Lake Toba

1. Lake Toba

Lake Toba is one of the resorts in Indonesia, which has a natural beauty that is extraordinary. Lake is due to volcanic eruptions is very terrible. Lake Toba is a volcanic lake with a length of 100 kilometers and 30 kilometers wide, located in North Sumatra Province, Indonesia. This lake is the largest lake in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. That's not just Lake Toba also has a uniqueness that is not owned by another lake. In the middle of this lake there is a volcanic island called Pulau Samosir.


Lake Toba has long become an important tourist destination in North Sumatra in addition to Bukit Lawang and Nias, which attract the attention of domestic and foreign tourists.

2.Sejarah Lake Toba

It is estimated that Lake Toba explosion occurred at about 73000-75000 years ago and an eruption Supervolcano (super volcano) the most recent. Bill Rose and Craig Chesner from Michigan Technological University estimate that volcanic materials spewed out of the mountain as much as 2800 km ³, with 800 km ³ of rock Ignimbrite and 2,000 km ³ of volcanic ash which is expected in the wind to the west for 2 weeks. Volcanic dust in the wind has spread to half the earth, from China to South Africa. Explosion occurred during 1 week and throw the dust up to 10 km above sea level.

This incident caused mass death and the extinction of some species also followed. According to some DNA evidence, this eruption also reduced the number of people to about 60% of the total human population of the earth at that time, which is about 60 million people. The eruption was also contributed to the occurrence of ice ages, although the experts still debate.

After the eruption, the caldera formed which is then filled with water and became what is now known as Lake Toba. Pressure upward by magma that has not come out cause the emergence of Samosir Island.

International multidisciplinary research team, led by Dr. Michael Petraglia, revealed in a press conference in Oxford, the United States that has found a new archaeological site is quite spectacular by geologists in southern and northern India. On the site it was revealed how people survive, before and after volcanic eruptions (Supervolcano) Toba at 74,000 years ago, and evidence of life under the ash heap of Mount Toba. Though the source of explosion is 3,000 miles, from the distribution of ashes.

For seven years, experts from Oxford University is researching ecosystem project in India, to seek evidence of life and the lives they left behind equipment in a barren desert. Region with an area of ​​thousands of hectares of this was just savanna (grasslands). Meanwhile, animal bones scattered. The team concluded, this vast area was covered with enough dust from ancient volcanic eruptions.

The spread of volcanic dust was extremely spacious, found almost worldwide. Derived from an ancient eruption Supervolcano, namely Mount Toba. Allegations leading to Mount Toba, because it found evidence of volcanic dust molecules in the same 2100 period. Since the caldera crater, now a lake Toba in Indonesia, 3,000 miles, from the source of the eruption. Even that is quite surprising, it turns out that the spread of dust to be recorded up to the North Pole. This is reminiscent of the experts, how powerful the super volcano Toba eruption at the time. The evidence is found, strengthening the suspicion, that the strength of the eruption and sea waves could wipe out life on Atlantis. (History of Lake Toba is quoted from Wikipedia)

3.Transportasi in Lake Toba
If you prefer to go by public transport, you could try the bus station Pinang line that is the busiest terminal in Medan. Many buses are available to reach Lake Toba with a ticket price of about Rp. 30.000, - s / d Rp. 40.000, - or about 4-6 U.S. dollars.

If you choose to stay in Medan before leaving for Lake Toba, usually the hotel can also help arrange transport to Lake Toba at a rate of about Rp. 50.000, - s / d Rp.70.000, - per person or 6-8 U.S. dollars, depending on the type of car and number of people as well.

Another alternative is to take the train from the main railway station in the city of Medan to Siantar town. After reaching the Pematang Siantara, you can charter a taxi heading to Parapat a rate of about Rp. 200.000, - or About a 20 U.S. Dollar.
City Parapat the postscript is the gateway of Lake Toba can be reached within less than 4-5 hours from Medan, if using a rental car, but it may take longer if the public transport, could be around 5-6 hours.

There are 2 main routes to reach Lake Toba, the first is through the town of Berastagi a cool temperate in the height of the mountain, while the second route is to Medan - High Cliff - Siantar - Parapat, where the second route is much shorter and usually take public transportation The second route. Even so, the first route can also try if you happen to vacation time long enough for a day stay at the Berastagi town with the cool mountain air is also quite exciting.

4.Atraksi Travel & Transport in Around Lake Toba

Arriving in the town of Parapat, you can simply walk down to the shore of any lake and ferry crew will usually be a lot to offer you and your family to deliver services to the island of Samosir in the middle of Lake Toba. However, all existing ferry operates like a public transportation without a fixed schedule and would only leave if the number of passengers is considered enough to cover the cost, or if the captain had made upset by the protests run out of patience waiting passengers. So get ready just to wait a long time, especially when the tourist season.

The journey of water from Parapat to Samosir Island by ferry takes about 1 hour and usually there are 3 villages on the island of Samosir is regularly visited by travelers, ie, Tuk Tuk, Tomok and Tigaraja. Before
leave, you should ask in advance to crew ferry stop destination on the island of Samosir.

The main tourist attractions on the island of Samosir is the Toba Batak ethnic heritage consisting of tombs of the kings of ancient, traditional houses and a few ornaments important in Toba Batak culture. You can hire a local guide at a rate of about Rp. 30.000, - s / d Rp. 50.000, - or about 4-6 U.S. dollars if needed. In the villages where the population more, you can buy souvenirs such as cloth or other handicrafts Ulos typical Toba Batak.

On the island of Samosir almost no public transport. So if you want to get around the island, the only alternative that is more possible is to hire a motorcycle with a price of about Rp.70.000, - s / d Rp. 80.000, - or about 7-9 U.S. dollars per day. Only, remember to always be careful driving on the island of Samosir Samosir Island because the streets are so small that only one was quite impassable by car. In addition, should not drive at night because the street is really dark total absence of street lighting. General lighting can only be found in locations populated residential lots.

Samosir Island is a small island with a population of rare, so for you who are looking for the frenzied atmosphere of a typical urban, it is not advisable to spend too long on the island of Samosir. On average, travelers who choose to stay at Samosir island for a long time are those who want to relax or the observer of culture who are interested in Toba Batak culture.

If you bring the rental car, rental car can also be carried across to the island of Samosir with large ferry which departs from the port Ajibata in Parapat. If the small ferry is usually no fixed schedule, a large ferry operates according to fixed schedule and enough time. To take across the car, you only need to buy tickets for car and passengers at the ticket counter.

5.Akomodasi Lake Toba

Parapat is packed with tourist town with many hotels and resorts, from the same class up to the star inn 5. Parapat is like a tourist town without tourists, because tourists who visit less and less from year to year. For that, do not be surprised if the hotel prefers to use the opportunity to fix prices in the narrowness of expensive rooms and impressed inappropriate given the age of the average hotel is quite old with facilities that have not updated for years.

Too much choice of hotels to Parapat, but do not expect the new hotel that connect almost all hotels are aged over 10 years because it was built in the golden era of tourism of Lake Toba in the 80's and early 90's. Negotiations to get the cheaper price must be done.

Conversely, accommodation on the island of Samosir in fact seem quite cheap. All I can recommend is the Hotel Carolina, a small resort hotel located in the Tuk Tuk. Although it is quite old, but the environment and the hotel facilities are still fairly well preserved, and most importantly the price is very affordable. If by chance you are riding a ferry that was going to stop at Tuk Tuk, it can ask the captain to drop you and your family directly at the hotel pier.

6.Makanan in Lake Toba

The main tribes who inhabited the region is Lake Toba Toba Batak Protestant, so the food typical Toba Batak tribe. However, if you stay at the hotel, usually meal archipelago is also available that are suitable for domestic travelers from anywhere.

Of course, the choice of food in the town of Parapat is more varied, from traditional foods Toba Batak complete until all Chinese food. But on the island of Samosir too many restaurants are unique enough that routinely visited by foreign tourists for dining, from Western food to Vegetarian Food, everything is still not too hard to find.

One exciting thing that I always remember is when the vehicle is approaching the city of Parapat. Vast expanse of Lake Toba dikejauhan with cliffs or hilltops are covered with direct clouds

would create fixed views, and often too tempting to divert attention with my eyes sedetikpun. Extremely beautiful and the average first-time visitors who visit will definitely fascinated.

If you like photography, visits to Disneyland will certainly not be sorry to remember a truly stunning beauty.

So do not hesitate to come to Indonesia, Indonesia is one of the country to own natural beauty is extraordinary, while also in Indonesia has a wide range of very interesting tourist rides. Guaranteed not to be mrnyesal if it came to Indonesia.

Posted in: North Sumatra