Lake Toba (Indonesian: Danau Toba)
is a lake and supervolcano.
The lake is 100 kilometres long, 30 kilometres wide, and up to 505
meters (1,666 ft) deep. Located in North Sumatra Province, Indonesia
with a surface elevation of about 900 metres (2,953 ft), the lake
stretches from 2.88°N 98.52°E to 2.35°N 99.1°E. It is the largest lake
in Indonesia and the largest volcanic lake in the world.
Most of the people who live around Lake Toba are ethnically Bataks. Traditional Batak houses are noted for their distinctive roofs (which curve upwards at each end, as a boat's hull does) and their colorful decor.
An example of Batak Carving ( a mounted dragon
figure known as a naga )
The Batak people are a proud and ancient tribe originating from the Lake Toba region. They traditionally believe that they come from a common ancestor who descended directly from the creator god Mulajadi Na Bolon. They have been successful in Indonesia due to the importance that they place on education, many having become politicians, police, army, government administrators, lawyers and powerful business leaders. Bataks have migrated to many regions of Indonesia and beyond in order to seek out their fortunes. Music and song remain among their favourite pastimes. Traditionally young men would seek the heart of their beloved by way of music and song, such as laments describing the girl’s father rejecting him as unworthy due to his social status or relative poverty. Bataks generally have a strong and outgoing character. They have often guarded their success vigorously against suspicious or jealous outsiders while supporting their extended families so as not to be considered arrogant by society. Their traditional social system is known as “adat” in the Indonesian language. This term has supplanted the old Batak term “hasomalan”. The Batak people are known for holding large ceremonies known as pesta that are open to the public. These ceremonies are held for weddings and funerals, as well as other important events. Many families will spend their life savings to pay for such ceremonies, even going so far as to selling off their land to cover the costs. The favourite drink of the Bataks is tuak, a natural palmwine made from the sap of the sugar palm tree. A favourite food for most is pork, which is cooked in a variety of styles.
Lake Toba has a legend which tells how Lake Toba is formed, this folklore is
quite popular and growing in Indonesian society. Once upon a time, there
was a man who was living in north Sumatra. He lived in a simple hut in a
farming field. He did some gardening and fishing for his daily life. One day,
while the man was do fishing, he caught a big golden fish in his trap. It was
the biggest catch which he ever had in his life. Surprisingly, this fish turned
into a beautiful princess. He felt in love with her and proposed her to be his
wife. She said; "Yes, but you have to promise not to tell anyone about the
secret that I was once a fish, otherwise there will be a huge disaster".
The man made the deal and they got married, lived happily and had a daughter.
Few years later, this daughter would help bringing lunch to her father out in
the fields. One day, his daughter was so hungry and she ate his father’s lunch.
Unfortunately, he found out and got furious, and shouted; “You damned daughter
of a fish”. The daughter ran home and asked her mother. The mother started
crying, felt sad that her husband had broken his promise.Then she told her
daughter to run up the hills because a huge disaster was about to come. When
her daughter left, she prayed. Soon there was a big earthquake followed by
non-stop pouring rain. The whole area got flooded and became Toba Lake. She
turned into a fish again and the man became the island of Samosir.
Source Picture: http://tobaexplorer.wordpress.com/
Toba Lake has become one amongst
the wonderful wonders of nature business enterprise within the ground . Lake
Toba could be a lake berkawah vast center island wherever nearly the dimensions
of Singapore . With a section of 1,145 sq. kilometers , Lake Toba is really
additional like associate ocean than a lake . Lake Toba is that the largest
lake in geographical area and one amongst the deepest within the world, with a
depth of roughly 450 meters . this kind of volcanic lake is that the second largest
lake within the world when lake in continent.
Samosir Island Lake
Toba North Sumatra Indonesia
Still discussing Lake Toba, there are gorgeous island called Samosir island. Samosir Island is a large volcanic island in Lake Toba, located in
the north of the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. Administratively,
Samosir Island is governed as six of the nine districts within Samosir
Regency. The lake and island were formed after the eruption of a super
volcano some 75,000 years ago. The island was originally connected to
the surrounding caldera wall by a small isthmus, which was cut through
to aid navigation. At 630 km², Samosir is the largest island within an
island, and the fifth largest lake island in the world. It also contains
two smaller lakes, Lake Sidihoni and Lake Aek Natonang. To the west of
the island lie the towns of Pangururan on Samosir and Tele on mainland
Sumatra. Located high above the lake Tele offers one of the best views
of Lake Toba and Samosir Island. Samosir is a popular tourist
destination due to its exotic history and the vistas it offers, as well
as the laid back atmosphere of the place. It is definitely a place for
the traveller to chill out and relax after grueling travels and
adventures elsewhere in the region. The tourist resorts are concentrated
in the Tuktuk area. The island is the centre of the Batak culture and
many of this people’s artifacts remain on the island. Most of the
tourist accommodations are concentrated in the small town of Tuktuk,
which is located a 40 minutes ferry ride across the lake from the town
of Parapat. Motto of Samosir : ( in the Toba Batak language ) “ Do Tudu
Tudu Panghophopon Hapolinon Dohot Habonggalon Ni Na Sada Bangso “ ,
which means Struggling to realize the sanctity and fame of the nation.
Source Picture: http://tobaexplorer.wordpress.com/
Although it’s become a tourer destination for a protracted time, Samosir is associate unspoiled natural beauty. Encourage yourself out of the little village of Tuk – Tuk and Tomok. you’ll additionally relish the scenic rural setting encircled by fields, churches and cemeteries that meet exotic land .
Tuktuk, Samosir Island Lake Toba North
Sumatra Indonesia
Tuktuk
Siadong, Tuktuk Peninsula, Samosir Island, Lake Toba, North Sumatra Indonesia (
Photo by Paul Kennedy 2011 : http://www.pkphoto.com
)
Tuktuk is the most popular destination and main tourist center at Lake Toba. Most visitors arrive via Parapat for the 40 minute boat ride across to Tuktuk. The car ferry leaves from Ajibata near Parapat which takes about one hour.
Parbaba beach in samosir Island Lake Toba North Sumatra Indonesia (
Photo by Johnny Siahaan ) is a beautiful white sand beach on the north
of Samosir island
reminiscent of Bali on a freshwater lake. This is a great place to
relax, swim, fish, fly kites and enjoy the exceptionally beautiful
sunsets. One drawback is that the public facilities are not very well
maintained. The water is very clean and not too deep even up to about
100 meters from the beach, making it a great and safe place for enjoying
the refreshing waters of Lake Toba. The trip takes about 1 hour from
Tuktuk. Public transport by minibus to Parbaba is available at Tomok
harbour at a cost of 12000 IDR. The white sands of Parbaba are not far
from the Tomok-Pangururan road, only about 100 meters. To enter this
location visitors just pay 2000 IDR per person.
Source Picture: http://tobaexplorer.wordpress.com/
Hand made traditional Batak Toba textile : ” ULOS ” in Parbaba beach Samosir Island Lake Toba, North Sumatra Indonesia.
Source Picture: http://tobaexplorer.wordpress.com/
It was some of Lake
Toba and the people there, I hope you enjoy a pleasant excursion in Lake Toba (^_^)V
