Truemors
~ Shot taken at 2500ft above sea level. 45 minute drive from nearby archeological zone of Bagan.
--------------
Mount Popa is a volcano 1518 metres (4981 feet) above sea level, believed to be extinct, and located in central Burma (Myanmar) about 50 km (30 miles) east of Bagan. It can be seen from the River Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) as far away as 60 km (40 miles) in clear weather.
Southwest of Mount Popa is Taung Kalat (pedestal hill), a 737 metre (2,417 ft) sheer precipice of volcanic plug. A Buddhist monastery is located at the summit of Taung Kalat. At one time, the Buddhist hermit U Khandi maintained the stairway of 777 steps to the summit of Taung Kalat. It is also sometimes called Mount Popa, but to avoid confusion the big volcano with its huge crater blown open on one side is generally called Taung Ma-gyi (mother hill). The volcanic crater its self is a mile in diameter.
From the top of Taung Kalat, one can enjoy a panoramic view in all four directions. One can see the ancient city of Bagan; behind it to the north, the massive solitary conical peak of Taung Ma-gyi rises like Mount Fuji in Japan. There is a big caldera, 610 metres (2,000 ft) wide and 914 metres (3,000 ft) in depth so that from different directions the mountain takes different forms with more than one peak. The surrounding areas are arid, but the Mt Popa area has over 200 springs and streams. It is therefore likened to an oasis in the desert-like dry central zone of Burma. This means the surrounding landscape is characterized by prickly bushes and stunted trees as opposed to the lush forests and rivers Burma is famous for. Plenty of trees, flowering plants and herbs grow due to its fertile soil from the volcanic ash. The name Popa is indeed believed to come from the Pali Sanskrit word 'popa' meaning flower.
Source :
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Popa
Comments (0)