Please remember: You are not only in beautiful nature but in a National Park which was established to conserve the unique flora and fauna. We are all responsible for our action. Please do NOTHING which could harm the environment in any way!
Take nothing - but pictures and leave nothing - but footprints!
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Komodo National Park was established in 1980 and was declared a World Heritage Site and a Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1991. The park was initially established to conserve the unique Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis). Since then conservation goals have expanded to protecting its entire biodiversity, both marine and terrestrial.
Komodo National Park compounds of a coastal section of western Flores, the three islands of Komodo, Padar and Rinca, 26 smaller islands and the surrounding waters of the Sape Straights. The islands of the national park are of volcanic origin. The terrain is generally rugged and characterized by hills with altitudes up to 735 m. The climate is one of the driest in Indonesia with annual rainfall only between 800 mm and 1000 mm. Temperatures in the dry season from May to October are around 40 °C.
Komodo Island is one of the 17,508 islands of Indonesia and part of the Komodo National Park. It has a surface area of 390 square kilometres and a human population of over two thousand. The Komodo dragon, the largest living lizard, takes its name from the island. It is a monitor lizard, which only inhabits Komodo Island and some of the smaller surrounding islands, as well as part of western Flores. It can be around three meters long and weigh up to 90 kg. Javan deer also inhabit the island, though they are not native. Other fauna include banded pigs, water buffalo, crabs, bees, cockatoo and macaques.
Komodo Island is also famous for its pink beach, a picturesque stretch of soft sand of a magical pink tint interspersed with rocky cliffs.
Pink Beach, or Pantai Merah, as it is aptly named, is one of seven pink beaches on the planet and truly a Natural Wonder of Nature. This exceptional beach gets its amazing color from microscopic animals called Foraminifera, which produce a red pigment on the coral reefs. For this reason, it is called Red Beach in the local tongue. When the tiny fragments of red coral combine with the white sands, this produces the soft pink color that is visible along the shoreline. Aside from Pink Beach itself, a few small segments along Komodo’s eastern bay also have a pinkish tint.
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To log this earthcache as a found you need to answer the following questions. Please send me your answers as an e-mail. You may log without further notice. I will get back to you if anything is missing or wrong.
1. What is the name of the tiny animal which causes the special color of the beach?
2. Describe in your own words why this beach is pink. Please drop me at least 4-5 sentences.
3. Let's play in the sand: Dig a small (!) hole with your hands, 3 or 4 hands full of sand should be enough. The deeper you get, does the sand appear more or less pink, is it the same color or does it even change into other colors? Close your hole after finding out!
4. Name at least 3 things you can see under the water surface.
5. Pictures are optional but very much appreciated!
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Have fun exploring the Pink Beach!
| I am a proud |
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