Incomplete feel if you visited the North Sumatra did not stop for a moment to Lake Toba, volcanic lake which is the largest lake in Indonesia, and even Southeast Asia. Exotic charm vast expanse of the lake like a sea with shady trees and hills, charming. The lake, measuring 1700 square meters with a depth of approximately 450 meters and lies 906 meters above sea level, in the middle of the lake there is Samosir Island became the object of not less interesting excursions.


During his visit in 1996, Prince Bernard of the Netherlands even expressed his admiration for the beautiful panorama of the lake. "Sell me name to this lake. I can not describe how beautiful Lake Toba, "he says enthusiastically.

There are seven districts around the lake, namely Simalungun, Toba Samosir, North Tapanuli, Humbang Hasundutan, Dairi, Karo, and Naidoo who has a wonderful natural panorama and a tourist destination location. Generally, tourists enjoy the beauty of Lake Toba Parapat in Simalungun and Tuktuk Siadong on Samosir Island.

It is estimated that Lake Toba explosion occurred at about 73 thousand-75 thousand years ago and is a super volcano eruption (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 west for two weeks.


Dust volcanic wind had spread to half the earth, from China to South Africa. Explosion occurred during the week and throw the dust up to 10 km above sea level.

This incident caused mass death and, in some species, also followed by extinction. 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. While enjoying the beauty of this lake, you might not imagine that the charm of the place comes from the catastrophic volcanic eruptions that brought fear and horror at the time.

Travel overland to Lake Toba, precisely to Parapat, takes four to five hours from Medan. Available bus or travel directly to Parapat. The route through the Lubuk Pakam, Cliff High, and turn toward Siantar. Along the way, we were treated to a panorama of palm oil and rubber plantations.

When using the train, from Medan select a route to Siantar. From here the journey continues by bus to Parapat. Left sails through one hour.



For a place to stay and stay longer to enjoy the beauty of Lake Toba, there are many hotels and inns. In Parapat, there are at least 900 hotel rooms of all types, ranging from four star to homestay, in Tuktuk also not different. Both in Parapat and Tuktuk, tourists can instantly enjoy the lake from the rim. Rates for hotels in Parapat Tuktuk and varied, according to typical tourists who come. Starting from $2 - $54 per night depending on the type of hotel.

A travel companies even offer to enjoy the beauty of Lake Toba from the air, ie use paragliding. Each traveler was given the opportunity to fly using the paragliding from the mountains Tongging, Karo District, North Sumatra. For tourists who want to try paragliding will be accompanied by an experienced instructor, but of course determination can fly or not depends on weather conditions and wind.

Not only that, enjoy the beautiful sunrise and sunset you can enjoy from the coastal lakes. From the Karo highlands on the north, the lake looks elongated beauty viewed from Sikodonkodon. However, there is only one resort here. On the west side, views of the lake and the island of Samosir can be perfectly seen from the Tele. There is a viewing post at an altitude of about 1,000 meters from sea level to enjoy the sunset on Lake Toba.

Title:Disasters Reveal beautiful Lake
Source: http://id-travel.yahoo.com

The existence of Mount Bromo with sea sand has been quite phenomenal long been known as one of the leading tourist destination in Indonesia. Mount Bromo is one of the mountain on the Tengger Mountains.

With a height of 2392 meters above sea level, beautiful panoramic views emitted when the natural charm that will never-ending. Mount Bromo is derived from Sanskrit which means god Brahma or a major and are located in four regions, namely Probolinggo, Pasuruan, Lumajang, and Malang.

The attraction of Mount Bromo crater special is in the middle of the vast sea of sand that stretches around the crater of Bromo, white smoke. Mount Bromo mesh body shape between valleys and canyons with the caldera or the sea of sand covering some 10 square kilometers.

Mount Bromo has a crater with a diameter of ± 800 feet (north-south) and ± 600 meters (east-west). While the danger area of a circle with a radius of 4 km from the central crater of Bromo. The height of the relatively "low" for the size of the mountain to make the trip to Mount Bromo is relatively easy.


From the top of the volcano is still active, you can enjoy the vast expanse of ocean sand, and watched the towering majesty of Mount Semeru reaching for the sky. You also can look beautiful sun went out of peraduannya or otherwise enjoy the dim twilight of the ridge Bromo.

To view them, you have to climb Mount Pananjakan which is the highest mountain in the region. Terrain that must be traversed to get to Mount Pananjakan quite heavy. To reach the foot of Mount Pananjakan, you have to go through desert-like area that can make you get lost. When the need to climb Mount Pananjakan, narrow streets and many sharp turns, of course requires a high driving skill.

For that, many visitors who choose to rent a car hardtop (a type of jeep) driven by the community. Surrounding communities come from the Tengger tribe was friendly with the visitors. Up above, there are many shops serving coffee or tea and a fire to warm themselves while waiting to tebitnya sun. There are also stores that rent warm clothing.



Watching the sunrise is an interesting event. Evidence, the visitors are willing to wait since 5 am facing the east so as not to lose this moment. You also do not always able to see this event, because if the cloudy sky, the appearance of the sun is not seen clearly.

However, when the sky is clear, you can see the roundness of the sun first of all just as small as a match pins, slowly enlarge and eventually form a full circle and give information so that we can see the views of the mountains in this region. Among others, Mount Bromo, Mount Batok, or Mount Sumeru which is the highest mountain in Java.

The history of the formation of Mount Bromo and the mountains around it originated from the existence of Tengger Mountain (4,000 meters above sea level) which is the largest and highest mountain at that time.

Then came the massive eruption which created a caldera with a diameter of more than 8 kilometers. Material volcanic eruption is now transformed into a sea of sand, the material is said to have covered by water. The volcanic activity with the advent of the hall lead to the formation of magma new mountains such as Mount Bromo, Mount Widodaren, Gunung Batok, Gunung Watangan, Mount Chairs and Mount Semeru.


Bromo does have its own uniqueness compared to other mountain panorama. In the vicinity of Bromo until the peak does not exist other than green plants shrubs. Mount Bromo is still contained in the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park is also the only conservation area in Indonesia, which has a unique form of sea sand area of 5250 hectares.

To reach the foot of Mount Bromo, you can not use the vehicle. Instead, you must hire a horse with a price of USD 70 thousand, or if you feel strong, you can choose to walk. But, it should be noted that walking is not easy, because of the scorching sun, a far distance, scattered dust can make the journey harder.

From the foot of the mountain was phenomenal, you have to climb the ladder whose numbers reach 250 stairs to see the crater of Mount Bromo. Arriving at the top of Bromo, you can see the crater of Mount Bromo that emit smoke.

You can also glanced down and saw the sea of sand with a temple in the middle. After lingering at the top, if travelers are feeling hungry, at the bottom of the Bromo there are stalls offering warm, instant noodles, mineral water and cheap snacks. .

Besides watching the beautiful panorama offered by the Bromo-Semeru, if you come at the right time, then you can watch Kesodo ceremony, which was held by Tengger society. This ceremony usually begins at midnight to early morning every full moon around 14 or 15 in Kesodo [tenth] according to the Javanese calendar.


Kesodo ceremony is a ritual to invoke the abundant harvest or decline the request for reinforcements and cure various diseases, in particular by offering offerings and threw it into the crater of Mount Bromo. When the procession took place, other Tenggerese rollicking down the cliff of the crater and the offerings being thrown into the crater, as a symbol of blessing from the Almighty.

There are a few tips that need your attention now to the region of Mount Bromo, among others, Have a look in the dry season, not the rainy season, so you will get a perfect view of the moment. Prepare cold protective clothing, such as the guard house, slayer, scarves, gloves, jackets, and do not forget the shoes because the weather is quite cold here. Also take glasses to shield from dust while in Segoro Wedi sand. Do not be in the crater of Bromo on top at 9 am to avoid the risk of poisoning.

There are four main gate to enter the Bromo Semeru national park areas are: Village Cemorolawang if through the Probolinggo, Pasuruan Village Wonokitri with lines, Ngadas Village and Village of Malang path is the path Lumajang Burno.

The route can be taken is as follows:

• Pasuruan-Cafes-Tosari Dowo Wonokitri-Bromo-use cars with a distance of 71 km,
• Malang-Shack-Tumpang Klakah Jemplang-Bromo-use cars with a distance of 53 km
• Malang-Purwodadi-Nongkojajar-Tosari-Wonokitri-Penanjakan about 83 km

Enjoy the exotic beauty of Mount Bromo!

Title: Ocean Sand Mount Bromo
Source: http://id-tourism.blogspot.com/