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Kelimutu
three Crater colored Lakes
Of
all 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.