REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BANDUNG - UNESCO has officially recognized Mount Batur in Bali, Indonesia, as a world geological park because of its unique and special characteristics, Geology Agency chief M Suchyar said. 

"UNESCO has already included and recognized Mount Batur as a world geopark and it would be formally made known to the public on November 15, 2012," he said.

Mount Batur is one of the unique geological area and has own characteristic meeting the criteria set by the world body to be declared as a world geopark.  Suchyar said the Geology Agency had also planned to propose five other locations for being named world geoparks namely Merangin area in Jambi, Sumatra, the Lake Toba old caldera in North Sumatra, Rajaampat in West Papua, limestone mountains in Pacitan, East Java, and Mount Rinjani in Jambi.

"We plan to submit the proposal in 2013 and hope they would add to the number of geoparks in Indonesia," he said.

Suchyar said Indonesia actually had a lot of geoparks and until now around 33 locations had been identified such as Cukangtaneuh in South Ciamis, West Java. He said his agency would keep conducting researches to identify other potential geoparks.

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