The History Of Geopark Kebumen, Which UNESCO Officially Recognizes, Geological Site Is Hundreds Of Millions Of Years Old

History of Kebumen (IST) geoparks

YOGYAKARTA - Geopark Karangsambung-Kebumen is one of the interesting geological heritage areas to explore or observe. This Geopark area is officially recognized as UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGS). So what is Kebumen's geopark history like?

Located in Kebumen Regency, Central Java, the geopark holds traces of the formation of a earth that is hundreds of millions of years old. This geopark is a natural laboratory for geological researchers because it has ancient rocks, complex geological structures, and fossils that tell about the evolution of the earth from time to time.

The Karangsambung area itself has long been known as the "geological paradise" because it is the meeting place for Eurasian and Indo-Australian plates. The collision process of these two plates millions of years ago resulted in various unique geological phenomena, such as metamorphic rocks, rock contractions, and stunning fault structures.

No wonder UNESCO is considering establishing Geopark Kebumen as UNESCO Global Geopark, a recognition for geological heritage areas that have scientific, educational, and tourism values. Let's get to know more about Kebumen's geopark history and its features.

The Karangsambung area stores rocks that were formed from the Prae-Tersier era (more than 65 million years ago) to the Cretaceous. These rocks are the remains of the ocean floor that was lifted by a tectonic plate collision.

Some types of rock found here include:

This rock diversity makes Karangsambung the largest geological laboratory in Indonesia, and is often referred to as the "Purba Stone Park".

The history of geological research in Karangsambung began in the Dutch colonial era. In the 1850s, Dutch geologists such as RDM Verbeek and JF Umbgrove carried out mapping and research in this area. They found that Karangsambung is a clear proof of the tectonic plate subduction process that occurred in the past.

In the 1960s, research was continued by Indonesian scientists, including Prof. RP Koesoemadinata from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB). This area was later designated as Geological Nature Reserve in 2006 by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM).

In 2018, the Kebumen Regency Government together with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and LIPI began proposing Karangsambung as the National Geopark. This effort was successful with the establishment of the Karangsambung National Geopark-Kebumen in 2021.

Now the Geopark Kebumen area has officially become the UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGS). The determination was made at the 221nd UNESCO Executive Council Session in Paris, France, from Wednesday (2/4) to Thursday (17/4).

"58 UNESCO executive council member countries, including Indonesia, have consistently approved the proposal for 16 new geoparks nominated by the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council at the UNESCO Geopark Consile Session in September and December 2024," read a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, quoted Thursday (17/4/2025).

The following are some uniqueness or high-value geological elements in the Kebumen geopark area:

Several important locations in Geopark Kebumen include:

In addition to geological uniqueness, Kebumen is also rich in culture, such as:

The government and the local community continue to be committed to preserving this area through:

That is a review of the history of Kebumen geoparks that have been recognized by UNESCO. Geopark Karangsambung-Kebumen is not just a tourist destination, but a natural world geological science. Also read Geopark Meratus is also designated as UNESCO Global Geoparks.

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