Sapon Dam in Kulon Progo Regency, Yogyakarta

For some people, a dam only has a mere function which is to manage water either for daily needs or agriculture. However, these days, people also consider it as a tourist spot! For example, there is Sapon Dam in Kulon Progo Regency. As the name suggests, it is located in Sapon Village and belongs to Lendah Sub-District. It is one of many dams, that stores Progo River, and it has the potential to be the biggest and most famous one in the region. Not to mention the locals take advantage of the bridge of the dam in order to cross the river without spending too much time and effort.

The Nuance
In terms of size, Sapon Dam has a moderate proportion. The prime color is yellow, but it also comes with blue color on some of its parts. As mentioned before, the dam comes with a bridge on where people can use to cross Progo River. The thing is the bridge is not quite wide, so only small vehicles are able to cross it. These include motorcycles and bicycles. As for the water discharge, it depends on the season. During the hot season, it looks slow and small. On the other hand, the water discharge becomes stronger and louder during the rainy season.

Exploring Sapon Dam
In some cases, people come to Sapon Dam in order to learn the history. It is said the construction began in 2005 and it finished in 2008. However, the inauguration was in 2010 so it didn’t open for public until that time. The local government, at the time, didn’t have the purpose to make it a tourist spot though. They only wanted to provide a reliable facility to irrigate nearby farmers. As the time went by, the dam turned into a new vacation destination on where people enjoy photography and sightseeing. It also has a significant function, which is to connect both sides of Progo River.

Aside from learning the history of Sapon Dam, people come to the site in order to enjoy relaxation, especially in the morning and afternoon. The fact is the sunset looks quite wonderful there! This explains why most people (especially nearby villagers) come to the dame in the afternoon or dusk before the sun sets. Another feature that makes it suitable for relaxation is the gurgling water, which sounds quite soothing!

Another reason to visit Sapon Dam is to enjoy fishing with the locals. Usually, villagers come for fishing either in the afternoon or at night. For tourists, they must have prepared the fishing rod and other equipment beforehand, though. It is true they can borrow it from villagers, but it won’t be easy especially for foreigners who can’t speak the Indonesian Language.

Nearby Attractions

• Lopati Village
• Kyai Panggung’s Tomb
• Progo Dam

How to Get There
In order to get to Sapon Dam, tourists should head to Sapon Village at Kulon Progo Regency. If they come from Adisucipto International Airport, the trip may take about 52 minutes as the distance is 37.8 km. It can even be faster if they take Srandakan Street! As for the tip, they must consider visiting the dam only during the hot season when many sand miners are seen on the location.

Where to Stay

• Griya Pandan Sari