Nature's wonder: A peek into Mt. Kelimutu's colour changing lakes
Mother Nature is never short of surprises for us. That’s why we come across places on earth that are beyond human imagination. One such example is the summit of Mount Kelimutu, a volcano located in Indonesia that houses three crater lakes of different colours.
But what are crater lakes? These are waterbodies formed because of volcanic eruptions and are also called volcanic lakes. The crater lakes of Mount Kelimutu are coloured. However, these are distinct from other coloured lakes. How? The three crater lakes found on Mount Kelimutu can change their colour. Now, that’s amazing for sure! These lakes are also associated with a variety of folklores. Here’s all you need to know about the colours that the lakes change into and the science behind it!
The three lakes and their changing colours!
The three lakes of Mt Kelimutu are different from one another and have unique names. On the western side, you will find lake Tiwi Ata Mbupu (the lake of old people). Tiwu Nua Muri Kooh Tai (lake of young men and maidens) and Tiwu Ata Polo (enchanted lake). There is a crater wall on the eastern side. The Tiwi Ata Mbupu is predominantly black or dark blue but can also be green or white. The Tiwu Ata Polo, on the other hand, can be red, green, blue or brown. Tiwu Nua Muri Kooh Tai can be seen in lighter blue, green or white hues. This is also the deepest and most volcanically active of the three lakes. According to Indonesian reports, the lakes were black, turquoise and brown in November 2009. In July 2010, these lakes were all in various shades of green. And to your surprise, a total of 6 colour changes were observed in 2016! Are you wondering how these lakes change colour? Let’s figure out.
The science behind changing colours
There are different factors that lead to changes in colours for the three lakes. These factors are pH (a measure of acidity or basicity), the presence of minerals and changing seasons. All these factors collectively affect the colours of the lakes. To give an example, The Tiwi Ata Mbupu lake was observed to have existed in two colours before turning black in recent years. With increasing pH, it turned green in 1930, then white in 1970. Scientists also believe that specific minerals could react with volcanic gas in the water to produce certain colours. However, some colours can be attributed to different seasons, resulting from changes in the amount of oxygen in the water. For Tiwa Nua Muri Kooh Tai, when the water temperature increased to more than 60 degrees in 1930, its water turned white!
Myths surrounding these lakes
Now you know how the three lakes change colours, but what is the mystery behind their names? The lakes received their names from local folklore. According to folklore, Mai, a god of the afterlife, takes departed souls and places them in their final resting place. The folklore further says that the departed souls will be placed in various lakes based on their deeds. As a result, there is a lake of old people (Tiwi Ata Mbupu) and a lake of young and maidens (Tiwu Nua Muri Kooh Tai). The enchanted lake (Tiwu Ata Polo) is also known as the lake of evil spirits. Many people flock to these lakes every year to marvel at their beauty. It’s definitely a sight to behold!