In the central part of the Indonesian island of Flores, on the territory of the National Park, the Kelimutu volcano rises. The volcano has been dormant for a long time. His last activity was in 1968. Then three multi-colored lakes were formed - an amazing miracle of nature.
The lakes are located at the very top of the mountain, in the depressions formed after the eruption. The lakes, like a chameleon, periodically change their colors from green, turquoise to brown, red and black.
This color change is explained by chemical reactions occurring in the water between gas and minerals. For example, rising levels of sulfuric and hydrochloric acid turn lakes a beautiful green hue, while the reaction between hydrogen sulfide and iron produces a red color.
Local residents explain this phenomenon by the fact that the souls of their dead ancestors live in the lakes. If the color in the lakes changes, it means that the souls are very angry. There is another version according to which the change of colors indicates upcoming tense events in.
The lake located on the western side is named Tivu Ata Mbulu. The name translates as “lake of old people.” The legend tells that the souls of good people found peace in the lake. Having lived their lives with dignity, they died at a ripe old age. The lake means wisdom, which appears only with more life experience.
In the center is the reservoir Tivu Nua Muri Kooh Tai or “lake of girls and boys”. It contains the souls of dead young, innocent people. The peculiarity of the reservoir is that in 26 years its color has changed 12 times.
The last lake is Tivu-Ata-Polo - “lake of evil souls”. The souls of evil people languish in its waters. These two lakes are separated by a thin wall of a volcanic crater. The partition has a symbolic meaning and clearly shows that good and evil are separated by a very thin line. It is almost impossible to predict what the color of the lake will be. Today, the lake of the “good” has changed from green to black. The lake of “young souls” turned bright green, and the lake of “evil” ones turned brown.
The best panorama of the most wonderful reservoirs opens from the top of Mount Kelimutu. For safety reasons, it is better to use the “point of inspiration”, which is the name of the observation deck. At sunrise or sunset, the lakes take on bright, rich colors. The thick fog gathering over the area creates an atmosphere of mystery and mysticism.
Volcano lakes are highly valued in Indonesia. In the past, their images were featured on Rs 5,000 notes. Kelimutu Park is protected by the Convention World Heritage. The views of chameleon lakes attract thousands of tourists from all over the world every year, eager to admire another masterpiece of nature.
All of Indonesia is located on the Pacific Volcanic Ring of Fire. There are many volcanoes on the territory of the country, and one can say that each is remarkable in its own way.
Now we will move to the island of Flores. There is a most interesting place there. Kelimutu volcano is 1639 meters high. This is a complex combined volcano. That is appearance significantly different from a classic volcano.
Kelimutu Volcano has several calderas. It is located in the middle part of the island in the Taman Nasional Kelimutu National Park.
Kelimutu Volcano on the map
- Geographic coordinates (-8.766541, 121.812924)
- The distance from the capital of Indonesia, Jakarta, is approximately 1700 km in a straight line
- The nearest airport is Ende (H. Hasan Aroeboesman Airport) 19 km southwest
What is most interesting is not the volcano itself, but the 3 colored lakes that fill its craters.
Dissolved in lakes a large number of minerals, so the color of the water is quite exotic, and each lake has its own shade.
Kelimutu lakes are capable of completely changing their colors in a few years, for example from black to green, turquoise or even brick brown. Moreover, the change of colors occurs separately and independently in each lake.
Geologists attribute the color change to several factors. Firstly, the influence of certain pores or holes in the earth's crust, which periodically release gas and steam - sulfur dioxide, hydrogen chloride and hydrogen sulfide, as well as carbon dioxide. This creates an upwelling effect (the rise of deep layers of a reservoir to the surface), which lifts nutrient-rich (and therefore colored) water to the surface.
Secondly, the color of the lakes changes periodically due to adjustments in the redox state of the water in each lake, as well as taking into account the abundance of various chemical elements such as iron and manganese.
But locals are sure that the souls of dead people rest in these lakes. And when souls are angry, the color of the lakes changes.
Each lake has its own name. Lake of the Old Men is the westernmost one, located a little further from the other two. One of which is the lake of young souls or the lake of boys and girls. And the second is a mysterious, so-called enchanted lake. According to locals, this is a lake of evil spirits.
The lakes of the Kelimutu volcano were first discovered to the world by the Dutch military man Suttelen in 1915. The first detailed description of colored lakes dates back to 1929.
Not far from Kelimutu there is the village of Moni, from which it is easiest to get to the lakes. Or walk to the top in about 3 hours and see a multi-colored landmark, or ride along the serpentines in this type of car called a bemo.
Bemo If you want to watch the sunrise on Kelimutu and just see the picturesque surroundings, get up early, take warm clothes with you and hit the road. After lunch, the volcano often finds itself captive to fog.
In general, from the first days of the development of local national park in the Kelimutu area there have been some disagreements with local residents regarding tourism activities. Since the lakes have a mystical significance for the locals, they did not really welcome the incursions of tourists. But park workers have worked to improve relations with neighboring villages, and now travelers can freely visit colorful lakes Kelimutu.
The 1,639-meter-high Kelimutu volcano, located on the Indonesian island of Flores, is known for its crater lakes that change color from time to time. Natural bodies of water, in which various minerals are dissolved, change color every few years, becoming turquoise, red-brown, green or black. At the same time, color transitions occur independently of each other, which strengthens faith local residents into the supernatural origins of the place. According to ancient myth, in the lakes of Kelimutu the souls of the dead find their peace and shelter.
The source of the multi-colored shades and the reason for such a geological anomaly in the Kelimutu crater are the minerals that lie at the bottom of each of the lakes. They gradually dissolve in water, coloring it as a result of chemical reactions. The volcanic lakes have their own names: Tiwi Ata Mbupu (translated as “Lake of the Elders and Wise People”), Tiwu Nua Muri Kooh Tai (“Lake of Young Souls”) and Tiwu Ata Polo (“Enchanted Lake of Evil Spirits”).
Overnight accommodation in the village of Moni, the closest settlement to the Kelimutu crater, should be booked in advance, especially during peak dates (July and August). Guest houses, as a rule, organize transfers to lakes for additional fee. To see the sunrise on the volcano, you should leave Moni no later than four in the morning. This best time for visiting the reserve not so much because of the sun-drenched picturesque landscapes, how much due weather conditions: In the afternoon, lakes are often hidden by heavy fog. For the walk, you should choose warm clothing that protects from the wind, and also take a flashlight, water and snacks with you. However, early in the morning local residents prepare tea and coffee for tourists on the trail.
How to get there
Lakes Kelimutu are located in the central part of the island of Flores, 60 kilometers northeast of the city of Ende and 105 kilometers southwest of the city of Maumere. They have small airports that receive flights from major cities- Denpasar, Kupang, Labuan Bayo and Tambolaka.
Travel time from Maumere, the largest of the two towns closest to Kelimut, to the volcano is three to four hours, depending on weather conditions. The road passes through mountainous terrain and is quite exhausting, so most tourists stop in the small village of Moni for an overnight stay or a short rest before visiting the lakes. In addition, this is a convenient transfer point if you travel by regular buses; they travel to the village from Maumere and Ende several times a day. From Moni, located 15 kilometers from Kelimutu, buses also run to the crater. They are very popular among the local population and, as a rule, are crowded, so the best option to get to the attraction is by taxi, since local residents are willing to give tourists a lift.
Location
The Kelimutu volcano is located in the territory of the national park of the same name, located on the island of Flores, part of the Lesser Sunda Islands group.
Planet Earth created mass incredible places, which simply amaze with their beauty. However, the colorful lakes will certainly surprise even the most experienced traveler. Some of these lakes have permanent unusual colors due to the minerals and chemicals they contain, while others become unusual colors only temporarily due to the influence of microorganisms or algae. They have one thing in common - they all look like a surrealist’s fantasy.
Red lake of the island of Cyprus.
There is a lake in Cyprus that is completely blood red. It is so bright that it may give the impression that it is not water, but actually blood. Yes, this place is suitable for filming horror films. The water in the lake is dead, and, in general, it is not considered a lake. The fact is that this is an iron ore quarry, which is why the bright red color of the water is created.
Pink lake in Senegal
Lake Retba is salty and almost lifeless. However, its main advantage, in addition to the high content of mineral salts, is its color, which ranges from purple to delicate pink, reminiscent of the color of a strawberry milkshake. The color of the lake is given by the cyanobacteria that live in its water.
This lake is also distinguished by the fact that its depth rarely exceeds three meters. However, to drown here you need to try very hard - the salt concentration is 1.2 times higher than in the Dead Sea. By the way, it was the shallow depth of the lake that gave it such an unusual color; Retba was once an ordinary sea lagoon, which then turned into an ordinary salt Lake, and in the 1970s, during a period of terrible droughts, it became shallow and acquired the color that made it famous throughout the planet.
Lake Laguna Verde.
This salt lake is located in Bolivia and is green in color because it is located at the foot of a volcano. Due to the mass of minerals and many other substances, water acquires a rich emerald color.
Bolivia is home to another colorful lake - the Great Salt Lake Laguna Colorado, located in national reserve Eduardo Avaroa in the southwestern part. It is painted bright red. True, this time it’s not only about sedimentary rocks, but also about the pigmentation of algae that grows abundantly there.
The red color of the lake harmonizes well with pink flamingos, living there, and the shores covered with white borax crystals.
This is extremely a nice place, since there is not one, but three lakes that formed right in the crater of the volcano on the island of Florence. All three lakes have different colors, which together look simply magical. The lakes are located very close to each other and can change the color of the water. At different times, the lakes are sometimes turquoise, sometimes green, sometimes red, sometimes brown, and can even be black.
According to ecologists, the color of water changes depending on the chemical reactions occurring in it. These chemical reactions occur between all kinds of minerals and gas. According to the stories of experts in chemical reactions, a shade of red appears when iron and hydrogen sulfide react, while green appears when there is a high concentration of sulfuric and hydrochloric acids. Local residents develop their own theory related to the souls of deceased relatives. If the water is green or blue, the souls of the ancestors are calm, if the liquid is dark red or black, this is preceded by the angry spirit of the dead.
The lakes were named after a legend that was attached to each body of water. The western lake, separated from the others by a kilometer-long expanse of stones, is called the “Lake of Old Men” (Tivu-Ata-Mbupu). According to legend, the souls of people who lived their lives with dignity and died of old age remain in this lake. This lake is associated with knowledge and wisdom that comes with age. The central lake Tivu Nua Muri Kooh Tai is named after the young, literally meaning “lake of boys and girls.” According to legend, young souls go to this lake, and because of this, its color often changes.
The last “Enchanted Lake” is Tivu-Ata-Polo. According to legend, it stores the souls of villains; it is also called the “lake of evil souls.” According to their location, lakes Tivu Nua Muri Kooh Tai and Tivu Ata Polo have a thin rock barrier, which, according to legend, symbolizes the fine line between good and evil. Especially for viewing the colorful flowers of the lake, an observation deck was installed at the very top of Kelimutu. It is from this place that you can see the bright colors of the lake at sunrise or sunset.
Lake Pukaki is located at an altitude of almost 500 meters, near Canterbury, almost a hundred miles from Timaru. The lake is huge - its area is just over 50 square kilometers. New Zealand's main rivers, the Tasman and Hooker, flow into Lake Pukaki. The water temperature rarely rises above seven degrees. The age of the lake, according to scientists’ calculations, is approximately 16-18 thousand years...
The water of Lake Pukaki can be characterized by its own color, calling it glacial blue. The colorful lake was formed by glaciers that melted many years ago. The lake is replenished with melt water to this day. Well, the special color of the water is achieved due to the microparticles contained in this water.
Lake of five colors in China.
Lake of Five Flowers in China is located on the territory of the most picturesque valley - Jiuzhaigou. This is one of the most beautiful and mysterious bodies of water on the planet, the research of which still baffles scientists. The peculiarity of “Five Colors” is that from time to time the water in the lake changes its color.
Its color varies from time to time, from yellow to dark green, but most of the time the water is diamond blue. This place is shrouded in many secrets and mysteries, while many neighboring lakes periodically become shallow and dry, the water level in this reservoir is always constant. Five Flowers does not freeze in winter, although all the neighboring lakes are covered with ice. For this reason, local residents feel fear and trepidation about these places.
Peach Lake Asphalt Lake
Peach Lake(eng. Pitch Lake - bitumen lake) - lake, consisting of pure liquid asphalt, is located in the southwest of the island of Trinidad near settlement La Brea. It has an area of about 40 hectares and a depth of about 80 m. Asphalt reserves are estimated at more than 6 million tons, tens of thousands of which are mined every year. At current production levels, the lake will be a renewable source of asphalt for 400 years.
Natural phenomenon - asphalt lake Peach Lake in Trinidad
This world's largest reservoir of natural asphalt was discovered by Walter Raleigh in 1595, who immediately found a use for it - bitumen was used to tar the wooden lining of ships. Currently, it is a tourist attraction, visited by about 20 thousand people a year. In addition, high-quality asphalt is extracted from the lake, which is exported.
Natural phenomenon - asphalt lake Peach Lake in Trinidad
According to legend, at the place where the lake is located, there was a settlement of the Chima Indian tribe. After defeating the enemy tribe, the Indians held a celebration with a feast, where they ate a large number of the sacred hummingbirds, forgetting that they were believed to be the spirits of their ancestors. As punishment, the gods opened up the earth and caused a resin lake that swallowed the entire village and its inhabitants.
Amazing natural phenomenon on one of the Gippsland lakes of Australia. As a result of the activity of microorganisms, this lake began to glow blue, like a large neon lamp.
A spectacle of incomparable beauty and a very rare natural phenomenon.
acid lake
Very dangerous place on planet Earth is considered ill-fated acid lake or Lake of Death - a large body of water located in Sicily. There is no vegetation or animals on the shores of this lake; even birds do not fly over the lead-gray water. Swimming in such a lake is deadly. The reason is that the lake water contains sulfuric acid in huge concentrations.
Sour Lake is located in Kamchatka, in the crater of the Paleo-Semyachik volcano. The waters of this lake, due to the dissolution of the gas phase, are saturated with acids. The beautiful light green color of the lake is caused by the smallest particles of sulfur in the water, which were carried out from the depths of the volcano by fumaroles. The lake water tastes scaldingly sour. And the amount of salts in water is much higher than in sea water.
They say that the souls of the dead live in the colorful reservoirs of Kelimutu. Elderly people found peace in the first lake, those who died young found peace in the second, and sinners languished in the third. And the foggy haze swirling in the mornings and the often changing color of chameleon ponds with intoxicating fumes seem to confirm this theory. Nevertheless, the colored lakes still attract tourists.
Dormant half a century ago, the Kelimutu volcano, Indonesia, is located in the south of the small island of Florence, between its largest cities Ende and Maumere, and is one of the volcanoes of the Pacific Ring of Fire, which includes more than three hundred active volcanoes (out of five hundred and forty known). Mount Kelimutu has a height of one and a half thousand meters above sea level, and the last eruption occurred more than half a century ago.
The mountain became famous thanks to its unique crater lakes, which have no analogues in the whole world. Kelimutu is the only mountain on Earth where from one point you can see as many as three multi-colored reservoirs, and where tourists come from all over the world. These are not just three lakes of different colors located almost right next to each other, but bodies of water that, like a chameleon, periodically change their color. No one (not even scientists) can predict exactly when this will happen. Each lake can be either turquoise, white, mustard, red, green, black and other tones.
The Kelimutu lakes are a kind of reservoir: since they are located in the crater of a volcano, they are almost not fed by groundwater, but are filled with numerous precipitation, which falls abundantly here during the rainy season, which lasts from November to March. The climate on Florence Island in Indonesia is subcontinental maritime monsoon, and there is plenty of water at this time.
According to one theory, these lakes were formed during the last volcanic eruption in 1968, after which depressions appeared in the cooled lava (in this case, as many as three). These reservoirs are extremely deep - according to unconfirmed data, the depth of the crater exceeds 1.5 thousand meters (that is, the height of a volcano). Judging by the myths of the Lio tribe, it is likely that before the eruption there were also lakes of a similar type there.
The reservoirs are located quite deep below, the slopes of the volcano around them abruptly drop down, so getting close to them is practically impossible, and even deadly. So, a few years ago, a Danish tourist climbed over the fence to take a closer look at one of the reservoirs, slipped and fell down. His body was never found.
The color of reservoirs is extremely difficult to predict, therefore, when climbing Kelimuta, you can never tell what color they will be. Over the course of several years (with short periodicity), the same lake can be black, green, brown, white, bottle blue, turquoise, red. Although, of course, forecasts are made about exactly when the color may change.
For example, next to the reservoirs there is a table that indicates exactly when they changed their color, so you can try to make some calculations. But this is not always possible: you can come to look at this amazing natural phenomenon and see that two of the three lakes at that particular time turned out to be almost the same shade (a rare phenomenon here, but it does happen).
The best way to admire the lakes is from a specially equipped area, which is located at the top of the volcano. It is advisable to walk along the lakes along specially designed paths, and you must wear shoes with non-slip soles (volcanic stone is extremely slippery, and therefore walking on it is quite dangerous ). The fumes emanating from reservoirs can lead to fainting (unfortunately, there have been cases where tourists lost consciousness at the most inopportune moment - and fell down, which almost always ended in death for them).
It is advisable to come to this amazing place either early in the morning, at dawn, or during sunset. Here, such a time comes extremely quickly, and the lakes acquire extremely deep, bright and rich colors.
It is especially beautiful here at dawn, when the lakes are still shrouded in morning fog and give the landscape a touch of mystery and mysticism. The suddenly appearing Sun in the blink of an eye makes the sky extremely bright, itself transforming in a couple of seconds from a bright red disk into a dazzling white body. It not only illuminates everything around, but also decisively disperses the fog swirling above the reservoirs, in some places it even forms a rainbow (in the shape of a complete oval).
It is not surprising that local aborigines believe that this is where the souls of dead people move, after which, having been purified, at dawn, according to one version, they rise to heaven. And color transitions, which often occur in bodies of water independently of each other (that is, lakes do not change color at the same time), only confirm their beliefs.
Legends of the Lio Tribe
According to their beliefs, the Kelimut Lakes are untouchable and taboo for local residents. The aborigines of the Lio tribe are convinced that the souls of deceased people find their peace in the reservoirs of Kelimutu. To this day, every year they organize special ceremonies with dances, etc., especially for these spirits.
According to their beliefs, each body of water is intended for different categories of souls:
- Tivu-Ata-Mbupu. The “Lake of Old Men” is home to the souls of people who not only died in old age, but also lived them with dignity. It is located at some distance from other bodies of water, which symbolizes the wisdom that comes to a person only with age.
- Tivu Nua Muri Kooh Tai. This body of water is located between two other lakes. The souls of people who died at a young age settled here. Interestingly, it changes color most often - in a quarter of a century this happened more than twelve times. Its name is translated as “Lake of Young Souls”.
- Tivu-Ata-Polo. Murderers, sinners, scoundrels and criminals, that is, those who lived their years unworthily and committed a lot of evil, settled forever in the “Enchanted Lake of Evil Spirits.” Moreover, it is noteworthy that it is separated from the central reservoir by a very narrow volcanic crater wall. Representatives of the Lio tribe are convinced that this symbolizes how thin and fragile the line between good and evil is.
Why do bodies of water change color?
Why the lakes in this amazing place constantly change color has not yet been fully studied. But there are versions, different and very interesting.
Version No. 1. Lio Tribe Theory
Local residents are sure that reservoirs change their color when souls are angry about something, so they must be appeased. For this purpose, they perform appropriate rituals on the top of Kelimutu. At the same time, the aborigines are convinced that their ancestors are answering them, since during the ceremonies (according to their belief) water boils in the reservoirs, and a blue fog appears over the surface.
Another theory of theirs says that a change in color signals the approach of major troubles (and not only for the island, but for all of Indonesia).
Version No. 2. Scientists' hypotheses
Scientists explain the phenomenon of this amazing place in their own way. They claim that bodies of water change their color depending on what kind of chemical reaction is in this moment occurs in the bowels of the earth and even from climatic conditions.
According to them, at the bottom of the lakes there are cracks through which volcanic gases rise, which, once in the reservoirs, enter into a chemical reaction with the minerals dissolved in it. In each lake, the minerals that are found on the bottom and walls of the volcano are different.
The presence of carbon dioxide contributes to the rise of deep waters to the surface of lakes, which are also enriched with minerals. The same process helps draw water down, which also affects the constant change in color of the lakes.
Lakes of Young Souls and Old Men
In the central reservoir (it is where the color change most often occurs) there is solfatara - when evaporations of sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, hydrochloric acid and other substances are released from cracks in the walls and bottom of the crater.
The temperature of solfatara usually ranges from 100°C to 300°C, therefore it is a constantly smoking crack.
Once on the surface, hydrogen sulfide reacts with air and turns into sulfuric acid. In this reservoir, as well as in Lake Starikov, there is an extremely high concentration of sulfuric and hydrochloric acids, which give them mainly green tones. Their shades change periodically - they can be bright green, turquoise, and dark green, deep blue, burgundy, white and black.
Lake of Evil Souls
Previously, the Lake of Evil Souls was a gorgeous, bright scarlet hue (it is quite possible that this is why it got its name). Now every year it becomes darker and darker. Now it has become almost black. This unusual color was caused by the high concentration of iron in the reservoir, as well as a higher level of acidity than in the reservoirs located near it. There are periods when it takes on more traditional lake colors, such as turquoise or green.
Trip to Flores
The island of Flores, Indonesia is worth a visit not only to look at the colorful lakes, but also at other attractions that are located quite compactly to each other: the island itself is small in size - about 350 km in length and 70 km in width .
For example, travelers all over the world will be interested to know that on this island the skeleton of a very small man was found (he was nicknamed a hobbit), whose age exceeds 18 thousand years and belongs to “Homo sapiens”.
19 species of animals, characteristic only for this area, live here. To see them, you will have to climb into the impenetrable jungle, but on the way to the reservoirs you can often see small monkeys living on the island, and on observation deck they even independently run out to people for handouts.
On the way to unique reservoirs, you can admire flowering trees, beautiful mountain views and landscapes. The colorful lakes of Kelimutu themselves are surrounded by a small jungle (4.5 hectares), in which mahogany, pine, and casuarina trees grow, and the grass cover is decorated with edelweiss. There is also a protected forest, waterfalls and caves with stalactites and stalagmites.
In short, if possible, it’s definitely worth visiting near Kelimutu, Indonesia. You shouldn’t put off your trip: although the volcano is considered extinct, there are, in principle, no guarantees that it will not wake up. And after the eruption, it is not a fact that the reservoirs will remain in the same place or will exist. After all, recent volcanic activity " Ring of Fire"has increased significantly.
