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| by Lombok Rise |
The two volcanoes create a visual connection for people
living on Lombok, and historically and culturally , Rinjani has an important
significance to Lombok’s native Sasak and Balinese, being considered a “home of the God”
Pilgrimages are often
made to the mountain , and many people visit the mountain to pray and bath in
the pools and hot springs which are believed to have healing powers.
Each year, around the
full moon in October or November, a sacred pilgrimage called “Mulang Pekelem” takes place, when gold, silver and other gifts are thrown
into the lake near the summit as offerings to the gods.
A Hindu ceremony said
to date from the 18th century, during Pekelem pilgrims make offering and pray for the safety and
prosperity of the island and its people.
The huge caldera near
the top of the volcano is around 4 KM wide and it almost filled by a beautiful
lake , Danau Segara Anak (Child of the Sea Lake).
The lake is around
230m deep and contains plentiful fishes, as well as being home to birds and
other wildlife.
A smaller volcanic
cone Gunung Baru Jari was formed a couple of hundred years ago, and just from
the crater’s interior at the edge of the lake.
It’ been
estimated that the force needed to
create the new cone and the lake would have been equal to around 300 Hiroshima
type atomic bombs.
In early 2009 and
again in 2010, Baru Jari come to life and for several months was spewing hot
rocks and volcanic ash into the air. Being within the original caldera, it
posed no serious risk to the rest of the island.
The lake, which
surrounds the smaller cone, and the summit of the volcano were closed to
trekking, although those who still climbed to the shoulders of the mountain
were afforded awesome views of a small volcano in action.
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