MOUNT JAYAWIJAYA

If you think that in the tropics will not find snow-capped mountains, you can rectify these assumptions after visiting Jayawijaya Peak, the highest peaks in the Sudirman Mountains (Sudirman Range) in the province of Papua. Peak Jayawijaya or shorter called Puncak Jaya, has a height reaching 4884 + meters above sea level (asl), allowing the area covered by eternal snow.
However, eternal snow is expected to shrink, even dry. In some studies concluded that the deposits of ice in these mountains from year to year experienced a serious depreciation. Depreciation in the Sudirman Mountains the snow is caused by global warming. Thus, it is not possible someday it will lose the snow mountains as it did on Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Well, before the estimates were actually become real, it could not hurt you to try to conquer the highest peak in Indonesia.
In addition known as Puncak Jaya, the highest peak is also known as Carstensz Pyramide, or Carstensz Peak. The name was taken from a traveler from the Netherlands, namely January Carstensz, who first saw the snowy peaks in the tropics, specifically in New Guinea. The observation was made by Jan Carstensz via a marine vessel in 1623. Because there can be proved by direct observation, the report was considered absurd. Because, for Europeans, find the snowy mountains in the tropics is something that is almost impossible.

Truth Carstensz report revealed after nearly three hundred years later, when in 1899 a Dutch expedition to map the island of Papua and find snow-capped mountain peaks, as reported by the Carstensz. In honor of Carstensz, then the top of the mountain was later named as the name implies. While the designation Jayawijaya Peak is a gift of President Sukarno after successfully embrace the sovereignty of West Papua from the Netherlands. This name implies â € œpuncak kemenanganâ €??, As an expression of gratitude for the unification of West Papua by the Unitary Republic of Indonesia.
The first recorded climbers have conquered the Puncak Jaya is the expedition team led by Heinrich Harrer in 1962. Heinrich Harrer is an accomplished climber and seasoned authors. His famous book, Seven Years in Tibet, is the true story of wandering and friendship in the Himalayas, Tibet. Before Harrer, actually has a lot of other hikers who attempt the climb, but no one has ever succeeded. After Heinrich Harrer, following the expedition reached the summit of Indonesia. Expedition led by Col. Anwar Hamid Letnal of the Army Topographic Directorate is successfully reaching the Puncak Jaya in 1964.

Jayawijaya mountain is known as one of the world's seven highest peaks (seven summit). Therefore, peak climbing as high as 4884 meters above sea level are the ideals of a true climber, let alone climb to the Puncak Jaya is the conquest of the snow-covered mountain. The obstacles presented in the ascent, as the natural condition of the steep, extremely cold temperatures, high winds and rain, and the lack of oxygen at high altitudes is a challenge that must be conquered by the climbers.
Jayawijaya Peak is one of the snowy mountain peaks that exist at the crossing of the equator, in addition to the mountains in Africa and Latin America. When viewed from the air, Jayawijaya Peak looks like a black carpet that was covered by a white hood. If the sun was bright, the snow will reflect the blinding sunlight. The content of ice in these mountains is an estimated 5 percent of world reserves of ice outside the continent of Antarctica. However, due to global warming, the amount of shrinking year by year. When viewed from the type glaciers, snow-covered area in Jayawijaya enter into any type of Alpine glaciation. While the glacier (snow lumeran flow) in this region into the Glacier Valley types, namely the flow of glaciers that flow from the high ground towards the lower regions. Therefore, in this area is possible there are rivers of ice.
Not only enjoy the natural charm of snow in the tropics, in these mountains visitors can also witness evidence about the geological history of the formation of Jayawijaya Mountains. Geological studies find empirical evidence that the mountain was originally a deep seafloor. A geologist named Francis Benedict Widodo Margotomo mention that the formation of New Guinea with a peak in Jayawijaya occurred about 60 million years ago. The island is formed from sedimentary rocks are uplifted by the impact of Indo-Pacific plate and the Indo-Australian on the seabed, resulting in elevated sea floor was transformed into a large island. Evidence can be seen from the fossils of marine animals left in the rocks Jayawijaya Mountains. Therefore, in addition to being a paradise for hikers, this region is also a paradise for geological research.