ), located at about 2000 meters altitude on the Indonesian island of Java. The active volcanic plateau is a major destination for tourists; be on her some of the oldest Hindu temples on the island.

Geography

The Dieng Plateau is located approximately 25 kilometers north of the town of Wonosobo and about 80 kilometers northwest of the city of Yogyakarta in Central Java province. The plateau is oriented at a length of approximately 14 and a width of about 6 km in east-west direction. The partly marshy plateau is farmed intensively, are mostly grown potatoes, cabbage and tomatoes. The annual rainfall is between 3,000 and 4,000 millimeters; the plateau drained predominantly to the southwest.

The Dieng Plateau is densely populated; central place is Dieng Kulon in the Northeast. Sembungan, located in the southeast of the plateau should be Java's highest-altitude village at 2100 meters above sea level and is the starting point for the ascent of the summit views Sikunir ( 2263 meters).

Volcanism

The Dieng Plateau belongs to the southeastern stratovolcanoes Sumbing and Sundoro to a series of volcanoes that formed during the Quaternary. Mostly it is assumed that the plateau is a caldera that originated in the collapse of a large volcano. Here, the steep slopes of the stratovolcano is Prahu ( 2565 meters) considered the northeast rim of the caldera. A large-scale deposit that was taken at the collapse of the caldera, could not yet be identified.

After formation of the plateau several new stratovolcanoes formed. They fostered around 16,800 years ago, the so-called Dieng Tephra, a several tens of meters thick layer that covered the plateau. In a later eruption phase occurred at nine places in the south of the Dieng Plateau viscous lava. The youngest lava from this eruption phase is around 8450 years old.

For several centuries, the volcanism of the Dieng Plateau of steam explosions, so-called phreatic explosions is determined. Due to the explosions around 100 craters formed on the Dieng Plateau. Two types are distinguished from explosions: first explosions, preceded by no earthquakes and are attributed to blockages in active fumaroles and solfataras. On the other hand, there are explosions that occur after earthquakes or the opening of dislocations and can in which new craters.

Among the most famous craters counts of Sikidang, which is a popular destination for tourists. In many areas of the crater steam comes out of the ground, also there are hot springs, fumaroles, mud pots and solfataras. Less than a kilometer further east are the Telaga Warna ( Coloured Lake ) and the Telaga Pengilon ( Mirror Lake ) two lakes in an older crater, the lava has flowed. In Telaga Warna rise to gas bubbles; its water is acidic with a pH of three. Near the lake there are three caves, which are used as meditation sites.

Since 1800, there were at least 20 phreatic explosions; when eight people died eruptions. Thus occurred on December 4, 1944 explosions in Silari crater, about three kilometers west of Dieng Kulon. This large blocks were up to 1.5 kilometers hurled; on the crater rim was a two -meter thick deposit. Several villages were destroyed or damaged; according to different data 59, 114 or 117 people were killed. On February 20, 1979 149 people died from poisoning by carbon dioxide ( CO2), the exiting column and a crater. The gas outlet preceded earthquake swarms and a phreatic eruption in Sinila Crater, in the mud and blocks were ejected and a stream of mud, called a lahar, leaked, flowed 3.5 km wide. The dead were residents of the village Kepucukan who were fleeing from the eruption. The eruption of 1979 is compared with the release of CO2 from the Lake Nyos in Cameroon in the 1986 about 1,700 people were killed.

Temples

On the plateau contains some of the oldest Hindu temples on the island, which are also a major tourist destination. Most of the originally over 400 temples were built between the 8th and 9th centuries AD. Soon after the establishment of the temples fell into oblivion and were rediscovered only in 1856 by the archaeologist Van Kinsbergen and detected after it is dry put the area around the temple. The resulting eight temples are characteristic of the early zentraljavanesische architecture.

All Dieng temples are named after heroes of the Wayang stories of the Mahabharata epic. The temples are in 'walking distance from the village of Dieng Kulon. The buildings look rather austere and gloomy. The five main temple complex forms of Arjuna and Shiva Temple. Other temples are Candi Gatutkaca with the small museum of the plateau, showing statues and sculptures from the temples, Candi Bima with its rows of bristling minds and Candi Dwarawati. Tuk Bima Lukar is a formerly holy place by a spring east of Dieng.

List of temples:

  • Candi Abiyasa
  • Candi Arjuna
  • Candi Bima
  • Candi Darawati
  • Candi Dwarawati
  • Candi Gatotkaca
  • Candi Pandu
  • Candi Parikesit
  • Candi Puntadewa
  • Candi Magersari
  • Candi Nakula
  • Candi Sadewa
  • Candi Sembadra
  • Candi Senjaka
  • Candi Semai
  • Candi Srikandi
  • Candi watch Hamer
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