Kelimutu, a small volcano on Flores Island, is noted for its three crater lakes of different colors. This aerial view from the SW shows Tiwu Ata Mbupu (Lake of Old People) at the lower left, and the double craters of Tiwu Nua Muri Kooh Tai (Lake of Young Men and Maiden) and Tiwu Ata Polo (Bewitched, or Enchanted Lake) at the upper right. Water color varies periodically, but is often blue, green, and red, respectively. Phreatic eruptions have occurred from the middle lake in historical time.

Photo by Tom Casadevall (U.S. Geological Survey).

Photos in the Types and Processes Gallery

A double crater lake of Kelimutu volcano on Indonesia's Flores Island is seen in this aerial view from the SW. Tiwu Nua Muri Kooh Tai (Lake of Young Men and Maiden) on the left and Tiwu Ata Polo (Bewitched, or Enchanted Lake) are separated by a narrow septum about 35 m high. Phreatic eruptions have occurred from Tiwu Nua Muri Kooh Tai in the 19th and 20th centuries, and continuous upwelling occurs at both lakes.

Photo by Tom Casadevall, 1986 (U.S. Geological Survey).

Additional Photos

The summit of Kelimutu volcano is elongated 2-3 km in a WNW-ESE direction and contains three crater lakes. A trail ascending the eastern wall of the WNW-most cone leads to Tiwu Ata Mbupu crater lake.

Photo by L.D. Reksowirogo, 1972 (Volcanological Survey of Indonesia).

The WNW-most of three craters on Kelimutu volcano is 850 x 600 m wide and contains a steep-walled inner crater occupied by Tiwu Ata Mbupu, a 67-m-deep crater lake. The shoreline of the lake is coated with red/yellow incrustations and gypsum crystals. Lake color tends to vary seasonally.

Photo by L.D. Reksowirogo, 1972 (Volcanological Survey of Indonesia).