Bentar Beach

Bentar Beach is located in the eastern part of

Probolinggo regency. It is about five kilometers
from the Probolinggo downtown to east or
fifteen kilometers to the west of Kraksaan, the
capital town of Probolinggo regency. It is in the
side of Surabaya Banyuwangi highway.

The area is surrounded by hilly terrain

connected to a flat coastal line of about two kilometers. The hilly terrain mostly
covered a wide area in the southern part. People usually call the terrain as Gunung
Bentar, which means Mount Bentar, although it is not really a mountain. There is no
housing at all on the hill as its land material comprises mostly of limestone
substance and the terrain belongs to the Indonesian naval force property as well.

The weather around the beach is similar to those of tropical beaches. It is rather hot
and humid. The annual temperature goes exceed 26 - 35oC and it reaches its highest
temperature as high as 39oC in September to November.

Bentar Beach has many interesting facilities for the visitors. There is a wooden deck
bridge directed to the deeper part of the beach water and another wooden deck
across the mangrove forest. From this wooden deck, visitor can view the greenish
hilly terrain, mangrove vegetation and colorful fish wandering around. They can
enjoy the fresh air breezes creating a sensation of freshness moreover. It also
provides children playground for those who want to take their children to play and
also provides the visitors with some restaurants and small food stalls spread over
the areas.

The beach covers an area of about

eighty hectares. The area comprises of
three main area; Bentar hill terrain,
from which the beach gets its name,
mangrove forest vegetation and the
beach itself. The mangrove vegetation
covers about one fourth of the area.

There are several kinds of trees of a mangrove forest exist in the beach. The main
well-known species of mangrove tree growing well in the area is the red mangrove
tree. It is a front mangrove species. It generally grows up to three to five meters.
Leaves are about 10-20 cms long and 2.5 - 7.5 cms broad. The existence of the forest
functions as the barrier of the sea waves abrasion.

The mangrove forest produces much plankton, which indirectly emerges the biggest
attraction of the beach every year. What is the biggest attraction of Bentar beach?
The biggest attraction is the coming of a group of whale sharks. The whale sharks
come annually from Australian waters to get warmer sea and those sharks eat
plankton, which naturally produced by the mangrove forest.

Some animals live in the mangrove forest creating an ecosystem with some typical
habitats. Mangroves form dense forests on the shorelines through their root system,
creating a secured habitat for a variety of fauna. The muddy or sandy sediments of
the mangrove forest are home to a variety of animals. A number of crab species live
among the roots, on the trunks or even forage in the canopy. Insects, reptiles,
amphibians, birds and mammals thrive in the habitat and contribute to its unique
character.