Toba Lake
North Sumatra has a lot of tourist spots. One of them is Lake Toba. Vacation to the city of Medan or North Sumatra is not complete without visiting Lake Toba. A length of 100 kilometers and an area of 1,130 kilometers and its total lenght shore of 279 kilometers has made Toba Lake the largest volcanic lake in Southeast Asia.
Lake Toba was popular long ago, even its name is rising in the eyes of the world travelers. This is supported by the fact that a lot of foreign tourists have come to the icon city of Medan.. The lake plays an important role in the world of Indonesian Tourism. Many activities can be done at this beautiful lake, for example, you can go around the lake by boat. Other interesting acitivites are fishing, and hiking in the surrounding mountains.
Lake Toba is situated 176 kilometers from the capital city of Medan, North Sumatra. Lake Toba has five districts; Duri, North Tapanuli, Karo, and Naidoo Simelungun. To get to Lake Toba, visitors from Jakarta can take a flight to Medan and then travel again to a city named Prapat in 4 hour drive. But if you want a shorter route, please select a flight to Silangit in North Tapanuli. Then from that city you can go by land transport to Lake Toba in an hour time.
In general the view of of this lake from a distance is so special. The depth of Toba lake is 505 meters and its water is home to a variety of endemic freshwater fish. One of these fish is called 'batak fish' that has the Latin name Neolissochillus Thienemanni sumatranus. However, its population has declined and is now included in the endangered category. One particular fish that is pupular as souvenirs from Toba Lake is Pora Pora fish. The people around Toba Lake manage to sell the fish in crisps.
Lake Toba is located at an altitude of 900 meters above sea level (masl), surrounded by hills. But once it reached 1,200 meters above sea level . So no wonder if the air around the lake is so cool and a perfect place to unwind. The hills in the Lake Toba region are also very fertile. So no wonder many people live in this region. There is also an area designated as water catchment areas, soil stability, erosion prevention, and control of air poluttan.
In the middle of this lake there is Samosir Island area of 647 km2 with an altitude of 1,000 meters above sea level. The island also has a special attraction for local and foreign tourists. The island is inhabited by the indigenous Batak tribes. The island has its own features. There are two lakes on the island, namely Lake Sidihoni and Lake Aek Natonang. Because Samosir is in the middle of the Lake Toba, the two lakes are also popular for destination. Moreover, Samosir Island also has Pushuk Hill which is is said to be home to the Batak and many other cultural diversity. Visiting Samosir island will be an unforgettable experience.
Lake Toba also has an interesting beach destination; Binaga Lumban Beach. Unlike the beaches in general, this white sandy beach is located on the banks of Lake Toba. Enjoying the sunset on one side of the beach is going to be a thing worth a try. Just imagine, the blue sky fading defeated by orange sunrise that meets the horizon, visible behind the beautiful hills makes you forget that you are dealing with a lake and not the ocean. Spending time with family, playing beach volleyball, or swimming over the edge would be a fun activity on this beautiful beach.
For the lodging and food, visitors do not need to worry. There are many hotels and restaurants or food stalls around this famous destination. For those who love to shop, there are a lot of stores around Lake Toba that sell fabric of Ulos Batak handicrafts and souvenirs.
0 Comments