goodmorningpapua.com – Snow is something common found in countries with subtropical climates. When getting involved in winter, subtropical countries will usually be showered with snow that comes along with super cold weather. However, snow can also be found in tropical countries, one of which is Indonesia.
Puncak Jaya is located in the Jayawijaya Mountains chain, Papua is an area in Indonesia where there is snow. This makes Puncak Jaya, also known as Puncak Carstensz Pyramid, one of the most famous mountain peaks in Indonesia. The snow is known over there as everlasting snow.
Reaching Puncak Jaya requires considerable and difficult effort. Reporting from Kemenparekraf.go.id, Puncak Jaya has a height of 4,884 meters above sea level (masl), which makes it one of the highest mountains in Indonesia. In addition to its quite extreme height, Puncak Jaya is also a rock or limestone mountain. This makes Puncak Jaya difficult enough to climb. You need good skills for climbing Puncak Jaya.
A strenuous and hard climbing will pay off when you reach Puncak Jaya. The eternal expanse of snow that still shines in the midst of the hot air of the tropical climate is ready to spoil the eyes of climbers who have succeeded to the top. Unfortunately, the everlasting snow in Puncak Jaya is rumored to be gone soon.
Unstoppable climate change will threaten the existence of everlasting snow. In addition, the glaciers in Puncak Jaya are not able to last too long in the midst of the hot weather of the tropical climate.
In 2010, the thickness of the glacier in Puncak Jaya reached 32 meters. But now, the glaciers in Puncak Jaya continue to thin by 7 meters every year. In addition to thickness, the glaciers in Puncak Jaya are also shrinking. In 2020, the glacier in Puncak Jaya only has an area of 100 hectares, even though it used to be 2000 hectares.
Various efforts have been made to overcome the thinning of the snow layers and glaciers in Puncak Jaya. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has carried out efforts to engage local governments and various international organizations to protect everlasting snow. One of these efforts is to eradicate illegal logging and deforestation practices that result in increased carbon emissions.