Environmental Studies: Crescent in Parangtritis, Yogyakarta

Myth in Parangtritis, Yogyakarta Palace and Mount Merapi
For traditional societies, according to Mircea Eliade Thought, 1987. Myth means a true story and become their most valuable property. Myth is something sacred, meaningful, an example model for human action, give meaning and top-up terminal in this life. The myth tells of a sacred history that occurred at the time primodial, the first time. The myth tells how a reality beginning of existence through an act of supra-natural beings. Always relates to a creation myth which is regarded as the world's and human existence .

(Yogyakarta Palace)

Through the myth that Java people know inseparable relationship between Mount Merapi, Yogyakarta palace and Parangtritis. Society regard, the harmonization of these three are the pillars of political power in the land of Java. Between the three,
imaginary lines are connected. Goods times the line completely imaginary: none at all or really real. Shaped the river for example. Did not people know the myth without his holy ascetic, Sutawijaya at times opaque?

(Merapi Mountain)

Be the "Java People" would prefer to explain the activities of Opak flow drifting sand results from Mount Merapi without Sutawijaya's holy ascetic. Then the meeting Sutawijaya and Nyai Lara Kidul is depicted along the sand sedimented in Parangtritis. Through myth, Javanese People to understand that behind the unity of Merapi Volcano, and Opak Parangtritis, there are actually creating a fenomental, sand dune. The three pillars of harmonization is not only the creation of sandbanks which only exist in Java, Parangtritis is the place.

Sand dune is..
Sand dunes in the form of an accumulation of loose sand dune where the irregular shapes produced by the general direction of the wind that work in an area (Whitten & Brook, 1972). In Parangtritis countless sandbanks around 189 pieces, consisting of 67 types of Barchan, Longitudinal 79 piece , Parabolic 32 piece and Comb 11 piece.

Each type of sand has a different way of forming and controlled different factors as well. Parabolic sandbanks and combs that cut vegetation is affected southeast northwest wind direction, resulting in sedimentation due to reduced wind speeds in the rear of vegetation. The Longitudinal sandbanks formed by blowing with strong activity (AK Lobeck, 1939).

(Sand Dune in Parangtritis - Field Activities 2008)

Based on its activities, Parangtritis sandbanks can be classified into two; active and passive Sand dune. The area of active sand (type berchan and longitudinal) menmpati eastern area of approximately 25% of the existing broad sandbanks. In active sandbanks, the forming processes can be observed and the study well. This region is the least characteristic vegetation. Generally, existing vegetation is wild plants such as pandanus, grass-entongan grinting and entong. The structure of the sediment surface (ripple marks) well developed.

Passive sandbanks area occupies the center until Opak estuary. In this region, dense vegetation, such as Gliriside and Acacia. Cropping pattern of relative community greening west-east and north-south. Surface sediment structure does not develop, and most have not nampal again. Vegetation is very influential on the activities of sedimentation, because the winds blow unobstructed existing vegetation and the sand beneath it sheltered from the wind.

Sandbanks, according to the type and shape, can be divided into several kinds; barchan occupy active. While the parabolic type and comb, occupies a passive sandbanks.

Sand and wind

Type barchan often known also sandbanks crescent. The form is similar barchan crescent. When you created the model, the formation of sandbanks "crescent" is, quite interesting. Originally formed sandbanks longitudinally. Form of long axis parallel to the direction of the wind. Next, the body of the higher sandbanks. As a result, activities disrupted and wind direction is different from the direction of wind circulation and winds disrupted air circulation is different from the general direction of the wind. This causes the milling on the back of the sandbanks.

Wind circulation in the back of the sandbanks is getting stronger and more intense extreme cause crushing. Shape resembles a crescent moon bigger and almost equal to the length dimension. When the wind erosion process in the back of the sand has reached the point of information, then the crescent shape more ideal. Bentukkan sandbanks original dimensions of length, being shorter than its width dimension.

In Parangtritis, the winds are blowing winter wind and the wind rapidly. Velocity of about 5-15 knots / second. The wind blows rapidly so far this year on the dominant influence in the formation of sandbanks. Direction and wind speed influenced topography, settlements and vegetation.

Topography of the sea cliff on the east side effect on wind direction. Original direction relative from south to north turning to northwest. Settlement and vegetation to the west and the north affects wind speed. Proven in the western part of the sandbanks to the north of passive and can not find another sand dune.

Sand and Land
As a result, the story Sutawijaya not just stop at the sand on the beach. Knowingly or not, the land area had increased in the South '. Accumulation of sand on the beach during the last fifty years makes the south bay beach for more than five hundred yards, along more than three kilometers. Land "new" which formed very large for the current size. Perhaps the land could be used as replacement land for public land ingested sandbanks. Sandbanks Is not it still possible to be cultivated? It seems, let the beach, sand dune, wind and land that's part of nature. In order to keep ours together, what if going to develope?