Bengawan Solo River

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Bengawan Solo passing through Bojonegoro.

The Bengawan Solo River (alternatively, Solo River) is the longest river on the Indonesian island of Java, approximately 540 km in length. Apart from its importance as watercourse to the inhabitants and farmlands of the eastern and northern parts of the island, it is a renowned region in paleoanthropology circles. Many discoveries of early hominid remains have been made at several sites in its valleys, including that of the original specimen of the first early human fossil found outside of Europe, the so-called "Java Man" skull.

[edit] Geography

The Bengawan Solo River has its source at the volcano of Mount Lawu, central Java. From there it flows in a northerly direction, through the Sewu Mountains. Along its course it is joined by several tributaries, some such as the Madiun and Brantas rivers are substantial rivers themselves. The river makes an easterly turn through East Java, passing through the Kendang Mountains and into the Solo Valley proper, which is relatively flat. It passes through the major city of Surakarta (called Solo by the local inhabitants), and eventually reaches its outlet on the Java Sea near the city of Surabaya.