On the territory of Indonesia there are a total of 50 national parks, 6 of which are protected by UNESCO and included in the list of World Natural Heritage. Another 6 are biosphere reserves, the rest are protected by the state. They are located on the islands of Java , Kalimantan , Sulawesi , Sumatra , and the islands of Rincha and Komodo , part of the group of Small Sunda Islands, are completely given to the parks.
National parks of the island of Sumatra
The territory of Sumatra belongs to specially protected tropical forests and is divided into three national parks. Since 2004, the island has been fully protected by UNESCO. In all three parks you can meet up to 50% of the animals and plants of the jungle of Sumatra. The total area of parks is 25 000 square meters. km:
- Gunung-Leser National Park . It is located in the north of Sumatra in mountainous areas covered with impassable forests. About half of the territory is located above 1,5 thousand meters, and some peaks reach a height of more than 2,7 thousand. The highest point is at around 3,450 m. Depending on the altitude, the flora and fauna of the park vary. Monkey fans come to Gunung Lecher National Park to watch the Sumatran orangutans. These animals live only here. Also there are black and white gibbons and monkeys. In addition to monkeys, in the park you can see:
- Indonesian elephants;
- rhinoceroses;
- tigers;
- leopards.
- National Park Bukit-Barisan. It is a long narrow strip running along the rocks along the sea, a width of only about 45 km and a length of up to 350 km. In this small territory live tigers, Sumatran elephants, rhinoceroses and almost disappeared striped rabbits. Elephants are under special protection, as there are about 500 of them here, which is a quarter of the total number of livestock in the world. On such a small stretch of land you can find mountain forests with their plants, low-lying tropical jungles and mangrove groves located along the coast. In the forests of the national park one can meet one of the most beautiful waterfalls of the country, Cuba-Perau. Also tourists visit hot springs near Suvo.
- Kerinchi-Seblat National Park. Its beautiful territory with a total area of 13,700 square meters. km is located around the highest volcanic Indonesia - Kerinchi (3800 m). The main part of the park is at a level of 2000 m. It is mostly mountain slopes covered with tropical forests and inhabited by rare species of animals and birds. Kerinchini-Seblat Park is a protected area in which endangered species of Sumatran tigers live: there are about 200 of them here. In addition to them you can see:
- tapirs;
- the leopards of Sunda;
- sun bears.
National Parks of Java Island
The protected areas of this island are interesting for their animals and plant life. Some of them are relict rain forests, where you can meet orangutans, Timor deer, Javan rhinoceros, and enjoy the aroma of the largest flower in the world - Rafflesia Arnoldi. So, the main national parks of Java are:
- Bromo-Tengger-Semer. "Park of Volcanoes" is located on the southern tip of the island of Java. He received his name thanks to the two most popular volcanoes, Bromo and Semer , and also by the name of the Tengger people living at their footsteps. The largest volcano of the park is the Semer (or Mahameru, which translates as a huge mountain). In height it reaches 3,676 m, and every 20 minutes the crater emits a portion of steam and ash into the air. The most active volcano of Indonesia never sleeps. In 2010, he showed his character, destroying the eruption of the nearby villages of Tenggers. Bromo - the most popular volcano among tourists, it is much lower, only 2329 m, and it is easier to get to. Inside the crater, you can always see hanging acrid smoke, which is not dispersed by the wind. Tourists come here to:
- To admire the Martian landscapes not peculiar to Indonesia;
- to see near the activity of volcanoes;
- acquainted with the indigenous people, who have lived on these slopes for several centuries.
- Ujung-Coulomb . In the southwest of Java is the Sunda shelf, which includes the eponymous peninsula and several small islands. Ujung-Coulomb was formed on this place in 1992, and is now part of the UNESCO World Heritage. Under protection are unique lowland rain forests, in which there are plants and animals, characteristic only for this region. Visitors to the Ujung-Kulon National Park can raft and raft on the Sigentor River or dive in the ocean, next to a dilapidated coral reef.
- Karimundzhava . A unique marine national park, which is located not in Java itself, but 80 km to the north, on 27 small uninhabited islands. Here come rare tourists who appreciate unspoilt nature, surfing and walking along the emerald hills. Real paradise beaches with snow-white sand, coral reefs, a lot of marine animals attract connoisseurs of diving and snorkeling here.
Komodo National Park in Indonesia
This park is considered one of the most popular. It was founded in 1980 on the two neighboring islands of Komodo and Rincha. Now the park is under the protection of UNESCO. In addition to 600 square meters. km of land area, the park also includes coastal ocean waters, in which you can find a lot of rare animals, including giant manta rays.
The most popular inhabitants of the Komodo National Park, for the sake of which tourists travel to Indonesia are descendants of prehistoric lizards, who are called Komod dragons. These are lizards up to 3 m long, which have been living in this area for more than 3 million years.
Bali-Barat National Park
Arriving in the western part of the island of Bali , you can get to this paradise. It mixes monsoon and tropical forests, mangrove groves and sandy beaches with the purest sea water and coral reefs, inhabited by skates, sea cucumbers, turtles and many fish with bright colors. In the jungles of the Bali-Barat National Park, you can meet more than 200 species of animals, including:
- black monkeys;
- flying foxes;
- deer;
- wild boars.
The territory of the park is under the protection of the state, there are no hotels, guest houses, cafes and restaurants, there are no trade and tourist attractions here. The park is open only during the daytime.