Mount Carstensz is known as the highest mountain in Indonesia whose peak is covered with eternal snow. The height of Mount Carstensz is around 4,884 meters above sea level (m asl) with the highest peak called Carstensz Pyramid or Carstensz Peak.

Mount Carstensz is a series of mountains located in two regions of the country, namely West Papua, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Mount Carstensz is also included in a conservation area with the most complete ecosystem in Indonesia, even in Southeast Asia.

See also: Route Options to Climb Carstensz Pyramid

As a series of mountains, Mount Carstensz has several peaks. The following is a list of several names of the peaks of Mount Carstensz: 1. Carstensz Pyramid (4,884 masl) 2. Puncak Jaya (4,862 masl) 3. Puncak Mandala (4,760 masl) 4. Puncak Trikora (4,730 masl) 5. Puncak Idenberg (4,673 masl) 6 .Yamin Peak (4,535 masl) 7. East Carstensz Peak (4,400 masl) In addition, not all of the peaks of Mount Carstensz are covered in snow after the shrinking of the ice sheet due to climate change.

With its peak reaching 4,884 masl, Carstensz Pyramid is the highest mountain in Indonesia and also the second highest mountain in Southeast Asia, after Mount Hkakabo Razi (5,881 masl) Myanmar. In fact, Mount Carstensz is not a volcanic area, but a mountain in a series of limestone mountains. In addition, Mount Carstensz was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

Member of Seven Summits

Carstensz Pyramid is included in the Seven Summits, which is the designation for the highest mountains from the seven continents in the world. However, until now the designation of the Carstensz Pyramid as the 7th Seven Summit in the world is still being debated in several circles.

The beginning of the World’s Seven Summit which was recorded by Dick Bass refers to Mount Kozciuzko as the 7th mountain. Meanwhile, the triggering made by Reinhold revealed that the Seven Summit in number 7 is the Carstensz Pyramid which is located in West Papua. he explained that climbing on Carstensz Pyramid has a steeper and more extreme path than climbing on Mount Kosciuzko (2228 masl) in Australia.

Origin of the name Carstensz

The name Carstensz pinned on Carstensz Pyramid was taken from a historical story in 1623. At that time a Dutch sailor named Jan Carstenszoon saw the Pyramid covered in snow through binoculars. He was currently making his voyage across the south coast of the Arafura Sea.

Jan Cartensz was called a liar at that time, until he was considered crazy to find a snowy pyramid in Papua. After 300 years later, Jan Cartensz managed to prove his words.

See also: Cost Required to Climb Mount Carstensz

First Ascent

In 1962, for the first time it was recorded that a climber had successfully reached the top of Mount Jayawijaya. The first person to reach the top was Heinrich Harrer, an Austrian national. During the ascent Heinrich was assisted with three other expedition members, namely Russell Kippax, Albertus Huizinga, and Robert Philip Temple.

Snow Will Disappear

In addition, not all of the peaks of Mount Jayawijaya are covered with eternal snow, especially after the shrinking of the ice sheet due to climate change. The Head of the Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Institution, Dwikorita Karnawati, revealed that Indonesia’s only everlasting snow, namely the Glacier located on the peak of Mount Jayawijaya, is predicted to disappear in 2025.

According to she said that if the current situation is allowed to continue, the temperature rise on all the main islands in Indonesia could reach 4 degrees Celsius in 2025, four times compared to pre-industrial times. As a result of this increase in temperature, he added, it is estimated that the peak of Mount Carstensz in West Papua in 2025 will completely disappear.

See also: The Disappearance of West Papua Eternal Snow in 2025