Ancient rocks of Meratus Geopark

Tourism industry is of course environmentally friendly. Geopark offers culinary tourism, such as dodol making in Hulu Sungai Selatan District.

Sasirangan cloth, a traditional South Kalimantan batik craft, also draws its spirit from the geopark's natural surroundings. There is also Banjar typical boat-making on Sewangi Island, Barito Kuala District.

Fajar said the provincial and the district/city government synergize to continuously improve all the geopark sites and their infrastructure.

Geopark status will be evaluated every four years by UNESCO, and no one wants to lose that status due to neglegence in preserving the Meratus natural environment.

"The bottom line is this earth is not an inheritance from our ancertors, but a loan from our grandchildren. We must be able to return it intact in the future," said Fajar.


Meratus Geopark Sites

The Meratus Geopark has 54 sites divided into four routes: West, North, East, and South. The approximately 85-kilometer-long West Route features the Lok Baintan Floating Market in Banjar Disrisct.

Here, you'll find the Wasaka Museum, Sasiringan Traditional Village, Sasirangan Floating Gallery, Banjar Traditional Houses, Kembang Island, Sewangi Traditional Boat-making, Coal Barge Views, and the Curiak Proboscis Monkey Conservation Center.

Baca juga: Meratus Geopark officially recognized as UNESCO Global Geopark

The North route, which is approximately 188.15 km long has 14 sites, with the theme "Following Sound of Wind to Wonders of Dayak Meratus", meaning follow the wind's sway.

Sites on this route include the Sei Kambang Seki Stone, Matang Kaladan Panoramic, Riam Kanan Dam, Tiwingan Hill Landslide Trail, Riam Kanan Lake Fishery, Stilt Houses on Tebing Danau, and Ulin Island.

The Ancient Underwater Volcano, Bekantan Island, Pulau Pinus or Pine Island, Sirang Island Archaeological Site, Ba'ah or Flood Silent Witness Tree, Belangian Village, Kahung Tropical Rainforest, Sunken Sacred Tomb, Submerged Settlements, and Diamond-Bearing Sandstone.

The Southern Route, meanwhile, is approximately 67.44 km long and features 14 sites. The theme is "The Sparkling Journey from Tropical Rainforest to Diamonds," meaning "The Tropical Forest Gives Life to Meratus."

Sites on this route include the Tropical Rainforest Park, Traditional Purun Production, Herb and Traditional Medicine Village, Lambung Mangkurat Museum, Geopark Information Center, Orchid Conservation Park, and 16 Endemic Animal Habituation Sites.

Baca juga: Dispar Kalsel beri wawasan Geopark Meratus bagi Pokdarwis