Meratus Geopark emits non-volcanic hot spring

Banjarmasin, S Kalimatan (ANTARA) - One of the amazing sites of Meratus Geopark is Tanuhi, where non-volcanic hot spring gushing from the bowels of earth in Hulu Banyu Village, Loksado Sub-district, South Hulu Sungai Regency.

People usually crowd the attraction, especially in weekend, as it is supported with good roads and accommodation facilities.

Tanuhi is in the National Tourism Strategic Area (KSPN) of Loksado, one of Meratus Geopark sites, which is famous for its stunning natural landscape, its rain forest, waterfalls, adventurous bamboo rafting.

It is about 31 kilometers from Kandangan, the capital of South Hulu Sungai, or about 50 minutes drive through roads with bends and hills.

In the information panel made by the Meratus Geopark Management Agency, Tanuhi Hot Spring is included in the Meratus site.

Meratus is a mountain range formed from the arrangement of oceanic crust called ophiolite, which was raised to the surface 200-150 million years ago.

Meratus, which holds many natural wonders, including Tanuhi hot spring, was declared non-volcanic and did not originated from volcanic mountains.

The phenomenon of hot spring in Meratus Geopark area was formed by radioactive decay process such as uranium, thorium, and potassium which can produce hot springs.

Generally this system is found in plutonic rocks (granite intrusions) found from Batanglai/Belawayan granite group of early limestone age (95-135 million years).

Based on the result of the study, the emergence of hot spring in Meratus Geopark area is included in the category of radiogenic nonvolcanic geothermal systems.

These geothermal systems are not directly related to volcanism and are generally outside the current Quarternary volcanic belt.

There are two hot springs in Meratus Geopark area which are still natural, one has been developed into a hot spring tourism, namely Tanuhi.

Tanuhi hot spring tour is part of 54 the National Geopark of Meratus sites that have been submitted to UNESCO to be recognized as a UNESCO Global Geopark (UGGp).

Tanuhi hot spring is mapped as Meratus Geopark sites on the North route along with Malaris Longhouse, Langara Hill, Kilat Api Waterfall, Bamboo Rafting, Batu Laki Limestone Cliff, Kentawan Hill, Dodol Kandangan center, and Batu Hapu cave.

Th Meratus Geopark Management Agency expert Nur Arif said that Geopark site is inseparable from tourism sector. This is in accordance with Presidential Regulation No. 9 of 2019 concerning Geopark Development.

From here then, the government's focus on geoparks is included in development priorities for tourism purposes for the development of surrounding community. Geopark sites must be around the community, so there is an impact.

The function of Geopark must be a vehicle for education, conservation, and community economic development.

The Meratus Geopark sites, one of which is Tanuhi Hot Spring, have met these requirements.

The establishment of Meratus Geopark is a concret effort by the Governor of South Kalimantan H Sahbirin Noor in saving Meratus from damage.

Several steps have been taken by the Provincial Government of South Kalimantan namely forming a geopark management body, making a geopark development masterplane, and improving infrastructure in it.

In addition, expanding networks with national and international scale geopark and increasing tourism promotion.