KELIMUTU LAKE

komodoindonesiatours.com - Okt 05, 2008
KELIMUTU LAKE

All of incredible sights in Nusa Tenggara the colored lakes of Kelimutu are undoubtedly the most spectacular. The three lakes are set in deepcraters at an altitude of 1.690m asl and are near the summit of the Kelimutu volcano ( Keli means mountain and Mutu is crater / steam).
They have a habit of changing color and most recently the largest was light turquoise, the one next to it was dark brown and the third one was black.
No – one was managed to fully explain the cause of the colors or why they change, except to suppose that different minerals are dissolved in each lake. The moons cape effect of the craters gives the whole summit area an ethereal atmosphere that can be quite creepy when clouds blow ion after 8am .
There is a story among the locals that the souls of the dead go to these lakes: young people’s souls go to the warmth of Tiwu Nuwa Muri Koo Fai ( Turquose lake ), Olds people to the cold of Tiwu Ata Mbupu ( Brown lake ) , and those of thieves and murders to Tiwu Ata Polo ( Black lake ).
Kelimutu has attracted sightseers since Dutch times and today there is a paved road up to the lakes from Moni, 13,5km away at base of the mountain. There is a staircase up to the highest lookout, inspiration point, From where all three lakes are visible.
There is wonderfully spacious feeling up here and you can scramble around the perimeters of two of the lake craters for a bit of solitude. Take care though, as the Scree is loose and it is hell of along way down. Hope for a sunny day sunrise is stunning and the turquoise lake reaches it’s full brilliance in the sunlight. More fantastic if we visit at 6 o’clock in the morning.