Three Colors of Lake Kelimutu

Lake Kelimutu was situated at the top of Mount Kelimutu. The lake was about 1.631 meters above the sea level. Since for the first time Lake Kelimutu was found by a Dutchman, Van Such Telen in 1915, the lake color had change over and over again until today. The lake determined by the government as National of Nature Conservation Area in 26 February 1992.

Lake Kelimutu was three massive lakes. Every lake has color water that always makes color change continually. And every lake has a different name and different mean. Blue color lake or “Tiwu Nua Muri Koo Fai” is lake of youth soul, red color lake or “Tiwu Ata Palo” is lake of weaver, and black color lake or “Tiwu Ata Mbupu” is lake of oldster. By running of time, “Tiwu Nua Muri Koo Fai” change become bottle green or back to blue, “Tiwu Ata Palo” change become brown, orange or back to red, and “Tiwu Ata Mbupu” change become deep brown or back to black. In October 2009, “Tiwu Nua Muri Koo Fai” and “Tiwu Ata Palo” change to light green, and “Tiwu Ata Mbupu” change to deep brown. For the people in around Kelimutu Lake, they believe that every lake color has each mean.

By following the scientist statement, color exchange of the lake caused by environment condition and caused by existence of chemical reaction that contained in the lake. But, people in around Kelimutu Lake that called Ende people believe that Kelimutu Lake has a mighty power of, and they believe that color exchange of Kelimutu Lake is a nature omen that must be wary of it.

Around the lake, there are some species of flora and fauna also. Some species of flora is Casuarinas tree (Casuarina equisetifolia), Edelweiss or called eternal flower, and two endemic plants to the Mount Kelimutu that called Uta Onga (Begonia kelimutuensis) and Turuwara (Rhododendron renschianum).
Some species of fauna around the lake is Deer (Cervus timorensis), Pig of Forest (Sus sp.), Partridge (Gallus gallus) and Eagle (Elanus sp.).

Mount climbing had better to do before day or in the morning, so that we can enjoy the beautiful of Lake Kelimutu when the sun is going to rise. From the peak of Lake Kelimutu when sunrise, we will be seeing amazing sky scene like a massive paintings with soft color that set a mind at rest. People around the Mount Kelimutu also sell various souvenirs like handicraft and woven cloth.

To get there, from Kupang, the capital city of East Nusa Tenggara Province, the visitors can get there by airplane to Ende Town, in Flores Island. The traveled distance was about fifty minutes by airplane. Having arrived in Ende Town, the next trip did by bus to Kaonara Village about 93 kilometers from Ende Town. Need along time and patience to see the beautiful of Lake Kelimutu. From Kaonara Village to the Lake Kelimutu, visitors must climb the mount about 2.5 kilometers on foot. But all of visitors tiredness will be disappear caused by seeing the beautiful and wonderful of Lake Kelimutu and everything that there in around the Lake.

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