INDONESIAN BEAUTY: KELIMUTU, THE REFLECTION OF THE DEAD

Kelimutu Lake, picture by: www.lomboktourinformation.com

Kelimutu, this three-colors lakes is located in the district of Ende, Flores island, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Kelimutu which has three different colors, namely red, blue, and white is always changing with the passage of time. Kelimutu is a combination word of "keli" meaning mountain and the word "mutu" which means to boil. According to local belief, the colors on the lake Kelimutu have the meaning of each and a very powerful force of nature.

The three area of the lake is approximately 1,051,000 square meters with a volume of 1292 million cubic meters of water. Boundary between narrow rock walls of the lake is an easy landslide. This wall is very steep with a slope of 70 degrees. Height of the walls of the lake ranges from 50 to 150 meters.

The three colors of Kelimutu corresponds with the reflection of three type of the dead people. The blue lake or " Tiwu Nuwa Muri Koo Fai" is a gathering place of the souls of young people who have died. The red lake is or "Tiwu Ata Polo" is a gathering place the souls of people who have died and during her life is always did crimes / magic. While the white lake is or "Tiwu Ata Mbupu" is a gathering place the souls of parents who have died.

Geologically, the third colors of Kelimutu lake is not only caused by volcanic activity, but also by refraction of sunlight, the micro-water biota, the occurrence of dissolved chemical substances, and due to the reflection wall and bottom of the lake.