Visit Maros Pangkep Geopark, Recognized as UNESCO Global Destination
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Sulawesi – The Geopark Maros Pangkep in South Sulawesi (Sulsel) has been officially recognized as the eighth global geopark destination in Indonesia, included in the UNESCO Global Geopark Network 2023 list along with 17 other geoparks around the world.
This designation was based on a decision made during the 216th session of the UNESCO Executive Board in Paris, France, on Wednesday (May 14, 2023).
According to Governor of South Sulawesi, Andi Sudirman Sulaiman, this achievement was an extraordinary accomplishment resulting from the collaboration between the Maros District Government, Pangkep District, and the Geopark Management Agency.
Geopark Maros Pangkep di Sulawesi Selatan (Sulsel)
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This collaboration has been a government priority since its initiation in 2015, then progressing to national Geopark status in 2018, and finally being recognized as a World Geopark in 2023.
As reported on the Geopark Maros Pangkep website, a geopark is an area that possesses outstanding geological features, including its archaeological, ecological, and cultural values.
Within the geopark area, local communities are encouraged to participate in protecting and enhancing the functions of natural heritage.
The National Geopark of Maros Pangkep spans two districts, Maros and Pangkajene Kepulauan, administratively covering a land area of 223,629 hectares and the Spermonde Coral Reef Islands with an area of 88,965 hectares.
The Geopark Maros Pangkep boasts a unique landscape characterized by towering karst formations composed of distinctive limestone rocks.
There are three significant components of the Geopark Maros Pangkep that make it unique compared to other karst regions.
Firs, it features the largest expanse of tower karst in Indonesia and the second largest in the world after the region in China.
Second, the Geopark Maros-Pangkep, consisting of 31 geosites, also includes the Bantimala Melange Complex, a complex of rocks approximately 500 million years old, which serves as evidence of the formation of the island of Sulawesi.
Third, the geopark area also encompasses reef islands, known as the Spermonde Archipelago. These three points give the area international significance, suitable for adventurous tourists as well as geological, archaeological, and other scientific researchers.
There are over 500 caves and various attractions in the Geopark Maros Pangkep. Among them are approximately 500 caves, once inhabited by prehistoric humans, one of which contains the world's oldest cave paintings at Leang Tedonge, dating back 45,500 years.
These caves are also home to millions of butterfly species, earning them the nickname "Kingdom of Butterfly."
