Mt. Rinjani National Park
Mt. Rinjani forms the second highest volcanic peak in Indonesia, part of celebrated “Ring of Fire”.
The dramatic landscape has been created over millions of year of cone - building, violent explosions, and erosion.
Forested slopes rising directly from the sea create their own weather pattern and act as water - collectors for the whole of Lombok.
Mount Rinjani is an active volcano on Lombok, Indonesia. It rises to 3,726 m (12,224 ft), making it the third-largest volcano in Indonesia.
The first historical eruption occurred in September of 1847. The volcano, and its sacred, Segara anak crater lake, are protected by a national park in 1997.
The 6 km by 8.5 km oval-shaped caldera is filled partially by a lake known as Segara Anak.
The eruptions of 1994, 1995, and 1996 have formed a small cone in the center of the caldera and lava flows from these eruptions have entered the lake.
Geographical Location and Conditions
The Mt. Rinjani National Park area is located on Lombok Island, geographically located between 116°21'30" - 116°34'15" East Longitude and 8°18'18" - 8°32'19" South Latitude. It is a mountainous area with elevations ranging from 500 to 3,726 m above sea level (Rinjani Peak), with varying slopes: flat, undulating, hilly, and mountainous.
The mountains surrounding the Mount Rinjani National Park include:
- Mount Pelawangan (approximately 2,658 m above sea level)
- Mount Daya (approximately 2,914 m above sea level)
- Mount Sangkareang (approximately 2,588 m above sea level)
- Mount Buah Mangge (approximately 2,895 m above sea level)
- Mount Kondo (approximately 2,947 m above sea level).
Mount Rinjani National Park was designated as a national park in 1990. The existing ecosystems include tropical rainforest, montane rainforest, and sub-alpine rainforest. Mount Rinjani National Park has high biodiversity. The area is used as a research site and source of germplasm collection. Mount Rinjani National Park is also a place for nature tourism and education. Mount Rinjani National Park was designated as a National Park area through the Decree of the Minister of Forestry No. 280/Kpts-II/1997 with an area of 40,000 ha although in the field the area is more than 41,000 ha
The highlands are forest clad and mostly underdeveloped. The lowlands are highly cultivated. Rice, soybeans, coffee, tobacco, cotton, cinnamon, and vanilla are the major crops grown in the fertile soils of the island. For the people of Lombok, Sasak and Balinese alike, the volcano is revered as a sacred place and abode of deities. Segara Anak crater lake is the destination of thousand of pilgrims who place offerings in the water and bathe away disease in the hot springs.
The endemic duck Belibis is found here and several species of fish are recorded. Mt. Rinjani, one of the over 40 National Parks throughout Indonesia, was established in 1997.
Over 20 villages surround Rinjani and there are many routes up the mountain, but the main access is from Senaru in the north and Sembalun Lawang to the east.
The challenging three-days or four-days Rinjani Trek route from Senaru to the stunning crater rim (Plawangan), down to the stunning crater lake then on to Sembalun Lawang is considered as one of the best treks in south East Asia. Those heading for the summit usually prefer to start from Sembalun Lawang. A model for ecotourism in Indonesia, the community based activities are focused on the Rinjani trek Center in Senaru, the most popular starting point for the tough trek.
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