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The
first thing which strikes the visitor to Bukit
Badung, the bulbous peninsula at Bali's southernmost
tip, is that the landscape is totally different
from the rest of the island. Most of Bali is
volcanic - rich soils watered year round by
run-off from mountain lakes and streams, which
support a lush, tropical vegetation. In contrast,
the Bukit is a non-volcanic limestone plateau
which has its own unique ecology.
The
so-called "hill" for that is what
"Bukit" means has an ecosystem characterized
by its lack of surface water. The soil lies
on a base of cracked and porous limestone, and
any rain, which does fall quickly, seeps through
fissures to a very low water table. The area
is thus ill suited to agriculture during the
dry season, when the scrubby vegetation looks
more Mediterranean than tropical. During the
rainy season, however, the area's vegetation
becomes quite lush and crops of soybeans, sorghum,
cashew nuts, manioc, beans of various sorts
and even corn, flourish.
The
plateau which constitutes most of the peninsula
rises abruptly to about 200 in above sea level,
and is ringed on all sides by steep cliffs.
It is connected to the rest of Bali by a narrow
isthmus, upon which lies the village of Jimbaran.
Many lovely beaches line the shores of the peninsula
and the isthmus, although access is often difficult.
The biggest and best-known beach is just beyond
the airport, on the western side of the Jimbaran
isthmus. More secluded and equally beautiful
sands are found further to the south, at the
foot of steep cliffs along the western and southern
shores of the Bukit plateau.
The
whole area has a host of natural attractions
for those willing to invest the time to explore.
Grand, gray-white cliffs overlook long, white
rollers world famous among surfers. Graceful
boats sway at anchor in tranquil Jimbaran bay.
The quiet and empty bush areas of the elevated
plateau are ideal for experienced hikers (though
few good maps of the area are available). The
region also boasts places of cultural significance,
the most renowned being Uluwatu Temple Luhur
Uluwatu). more..
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