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Legendary ship duplicate, over 100 yachts to sail during total solar eclipse in Indonesia

Xinhua, January 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

A duplicate of legendary expedition ship of Majapahit, one of Indonesia's biggest kingdoms at the fifteen century, and over 100 yachts are to parade during the total solar eclipse on March 9 in Indonesia, officials and experts said here on Tuesday.

The total solar eclipse will cover 150 km long across Indonesia, an archipelago country, from east to west, said Harry Untoro, expert of staff for multicultural department in Indonesian tourism ministry.

On March 9, the duplicate of Majapahit ship along with the yachts is expected to be at Bangka Belitung province where Indonesia's observation and celebration of the eclipse is centered, Untoro said.

"The duplicate Majapahit ship and more than 100 yachts will be at Bagka Belitung on March 9," he told a joint press conference at the ministry after meeting with a group of community from Indonesia and Japan, who called themselves "the lover of Majapahit Kingdom."

The yachts will arrive from neighboring Singapore and Malaysia, the official said.

The total lunar eclipse will cover Indonesia's territory from east to west, including Ternate, Luwu, Balikpapan, Bangka Belitung, Bengkulu and Palembang city, Untoro said.

Hundreds of scientists and foreign holiday makers are expected to come into Indonesia to observe the rare event in eastern and western parts of Indonesia, said Safri Burhanuddin, deputy at coordinating ministry for maritime and resources affairs.

He said that many of them would conduct the observation at eastern part of the country, such as Ternate city.

"The total solar eclipse will only happen two minutes from 07:20 a.m. to 07: 22 a.m. Jakarta time," the official disclosed.

The duplicate of legendary Majapahit ship was constructed in 2010 to remember great Indonesia's expedition in the past, said Sumarwoto, chairman of the community of Majapahit lover.

Indonesia is home to over 17,500 islands with great cultural and ethnic diversities. Foreign tourist arrivals grew by 5.81 percent to 10.017 million in 2015. Endit