Jayawijaya Mountain, Once was an Ocean Bottom

For most climbers, hiking to Jayawijaya Mountain Range is an obsession, especially with the existency of eternal snow white. On one of the peak of Jayawijaya, is the highest point of Indonesia, known as Carstensz Pyramide, with height 4.884 meters above sea level. This makes Jayawijaya is worthed to approach.

But, do you know, that once, Jayawijaya was a part of deep ocean bottom. Papua Island was created 60 million years ago. At that time, Papua Island still at the sea bottom, that was created by sedimen rock. The intensive process of sedimentation come from Australia Continent, on a very long period produce new island, Papua. A long time ago, Papua was a part of Australia Continent.

The existency of Papua Island, can not be expelled from geological theory, saying that earth, 250 million years ago, only has one continent, Pangea Continent. 240 million years up to 65 million years ago, Pangea Continent divided by two, Laurasia and Eurasia, as the mother of the all continent and mountain now. At that time, Eurasia located on south part of earth, smashed and become Gonwana, and at last become South America, Africa, India, and Australia.

At that time, Australia continent and another continents separated by ocean. Which is, at north of this ocean, the rock of Papua Island started the process of sedimentation, become the part of Australia, and would emerged later. This intensive sedimentation, finally raised the sedimen rock up to sea level, with speed 2,5 kms per million year. The process of constantly raising rock because of sedimentation, also tectonic activity under the sea, created high mountain we can see now.

The physic prove that Papua Island and Jayawijaya was once ever at the bottom of sea, can be seen from fossils remain on Jayawijaya rock. Eventough exist on 4.884 meters above sea level, shellfish fossils, for example, can be found on limestone. That's why, besides become the heaven for climbers, Jayawijaya also a heaven for geologist.

Besides, the separation between Papua and Australia by ocean, caused by the end of ice age, occured 15.000 years ago. There still many secrets has not been revealed from Papua Island, as it also named New Guinea Papua, means a young island. Also predicted that one day, the snow on some peak of Jayawijaya mountain, will be lost in installment, which is caused by the change of climate in tropical area globally.