Wakatobi National Park - East Sulawesi

HISTORY OF CULTURE | Wakatobi National Park - East Sulawesi | Marine waters of eastern Indonesia today is still the world's best coral triangle.One is the Wakatobi National Park in Buton regency, Southeast Sulawesi. In the region, algae, shrimp, and plankton are abundant. When on land apply the adage, "where there is sugar, there's ants," then prevailing in the sea is "plankton where there is, there will gather a lot of fish".

It is not surprising that the area be the location of "favorite" in search of some fish species feed. One type of fish that frequent travel to Wakatobi is the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus). The giant mammals are known to move around the place while looking for food, between the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.Perhaps because of his large size, the pope took the feed in large numbers anyway.

 

Typically, a herd of sperm whales in the Wakatobi in November, while the other hemisphere frozen. In the month of Wakatobi relatively warmer waters and abundant food that could satiate the stomach herd of whales. At that moment, the sea monster assembled. Why is it called the sea monster? Because the sperm whale with characteristics similar to sperm-shaped white dots on the head was included in the order Cetacea, which in Greek means the sea monster.

In addition to sperm whales, the waters of Wakatobi is also inhabited by other sea monsters. For example, stingrays Manta (Manta ray) are classified as body size and shape of a giant sea monster. Manta rays are one type of fish that distinctive and unique, which is only found in tropical waters.

According to the results of scientific surveys FDC-IPB in 1994, Wakatobi archipelago is one of the best diving in Indonesia with a diversity of coral reefs and fish are high. On that basis, through the Minister of Forestry No.393/Kpts-V/1996, Wakatobi island designated as national parks. Therefore, be Wakatobi as a nature conservation area which has a native ecosystem, managed by the zoning system is utilized for the purpose of research, science, education, culture, tourism, and recreation (Article 14 of Law No. 1 point. 5 of 1990).

Concerning marine biodiversity, scale and condition of coral, Wakatobi occupies one of the positions of the highest priorities for marine conservation in Indonesia.It is also an important part in a network that meets each of Marine Protected Areas along the coast of southeast Sulawesi. With a total area reached 1.39 million hectares, this park includes the islands-scented fragrance, Kaledupa, Tomia, and Binongko.

Wakatobi National Park has the potential of marine natural resources that both types of high value and uniqueness, with amazing underwater panorama. In general, the waters of the sea has a configuration of the starting flat to sloping towards the sea, and in some areas there is a rugged steep waters. Varying water depths. The deepest reaches 1044 meters with most of the sandy bottom and rocky.

Wakatobi has 25 pieces of coral reef with a circumference of the coast of the islands along the 600 km. More than 112 coral species from 13 families in whom Acropora formosa, A. hyacinthus, Psammocora profundasafla, Pavona cactus, Leptoseris yabei, Fungia molucensis, Lobophyllia robusta, Merulina ampliata, Platygyra versifora, Euphyllia glabrescens, Tubastraea frondes, Stylophora pistillata, throchelliophorum Sarcophyton, and Sinularia spp.

According to official sources in the Ministry of Forestry, Wakatobi least inhabited by 93 species of food fish and ornamental fish trade, among other spots argus (Cephalopholus argus), takhasang (naso unicornis), pogo-pogo (Balistoides viridescens), napoleon (Cheilinus undulatus), fish red (Lutjanus biguttatus), rabbitfish (Siganus guttatus), Amphiprion melanopus, Chaetodon specullum, Chelmon rostratus, Heniochus acuminatus, Lutjanus monostigma, Caesio caerularea, and others.

In addition there are several species of sea birds such as goose-stone brown (Sula leucogaster plotus), kettle melayu (Charadrius peronii), erasia kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), also there are three types of turtles that often landed on islands in the Park is hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), turtle jar (Caretta Caretta), and fission turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea).

The indigenous people who live around this park is a sea or a tribe called the Bajau tribe. According to ancient Chinese and European explorers, boating humans are capable of exploring the Islands Merqui, Johor, Singapore, Sulawesi and the Sulu archipelago. From the overall boating humans in Southeast Asia that still have a boating culture is traditional Bajau tribe. Their daily life is quite unique and interesting, especially their ability to dive to the bottom of the ocean without diving equipment and tools to spear fish.

Hoga Island (Resort Kaledupa), Binongko Island (Resort Binongko), and Resort Tamia, is an attractive location to visit, especially for diving, snor- rivet, marine tours, swimming, camping, and cultural tourism. The best season to visit this island was in April s / d in June and October / December each year.

To reach the site, visitors can depart from Kendari to smells with fast boats that operate regular twice daily, with a long trip or five hours every day with a wooden boat for 12 hours. From smells to Lasalimu visitors can ride four-wheeled vehicle for two hours, then climb aboard the fast-Wanci Lasalimu for an hour or Lasalimu-Wanci wooden boat for 2.5 hours. Wanci was first enters the gates of Wakatobi National Park area.