Located in the lowest basin between three mountains (Merbabu, Telomoyo and Ungaran), Lake Rawa Pening became the largest natural lake in Java Island. The 2,670 hectares of Lake are located in three districts (Ambarawa, Bawen and Banyubiru) in Semarang, Central Java has a beauty that can appeal to tourists.
As a flood controller, agricultural irrigation source, abundant fish supply for fresh water fishermen, clean water providers and water power generation drive sources (PLTA) fill the list of the functions of the lake.
However, now the condition of the lake is filled with cottage eceng plant (Eichhornia crassipes) that grow and cover nearly 70 percent of the lake surface area. A variety of efforts is carried out, both governments and communities to admire the weed plant, but still the plant grows with fertile.
Tourists enjoy the beauty of Lake Rawa Pening, Semarang Regency, Central Java.
Eichhornia crassipes
The condition encourages the majority of people around Lake Rawa Pening participated in the hands of helping to clean the hyacinth cottage, by utilizing it to be an example of economic valued craft products.
People use the hyacinth rod to be processed into furniture making materials and other product aneka such as miniature motorized vehicles and sandal shoes. The results of their products are successfully marketed in several cities such as Yogyakarta and Bali.
Even the students of SMK Negeri 1 Bawen successfully utilized the weed plant as an alternative fuel of 'briket'.
Eichhornia crassipes cover most of the Lakes area of the Pening, Semarang, Central Java.
The work of the eceng cottage plant (Eichhornia crassipes) in Lake Rawa Pening, Semarang Regency, Central Java.
Despite the different ways, the creative efforts of the citizens have the same spirit, namely returning the clean Lake Rawa Pening environment of the cottage eceng plant.
Photo and Text: Aditya Pradana Putra
Nelayan collects hyacinth plant stem (Eichhornia crassipes) in Lake Rawa Pening, Semarang Regency, Central Java.
Nelayan brought the stem of hyacinth plant (Eichhornia crassipes) in Lake Rawa Pening, Semarang District, Central Java.
Nelayan brought the stem of cottage eceng plant (Eichhornia crassipes) in Semarang, Central Java.
Warga sunshines the stem of hyacinth plant (Eichhornia crassipes) in Semarang, Central Java.
Warga made furniture crafts made by cottage eceng plant stem (Eichhornia crassipes) in Lopait Village, Tuntang District, Semarang District, Central Java.
Warga made car miniature crafts made of hyacinth plant stem (Eichhornia crassipes) in Kebondowo Village, Banyubiru, Semarang District, Central Java.
Warga made sandal crafts made of hyacinth plant stem (Eichhornia crassipes) in Dusun Wellup, Bawen, Semarang Regency, Central Java.
The 'briket' alternative fuel made of hyacinth plant (Eichhornia crassipes) in Semarang, Central Java.
