Cold lava river near Merapi becomes tourist attraction

Putih River in the Central Java town of Magelang, which recently sent cold lava flooding over some of its banks, has become a new tourist attraction in the area.

The river is among about a dozen rivers whose upper streams originate on Mount Merapi that were flooded by volcanic material during the volcano’s eruptions last year.

The river has been drawing the attention of not only local residents, but also from visitors from outside the town.

“I want to see with my own eyes what the [volcanic] materials from Merapi look like, especially because my house sits near a river,” Siti, 36, a visitor from a nearby town of Sleman, Yogyakarta, said Sunday, as quoted by Antara.

Siti visited a part of Putih River most flooded by the volcanic materials with her husband and children. She was worried that similar cold lava floods could threaten her neighborhood near Opak River.

The flocks of visitors has brought its own advantages for locals, who have started selling food and beverages and souvenirs to the guests.

“The earnings are not bad, especially on holidays,” said Joko, 25, who has been selling souvenirs and CDs containing information regarding the Merapi eruptions.

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sun, 01/23/2011 3:52 PM