Kelimutu Volcano


Kelimutu volcano (1730m) is more famous for its three colourful crater lakes than for its eruptive activity. The colours of the two larger adjoining lakes in particular may vary, probably in response to geothermal activity at the lakes and levels of rainfall, since the changes often occur seasonally. Particularly in the wet season, the easternmost lake may assume a reddish colour largely as a result of high ferric oxide levels. Both of these lakes are highly acidic due to the activity of subaqueous fumaroles. The three lakes (from East to West) are known as Tiwu Ata Mbupu (Lake of Old People), Tiwu Nua Muri Kofah (Lake of Young Men and Maidens) and Tiwu Ata Polo (Bewitched Lake). The latter two are separated by a relatively thin crater wall.

Eruptive activity at Kelimutu has been recorded in 1865 (approx.), in 1938 and in 1968. Eruptions were of an explosive phreatic type, where a combination of steam, ash and volcanic bombs were propelled from the Tiwa Nua Muri crater lake.

Kelimutu volcano, crater lake Tiwu Ata Mbupu (Lake of Old People) Kelimutu volcano, Tiwu Nua Muri Kofah and Tiwu Ata Polo acidic crater lakes

Tiwu Ata Mbupu (Lake of Old People)

Tiwu Nua Muri Kofah (back) and Tiwu Ata Polo (front)

Kelimutu volcano, Tiwu Nua Muri Kofah and Tiwu Ata Polo acidic crater lakes, fisheye view

Tiwu Nua Muri Kofah (back) and Tiwu Ata Polo (front)

Tiwu Nua Muri Kofah (left) and Tiwu Ata Polo (right)

Kelimutu volcano with fields in front Kelimutu volcano with Moni market Kelimutu volcano with Moni market in front

Kelimutu viewed from E from road SE of Moni

Market in Moni with east flank of Kelimutu behind

Market in Moni

Further Images of the Tiwu Nua Muri Kofah and Tiwu Ata Polo Lakes:

Kelimutu volcano, Tiwu Nua Muri Kofah and Tiwu Ata Polo acidic crater lakes Kelimutu volcano, colourful crater lakes, Flores, Indonesia Kelimutu volcano, colourful crater lakes, green, turqoise, Flores, Indonesia


Kelimutu volcano, colourful crater lakes with shadows cast by clouds, Flores, Indonesia Kelimutu volcano, colourful crater lakes in shade, Flores, Indonesia Kelimutu volcano, colourful crater lakes, green, turqoise, Flores, Indonesia


Kelimutu volcano, colourful crater lakes in sunlight, Flores, Indonesia Kelimutu volcano, colourful crater lakes southeast corner, Flores, Indonesia Kelimutu volcano, colourful crater lakes, Flores, Indonesia


Kelimutu volcano, colourful crater lakes, Flores, Indonesia Kelimutu volcano, Tiwu Nua Muri Kofah and Tiwu Ata Polo acidic crater lakes, fisheye lense Kelimutu volcano, colourful crater lakes, Flores, Indonesia


Kelimutu volcano, colourful crater lakes, Flores, Indonesia Kelimutu volcano, colourful crater lakes, Flores, Indonesia, high contrast Famous crater lakes of Kelimutu volcano


Kelimutu volcano Kelimutu volcano, colourful crater lakes in bright sunlight, green, turqoise, Flores, Indonesia Kelimutu volcano, colourful crater lakes, Flores, Indonesia


Kelimutu volcano, colourful crater lakes, Flores, Indonesia Kelimutu volcano, colourful crater lakes, Flores, Indonesia Kelimutu volcano, colourful crater lakes with cloud shadow, Flores, Indonesia


Kelimutu volcano, Tiwu Nua Muri Kofah turqoise acidic crater lake, Flores, Indonesia Kelimutu volcano, Tiwu Nua Muri Kofah turqoise acidic crater lake, Flores, Indonesia Kelimutu volcano, Tiwu Nua Muri Kofah turqoise acidic crater lake, Flores, Indonesia


Kelimutu volcano, colourful crater lakes, Flores, Indonesia Kelimutu volcano, colourful crater lakes, Flores, Indonesia Kelimutu volcano, colourful crater lakes, Flores, Indonesia. Visible upwelling zone.


Kelimutu volcano, colourful crater lakes, weathered reddish-yellow cliff, Flores, Indonesia Kelimutu volcano, colourful crater lakes, Flores, Indonesia Kelimutu volcano, colourful crater lakes with upwelling zone from underwater geothermal vents, Flores, Indonesia


Images of Crater Wall the Tiwu Nua Muri Kofah and Tiwu Ata Polo Lakes:

Crater Wall separating Tiwu Nua Muri Kofah and Tiwu Ata Polo crater lakes, Kelimutu volcano. Crater Wall separating Tiwu Nua Muri Kofah and Tiwu Ata Polo crater lakes, Kelimutu volcano. Portrait orientation. Crater Wall separating Tiwu Nua Muri Kofah and Tiwu Ata Polo crater lakes, Kelimutu volcano.


Crater Wall separating Tiwu Nua Muri Kofah and Tiwu Ata Polo crater lakes, Kelimutu volcano. Crater Wall separating Tiwu Nua Muri Kofah and Tiwu Ata Polo crater lakes, Kelimutu volcano. Symmetrical version. Crater Wall separating Tiwu Nua Muri Kofah and Tiwu Ata Polo crater lakes, Kelimutu volcano. Symmetry.


Further Images of the Tiwu Ata Mbupu (Lake of Old People) Lake:

Kelimutu volcano, inactive crater lake, Flores, Indonesia Kelimutu volcano, dark blue inactive crater lake, Flores, Indonesia Kelimutu volcano, dark coloured inactive crater lake, Flores, Indonesia


Further Details:

Kelimutu volcano, upper panorama terrace Kelimutu volcano, sulfur floating on acidic crater lake

View towards upper viewpoint area

Sulfurous scum collecting at shore of Tiwu Nua Muri Kofah lake

Kelimutu volcano, rock Kelimutu volcano, ash layers

Possible old volcanic bomb

Erosion reveals hardened ash layers from successive phreatic events

Visitor Information


Kelimutu volcano lies in the center of the Indonesian Island of Flores. The small town of Moni at the foot of the volcano offers tourist accommodation and restaurants. The craters are about 40 min drive away from the town, and an entrance fee must be paid to the national park before the car park near the craters is reached. From the car park it is an about 15 min walk to the main tourist viewpoint. Most visitors try and see the lakes at sunrise, yet at this time no sunlight falls onto the lakes which are sitting in the bottom of deep craters. Hence, a later visit is often fine, although the volcano tends to eventually cloud over in the morning.

Moni is about a 2 hour drive from Ende and nearly 3 hour drive from Maumere, both of which have regional airports.

Kelimutu volcano, view from upper panorama terrace Kelimutu volcano, Tiwu Nua Muri Kofah and Tiwu Ata Polo acidic crater lakes, fisheye view with photographer

View eastward from upper viewpoint

Fisheye view of photographer capturing lakes


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