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So why are the volcanic lakes at Kelimutu in Indonesia such different colours?

Kelimutu Lakes

Steve_t
2005-01-28 04:48:09

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and Kelimutu was several hundred metres above, so I went back to bed. The other guests, rather more pressed for time, did go up. Later, over breakfast, they reported that they had briefly seen just part of the dark green lake. I tried not to feel smug.

Day Three. 3.30 a.m. Again. At last it looked as if my patience was about to be rewarded. In the car park below the summit we stopped for a cup of something that was almost, but not entirely, quite unlike coffee. "This coffee tastes like mud! That's strange, sir. It was only ground this morning." A shooting star streaked to its oblivion overhead, and one of the locals told me it was a sign that we'd have a good view of the lakes. The complete absence of clouds suggested there was little chance he'd be proved wrong.

We walked up by torchlight and arrived at the viewpoint just as the eastern sky was beginning to brighten. In the soft early morning light we could finally see all three lakes. The nearest is called Tiwu Nua Muri Koohi Fah (TiN), or "the lake of young men and maidens". As on day one, it was a very deep green. It used to be turquoise. Beyond, only just visible, Tiwu Ata Polo (TAP), the "enchanted (or bewitched) lake" looked like black coffee. Over time, it has been deep green through maroon to very dark brown. Behind us, Tiwu Ata Mbupu (TAM), "the lake of elders" was jet black.

By 7.00, most of the visitors were walking back to the car park, unwilling to face a 13km hike down the mountain later. A few of us elected to stay. Then the sun hit TiN. The dark green was magically transformed to a milky jade. Wisps of steam played on its surface. On the far side, the water appeared to be moving as if heated up from below. Once in sunlight, TAP changed from dark coffee to hot chocolate (actually, at 35 degrees C, more like tepid chocolate). And TAM, its surface completely still, now looked exactly like a famous cola.

It's a Mystery
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