Bantimurung National Park – In addition to having the largest butterfly ecology in the world, did you know that Indonesia is home to the second-largest karst rock ecosystem in the world? Bantimurung-Bulusaraung National Park (Babul National Park) is located in Maros Regency and Pangkajene Islands (Pangkep) Regency in South Sulawesi and is where you can find your solution.
The Malay Archipelago, discovered by British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace and published in 1857, shot to fame thanks to the success of his book of the same name. The Bantimurung-Bulusaraung Forest Group, which includes nature reserves, natural tourism parks, protected forests, limited production forests, and permanent production forests, was officially designated as Bantimurung-Bulusaraung National Park (Babul National Park) by the Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia on October 18, 2004 (reference number SK.398/Menhut-II/2004).
With names like “The Kingdom of Butterflies” and “The Magnificent Karst Tower,” the Bantimurung-Bulusaraung National Park (Babul National Park) has quite the reputation. That’s because scientists had cataloged 240 different species of Papilionoidea (kite-tailed butterflies) in the Bantimurung-Bulusaraung National Park region by the end of 2016.
Bantimurung National Park, the 2nd Most Beautiful Karst Region in the World
There are a total of 111 Nymphalidae, 25 Papilionidae, 28 Pieridae, 74 Lycanidae, and 2 Riodinidae among the Papilionoidea found in Bantimurung-Bulusaraung National Park. Because of its abundance of butterfly species, the Bantimurung-Bulusaraung region was designated as a national park.
Half of the protected area of Bantimurung-Bulusaraung National Park is home to a karst environment. A karst region is one that is composed primarily of porous limestone, allowing surface water to continuously seep and move underground. The term “karst” can also be used to describe a type of earth’s surface that is characterized by closed depressions, surface drainage, and caves. The erosion and breakdown of rock, primarily limestone, generated this area.
The tower karst type found in the Bantimurung-Bulusaraung National Park’s 22,800 hectares of karst is reportedly the second largest and most beautiful in the world, after South China’s 46,200 hectares of karst.
According to a 2016 study by the Bantimurung-Bulusaraung National Park Office, a total of 257 caverns, including 216 natural caves and 41 prehistoric caves, had been found. Leang Pute, with a depth of 263 meters below ground level, and Salukang Kallang, with a length of 12,263 meters, are both located in this region; both were reported in 2015 by the Indonesian World Record Museum (MURI).
Bantimurung National Park: A Brief History
In 1857, the groundwork was laid for what would eventually become Bantimurung National Park. In that year, Alfred Russel Wallace began his first fieldwork in the Bantimurung region.
The prominent British anthropologist Alfred Russel Wallace. His studies provided the initial impetus for dubbing the Bantimurung region the Butterfly Kingdom.
Because he analyzed data from an estimated 150 unique butterfly species in the Bantimurung region. The findings from his study served as a springboard for subsequent investigation in the region.
In 2004, on October 18, 2024, to be exact, the area was designated as a National Park. The process of becoming a National Park is lengthy and requires extensive study.
Recognizing that portion of a National Park’s land may be used for recreational purposes in addition to serving scientific ones is equally important.
Area of Bantimurung National Park is approximately 43,750 acres. Together, these five protected areas have the following features:
There are a number of parks and reserves in Thailand, including Bulusaraung, Bantimurung, Pattunuang, and Karaenta.
Denmark’s Northeast Greenland National Park (also known as Denmark Greenland Nationalpark) is the largest national park in the world.
Another name for Bantimurung National Park
As with other tourist objects in Indonesia, Bantimurung National Park has another name which is quite popular in the community. That is:
- Kindom Of Butterfly
- TN Babul
- Bantimurung-Bulusaraung National Park
Bantimurung National Park Attractions
1. The Most Beautiful Karst Area, And The 2nd Largest In The World
The primary draw is the karst region, recognized as the world’s most stunning and the second largest after China.
Karst is an area composed primarily of limestone and other sedimentary rocks. At first glance, this cliff could be mistaken for any other, but closer inspection reveals that it is sharp and porous.
Bantimurung National Park is situated in a sizable karst region, therefore it comes as no surprise that it is endowed with numerous caverns, some of which date back to the Paleolithic Era.
There are at least 400 caves, of which 89 are known to be ancient. Tourists flock to Batu Caves and Gua Mimpi, two other cave systems.
2. Bantimurung Waterfall
Bantimurung Waterfall is the next stop in the park’s itinerary. A picturesque waterfall perfect for a weekend trip with the family.
The width of Bantimurung Waterfall is 20 meters, and its height is around 15 meters. The pure water that trickles through the rocks at an angle is not vertical.
After that, it flows into the river, which is a popular place for tubers to float down the river. A cave next to Bantimurung Waterfall features a ladder leading to its main chamber.
3. Comfortable Family Travel
The next thing to see in Bantimurung National Park is a spot that comes highly recommended as a place to take the kids on a weekend getaway that will also teach them something.
Several rides and attractions at Bantimurung National Park are examples of this. To name a few:
- Beautiful well kept garden,
- Inns, or comfortable hotels, located within tourist areas,
- butterfly Museum
- Instagramable selfie spots
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