Lake Toba is a large tekto-volcanic natural lake that occupies the caldera of a supervulkan. This lake has a length of about 100 kilometers, a width of about 30 kilometers, and a depth of up to 505 meters (16666 feet), located in the Province of North Sumatra, Indonesia. Lake Toba is the largest lake in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. In the middle of this lake there is a volcanic island called Samosir Island.
History of Lake Toba
It is estimated that Lake Toba was formed during an explosion of about 73,000-75,000 years ago and was the most recent eruption of Supervolcano (volcano). Bill Rose and Craig Chesner of Michigan Technological University estimated that the total amount of material at the eruption was about 2,800 km3-about 2,000 km3 of Ignimbrit that flowed over the ground, and about 800 km3 that fell as mainly westward to ash. The pyroclastic flow from the eruption destroys an area of 20,000 km2, with ash deposits as thick as 600 m with the main crater.
This incident caused mass death and extinction in some species of living things. According to some DNA evidence, this eruption also shrinks the human population to about 60% of the total human population of the earth at that time, which is about 60 million people. The eruption also contributed to the occurrence of the ice age, although experts are still debating it. After the eruption, a caldera was formed which then filled with water and became what is now known as Lake Toba. Upward pressure by the magma that has not yet come out causes the emergence of Samosir Island.
An international multidisciplinary research team, led by Dr. Michael Petraglia, revealed in a press conference in Oxford, USA that a new archeological site has been discovered that is quite spectacular by geologists in the south and north of India. On the site it was revealed how people survived, before and after the Toba volcano (supervolcano) eruption 74,000 years ago, and evidence of life under the ashes of Mount Toba. Though the source of the eruption is 3,000 miles away, from the distribution of the ashes.
For seven years, experts from the Oxford university are researching ecosystem projects in India, to look for evidence of life and the lifestyle they left behind in bare fields. Area with an area of thousands of hectares is apparently only savannah (grassland). While animal bones scattered. The team concluded, this large area was covered with dust from the eruption of ancient volcanoes.
The spread of volcanic dust is immense, found almost all over the world. Derived from an ancient supervolcano eruption, which is Mount Toba. The allegations lead to Mount Toba, as it found evidence of the same form of molecular volcanic ash at 2100 dots. Since the caldera crater is now a lake Toba in Indonesia, up to 3000 miles, from the source of the eruption. Even quite surprising, it turns out that the spread of dust to be recorded until the North Pole. This reminds the experts, how terrible the super eruption of Toba volcano at that time.
According to the United States Space Agency (NASA) website, within about two weeks, thousands of cubic kilometers of debris is thrown from its peak. Pyroclastic flows - clouds that are a mixture of hot gas, rock chips, and ash - bury an area of about 20,000 square kilometers around the caldera.
Post-eruption, Mount Toba leaves the modern caldera filled with water - into Lake Toba. Meanwhile, Samosir Island is lifted by underground magma that does not erupt. Although it has occurred tens of thousands of years ago, researchers predict the terrible eruption of Lake Toba will happen again. But according to them, the event does not seem to happen in the near future.
Ivan Koulakov and his colleagues from the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences examine what is hidden under Lake Toba using seismic data. The research team created a model published in the journal Nature. They show how the magma pool grows under the Toba caldera. Although it looks calm, researchers say that the "machine" that produces magma will continue to be active.
Using seismic data to track the Toba channel system, they acquired a complex channel with magma that moved up through a certain level. The team also tracks the magma to a depth of 150 km. At that level, a large number of atmospheric chemistry elements are produced in subduction - the boundaries between the convergent plates.
They then move up and melt, gather at the base of the crust, and create a magma reservoir of 50,000 cubic kilometers with a depth of 75 kilometers. The process continues to recur and forms a shallow reservoir crust that is thought to be responsible for the occurrence of a powerful eruption.
Despite the possibility of another great eruption, scientists say we need not worry about it.
"There is a possibility that, in the long run, large eruptions will occur repeatedly until Fracture Zone's (Fracture Zone) Investigator System, which is the largest source of massive eruptions, pierces down Toba," said the scientist.
They add that liquid and volatile magma in the crust may not have been reached, so subsequent major eruptions are expected to occur in the next few tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of years. Toba is not the only supervolcano in which a magma reservoir is found in it. A similar structure exists in supervocano Yellowstone in the United States. According to the researchers, it shows that the vast and dense reservoir of magma beneath the Earth's crust is a key mechanism for the devastating eruption.
If Yellowstone erupts again, its eruption power is estimated to be thousands of times stronger than the eruption of St. Helena in 1980. It will spew lava into the sky, while its hot ash will kill plants and bury the surrounding area up to a radius of more than 1,600 kilometers. Not only that, two-thirds of the United States could be uninhabitable due to the toxic air blowing from the caldera. Some even say that ash from the eruption can block the sun's rays and cause the Earth's temperature drop drastically. This can lead to food scarcity and mass mortality.
Lake Toba is located in North Sumatra is one of the most beautiful volcanic lake owned by Indonesia. With an area of 1,145 square kilometers, Lake Toba looks like an ocean that is at an altitude of 900 meters above sea level. In addition to being called the largest lake in Southeast Asia, a lake that has a depth of 450 meters is also the deepest lake in the world. In the middle of Lake Toba, there is an island called Samosir Island. Samosir Island has two small lakes, Lake Aek Natonang and Sidihoni Lake. Samosir Island which has an area almost equal to the vast country of Singapore is not an empty island, the island is home to the tribe Batak Samosir. Batak tribe who live d Samosir Island still hold firm belief ancestors. They also still run various rituals that ancestors used to do first.
In Samosir Island there are two villages visited by many tourists, namely Tomok and Tuktuk. Tomok is a village that has many interesting attractions such as the Tomb of King Sidabutar, the Batak Museum and the popular Sigale-gale puppet dance performance. In contrast to Tomok which has many historical sights, Tuktuk is a village where there are many inns for tourists. Not only the island of Samosir which became the attraction of this tourist spot, Lake Toba is also surrounded by pine forests and several waterfalls and also a hot bath in the forest. The scenery around the lake is very beautiful with a relatively cool air so you will feel at home lingering here. For the Batak people who are around the location of this lake, Lake Toba is not only a natural tourist attractions that have extraordinary beauty. They believe that Lake Toba became the residence of seven Batak tribe goddesses or commonly called Namborru. Every time will do activities around the lake, people will pray and ask permission first so the event gets a blessing and can run smoothly.
Like most natural attractions in Indonesia, in addition to having a scientific history, Lake Toba also stores folklore is believed to be the origin of the formation of this lake.
According to the folklore that has been widely circulated, Lake Toba formed from the story of the stealth family of fish. In ancient times, there was a young man fishing in the river who then managed to get a fish. Unlike other fish, the fish he gets can speak and beg not to be cooked. The fish then turned into a very beautiful woman named Toba.
Long story short, both were married, but there is one request that should not be toba Toba young man. No one should know who exactly the beautiful woman he married. Their marriage went fine until they had a son named Samosir who was stunned and always hungry.
One day, Samosir was assigned to send food to his father in the fields, but the food he brought was actually eaten down the street. The father was hungry and decided to go home, on the way home he saw Samosir was eating the proper meal for his father. Because in very angry condition, he accidentally pointed Samosir and said that he is a child of fish.
Instantly the sky was dark and the rain poured down. Water is also out of the ground that makes the village inundated. Toba and Samosir suddenly disappear when the village turns into a sea of water. At that time formed Lake Toba and Samosir Island is believed to be the embodiment of fish and her son.
If viewed from a more scientific side, Lake Toba is a volcanic lake formed by the eruption of Mount Toba thousands of years ago. The eruption of the mountain formed a caldera or a giant crater that then filled with water to become the lake as it is today.
The eruption of this mountain is so remarkable that the volcanic dust it produces is scattered almost to the rest of the world and causes mass death, reducing 60% of the human population at that time. In addition, according to the researchers, this eruption also affects climate and weather so that the earth entered the ice age.
Exploring Lake Toba will be difficult to complete within a day. This tourist place has many interesting things to do and many places you should not miss in your visit.
Sailing
Sailing to Samosir Island by chartered boat will certainly be an interesting experience. By renting a vessel for a group of 20-25 people during the day, you are free to request a stop at any point of interest that you and your entourage wish to visit.
During this boat trip, enjoy views of Lake Toba and its surroundings. You will be amazed by the natural wealth that you see. Do not forget to set up the camera to capture every charm of Lake Toba. In addition, you can see other tourists who are playing banana boat and jetski on the lake.
Know the history of Batak
Being on the island of Samosir do not just stay at the inn alone. Here, you can get to know the history of Batak by visiting the historic sights. Do not miss Tomok Village where there is the Tomb of King Sidabutar, Museum Huta Bolon in Simanindo and Stone Trials in Ambarita. King Butar's tomb is unique because it is made of large stone without a connection and there is a carving of the king's face in the stone of his tomb. King Sidabutar was the first to inhabit Tomok. In this burial complex there is also the tomb of two successors and the graves of several family members. To get into this tourist place, you must wear ulos that has been provided by the officers at the entrance.
Museum Huta Bolon no less interesting. Here you can see the traditional house Batak Simanindo relics of King Sidauruk which used as a museum of Batak culture today. Inside the museum there are many collections of objects that are closely related to Batak culture such as traditional clothing, ulos cloth and also coffins containing Sigale-gale dolls. Do not forget to visit Ambarita Village where there is a Trial Stone. The stone is shaped like this table used to execute prisoners. Persons convicted of crimes such as killing, stealing and raping will be beheaded at this table.
Shopping
It's incomplete if on vacation without shopping. In the area of Lake Toba and surrounding areas there are many souvenir shops that sell ulos cloth, Batak typical guitars, t-shirts, key chains and various other souvenirs. These souvenirs are many of you meet in Samosir Island, Parapat, Balige and other places around Lake Toba. Prepare your wallet and hone your bidding skills, yes.
Sigale-gale dolls
Sigale-gale dolls become one of the typical attractions of this tourist attraction in Sumatra. 1.5 meter high wooden puppets complete with traditional Batak clothes can dance tor-tor with tourists. Sigale-gale dance performances you can see in some tourist attractions in Lake Toba such as Museum Huta Bolon and several other museums. Sigale-gale should be kept in a coffin. This doll is very sacred because of its long history. Starting from a favorite son of a Batak king in ancient times who died while fighting. The king became sad and sickly. Until then the physician and the clever man decided to make a wooden doll the size of a man and his face made similar to a king's son. According to the villagers, the spirit of the king's son came into the doll so that Sigale-gale could move and dance without the help of a dalang.
Festival of Lake Toba
Lake Toba Festival is an annual routine event of cooperation between North Sumatra and the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy. The event was held between August - September.
In this festival, held a variety of cultural arts performances and also competitions for the community ranging from dance performances to ornamental boat competition. You can also find a variety of delicious culinary and hunting ulos beautiful cloth at the time of the event.
If you want to see the annual festival in this tourist spot, you should have booked plane tickets and hotel rooms well in advance.
The closest location to Lake Toba that can be accessed by vehicle is the town of Parapat, Simalungun. From Pinang Baris Terminal in Medan, take the Parapat bus. The trip to Parapat from Medan takes about 6 hours. From Parapat, you can already see the beauty of Lake Toba. If you want to Samosir Island, you can cross by ferry from the Port of Ajibata to Tuktuk, Samosir.
According to the United States Space Agency (NASA) website, within about two weeks, thousands of cubic kilometers of debris is thrown from its peak. Pyroclastic flows - clouds that are a mixture of hot gas, rock chips, and ash - bury an area of about 20,000 square kilometers around the caldera.
Post-eruption, Mount Toba leaves the modern caldera filled with water - into Lake Toba. Meanwhile, Samosir Island is lifted by underground magma that does not erupt. Although it has occurred tens of thousands of years ago, researchers predict the terrible eruption of Lake Toba will happen again. But according to them, the event does not seem to happen in the near future.
Ivan Koulakov and his colleagues from the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences examine what is hidden under Lake Toba using seismic data. The research team created a model published in the journal Nature. They show how the magma pool grows under the Toba caldera. Although it looks calm, researchers say that the "machine" that produces magma will continue to be active.
Using seismic data to track the Toba channel system, they acquired a complex channel with magma that moved up through a certain level. The team also tracks the magma to a depth of 150 km. At that level, a large number of atmospheric chemistry elements are produced in subduction - the boundaries between the convergent plates.
They then move up and melt, gather at the base of the crust, and create a magma reservoir of 50,000 cubic kilometers with a depth of 75 kilometers. The process continues to recur and forms a shallow reservoir crust that is thought to be responsible for the occurrence of a powerful eruption.
Despite the possibility of another great eruption, scientists say we need not worry about it.
"There is a possibility that, in the long run, large eruptions will occur repeatedly until Fracture Zone's (Fracture Zone) Investigator System, which is the largest source of massive eruptions, pierces down Toba," said the scientist.
They add that liquid and volatile magma in the crust may not have been reached, so subsequent major eruptions are expected to occur in the next few tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of years. Toba is not the only supervolcano in which a magma reservoir is found in it. A similar structure exists in supervocano Yellowstone in the United States. According to the researchers, it shows that the vast and dense reservoir of magma beneath the Earth's crust is a key mechanism for the devastating eruption.
If Yellowstone erupts again, its eruption power is estimated to be thousands of times stronger than the eruption of St. Helena in 1980. It will spew lava into the sky, while its hot ash will kill plants and bury the surrounding area up to a radius of more than 1,600 kilometers. Not only that, two-thirds of the United States could be uninhabitable due to the toxic air blowing from the caldera. Some even say that ash from the eruption can block the sun's rays and cause the Earth's temperature drop drastically. This can lead to food scarcity and mass mortality.
Tourism destination
Lake Toba is located in North Sumatra is one of the most beautiful volcanic lake owned by Indonesia. With an area of 1,145 square kilometers, Lake Toba looks like an ocean that is at an altitude of 900 meters above sea level. In addition to being called the largest lake in Southeast Asia, a lake that has a depth of 450 meters is also the deepest lake in the world. In the middle of Lake Toba, there is an island called Samosir Island. Samosir Island has two small lakes, Lake Aek Natonang and Sidihoni Lake. Samosir Island which has an area almost equal to the vast country of Singapore is not an empty island, the island is home to the tribe Batak Samosir. Batak tribe who live d Samosir Island still hold firm belief ancestors. They also still run various rituals that ancestors used to do first.
Samosir island
In Samosir Island there are two villages visited by many tourists, namely Tomok and Tuktuk. Tomok is a village that has many interesting attractions such as the Tomb of King Sidabutar, the Batak Museum and the popular Sigale-gale puppet dance performance. In contrast to Tomok which has many historical sights, Tuktuk is a village where there are many inns for tourists. Not only the island of Samosir which became the attraction of this tourist spot, Lake Toba is also surrounded by pine forests and several waterfalls and also a hot bath in the forest. The scenery around the lake is very beautiful with a relatively cool air so you will feel at home lingering here. For the Batak people who are around the location of this lake, Lake Toba is not only a natural tourist attractions that have extraordinary beauty. They believe that Lake Toba became the residence of seven Batak tribe goddesses or commonly called Namborru. Every time will do activities around the lake, people will pray and ask permission first so the event gets a blessing and can run smoothly.
The legend of Lake Toba
Like most natural attractions in Indonesia, in addition to having a scientific history, Lake Toba also stores folklore is believed to be the origin of the formation of this lake.
According to the folklore that has been widely circulated, Lake Toba formed from the story of the stealth family of fish. In ancient times, there was a young man fishing in the river who then managed to get a fish. Unlike other fish, the fish he gets can speak and beg not to be cooked. The fish then turned into a very beautiful woman named Toba.
Long story short, both were married, but there is one request that should not be toba Toba young man. No one should know who exactly the beautiful woman he married. Their marriage went fine until they had a son named Samosir who was stunned and always hungry.
One day, Samosir was assigned to send food to his father in the fields, but the food he brought was actually eaten down the street. The father was hungry and decided to go home, on the way home he saw Samosir was eating the proper meal for his father. Because in very angry condition, he accidentally pointed Samosir and said that he is a child of fish.
Instantly the sky was dark and the rain poured down. Water is also out of the ground that makes the village inundated. Toba and Samosir suddenly disappear when the village turns into a sea of water. At that time formed Lake Toba and Samosir Island is believed to be the embodiment of fish and her son.
If viewed from a more scientific side, Lake Toba is a volcanic lake formed by the eruption of Mount Toba thousands of years ago. The eruption of the mountain formed a caldera or a giant crater that then filled with water to become the lake as it is today.
The eruption of this mountain is so remarkable that the volcanic dust it produces is scattered almost to the rest of the world and causes mass death, reducing 60% of the human population at that time. In addition, according to the researchers, this eruption also affects climate and weather so that the earth entered the ice age.
What can be done in Lake Toba
Exploring Lake Toba will be difficult to complete within a day. This tourist place has many interesting things to do and many places you should not miss in your visit.
Sailing
Sailing to Samosir Island by chartered boat will certainly be an interesting experience. By renting a vessel for a group of 20-25 people during the day, you are free to request a stop at any point of interest that you and your entourage wish to visit.
During this boat trip, enjoy views of Lake Toba and its surroundings. You will be amazed by the natural wealth that you see. Do not forget to set up the camera to capture every charm of Lake Toba. In addition, you can see other tourists who are playing banana boat and jetski on the lake.
Know the history of Batak
Being on the island of Samosir do not just stay at the inn alone. Here, you can get to know the history of Batak by visiting the historic sights. Do not miss Tomok Village where there is the Tomb of King Sidabutar, Museum Huta Bolon in Simanindo and Stone Trials in Ambarita. King Butar's tomb is unique because it is made of large stone without a connection and there is a carving of the king's face in the stone of his tomb. King Sidabutar was the first to inhabit Tomok. In this burial complex there is also the tomb of two successors and the graves of several family members. To get into this tourist place, you must wear ulos that has been provided by the officers at the entrance.
Museum Huta Bolon no less interesting. Here you can see the traditional house Batak Simanindo relics of King Sidauruk which used as a museum of Batak culture today. Inside the museum there are many collections of objects that are closely related to Batak culture such as traditional clothing, ulos cloth and also coffins containing Sigale-gale dolls. Do not forget to visit Ambarita Village where there is a Trial Stone. The stone is shaped like this table used to execute prisoners. Persons convicted of crimes such as killing, stealing and raping will be beheaded at this table.
Shopping
It's incomplete if on vacation without shopping. In the area of Lake Toba and surrounding areas there are many souvenir shops that sell ulos cloth, Batak typical guitars, t-shirts, key chains and various other souvenirs. These souvenirs are many of you meet in Samosir Island, Parapat, Balige and other places around Lake Toba. Prepare your wallet and hone your bidding skills, yes.
What is interesting about Lake Toba?
Sigale-gale dolls
Sigale-gale dolls become one of the typical attractions of this tourist attraction in Sumatra. 1.5 meter high wooden puppets complete with traditional Batak clothes can dance tor-tor with tourists. Sigale-gale dance performances you can see in some tourist attractions in Lake Toba such as Museum Huta Bolon and several other museums. Sigale-gale should be kept in a coffin. This doll is very sacred because of its long history. Starting from a favorite son of a Batak king in ancient times who died while fighting. The king became sad and sickly. Until then the physician and the clever man decided to make a wooden doll the size of a man and his face made similar to a king's son. According to the villagers, the spirit of the king's son came into the doll so that Sigale-gale could move and dance without the help of a dalang.
Festival of Lake Toba
Lake Toba Festival is an annual routine event of cooperation between North Sumatra and the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy. The event was held between August - September.
In this festival, held a variety of cultural arts performances and also competitions for the community ranging from dance performances to ornamental boat competition. You can also find a variety of delicious culinary and hunting ulos beautiful cloth at the time of the event.
If you want to see the annual festival in this tourist spot, you should have booked plane tickets and hotel rooms well in advance.
Transport to Lake Toba
The closest location to Lake Toba that can be accessed by vehicle is the town of Parapat, Simalungun. From Pinang Baris Terminal in Medan, take the Parapat bus. The trip to Parapat from Medan takes about 6 hours. From Parapat, you can already see the beauty of Lake Toba. If you want to Samosir Island, you can cross by ferry from the Port of Ajibata to Tuktuk, Samosir.
Environmental damage
In May 2012, goverment Samosir issued a decree (SK) of Regent of Samosir no. 89 dated May 1, 2012 on the granting of Horticulture and Husbandry Plantation Business License of 800 hectares in Tele Forest, Partungkot Nagijang Village and Hariara Pintu, Harian District, Samosir Regency, North Sumatra to PT Gorga Duma Sari (GDS) owned by a member of DPRD Samosir District, Jonni Sitohang. Then continued with Wood Utilization Permit (IPK) granted by the Head of the Provincial Office of North Sumatra through Decree of Head of Department of Forestry and Plantation of Samosir Regency Number 005 Year 2013. The Chairman of the Care Forum Forum Samosir Nauli (Pesona), Rohani Manalu stated that this permission makes PT GDS logging natural timber in the forest without having an AMDAL. Rohani also stated that another result is the occurrence of landslides and floods that cause casualties.
As a result of Tele logging, the eroded sludge above the logged-over soil has caused siltation of rivers around Lake Toba.
The program of planting a million trees that is driven by the government of North Sumatra Province was said to be ineffective because many trees died because they were not treated. This resulted in three environmental activists of North Sumatera, Marandus Sirait, Hasoloan Manik (Kalpataru), and Wilmar Eliaser Simandjorang (Satya Lencana Karya Satya, Toba Award, Wana Lestari) returned all the awards awarded by North Sumatra Provincial Government, Ministry of Forestry, and The State Palace.
Environment Minister Balthasar Kambuaya has submitted two letters of recommendation for the Regent of Samosir Mangindar Simbolon as the licensor of the business and responsible for imposing administrative sanctions in the form of closing business activities. After the first letter was ignored, the Regent of Samosir answered the second letter by stating that the company did not violate it so it was not worth closing. Since the Bupati did not implement the recommendations, the Ministry of Environment also enforced the Second Line Enforcement and temporarily closed PT GDS activities. After the Ministry of Environment dropped directly to the location based on the findings that the decision was ignored, then goverment wrote PT GDS to comply with the decision letter. PT GDS suspended all operational activities and attracted heavy equipment in the region based on the recognition of GDS Director Jonni Sitohang.
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