Limestone mountains in Tuban

Limestone mountains in Tuban are a stunning landscape and a place for a visit

Tuban a city in the north of East Java has an interesting geological history. It is not because of volcanic activity. It is more of the limestone mountains around Tuban. Years ago Tuban had no industry and the town dominated by agriculture. But today, because of the settled industry Tuban turned in an industrial centre. One reason for the industrialisation is the huge limestone occurrences.

Long time I thought that the mountains are a result of volcanic activities in this area. Because Indonesia is part of the ring of fire. The amount of volcanos is one of the highest in the world. However, the limestone mountains are definitively not a result of volcanic activities. Actually, the limestone mountains are coral reefs.  When the Java sea level dropped million of years ago the reefs came out of the sea to the surface. These lifted reefs shaping the landscape around Tuban today.

Most of the limestone used in the nearby cement factories. The limestone also used as filling material for civil construction works or as bricks for house building. Besides the big factories, there are also smaller businesses. Here workers burning the limestone to quicklime. The limestone business is a huge industry and many people have a job in there.

The limestone mountains are old coral reefs. Composed mainly of skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as corals, shells or sponges.

Visiting the limestone mines became more famous for the locals in the last time. The pits stair-shaped and around 50 to 60 meters deep to the bottom. The limestone mines give a stunning landscape. Visitors coming to that place and just want to have a look into the pits. Some taking pictures others just want to have a walk through the rocks.