VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Besides offering natural beauty, almost every lake in Indonesia also have many stories about  the lake  such as angler and his caught in Lake Toba, North Sumatra as well as Pertapa and Dragon in Rawa Pening, Ambarawa, Central Java.  In today’s segment of Indonesian Wonder I present to you about a lake in eastern Indonesia,   with its  interesting background story of forbidden love. However,  behind that unique folklores, Lake keeps a different charm and it is very interesting to visit. Likewise lake Tolire in Ternate, North Maluku which is located at the valey of Mount Gamalama.

Ternate Island is an island that has been famous for centuries because of its spices. The history of the emergence of western colonialism was mainly because its spices. In Ternate there are also many attractions that must be visited both historical tourism and natural charm. One of the natural beauty that become a tourist destination in Ternate is Lake Tolire. If you want to visit Lake Tolire, you have to visit first Ternate City, in North Maluku. From Ternate the distance is approximately 10 Km south of the city to Lake Tolire. After traveling for about 20 minutes passing the seashore and hills, you will arrive at Lake Tolire. You don't need to worry, there are directions on the side of the road to Lake Tolire. According to the local people’s belief, Lake Tolire was formed due to the wrath of Almighty GOD because of the forbidden love between a father and his daughter. Lake Tolire consists of two lakes, Lake Tolire Besar and Lake Tolire Kecil, which is only 200 meters away. Behind the folklore, Lake Tolire provides a unique tourism object besides the natural beauty along with living things around it. 

With its background of the  active and beautiful Gamalama volcano, Lake Tolire Besar looks enchantment and exotic with turquoise green color sea water around it. Behind the beautiful panorama of the lake, visitors can also feel mysteriousity of the lake.  It may be the effect of folklore about this lake. Moreover,  there is a unique story of throwing a stone if we visit the Lake Tolire Besar.  The position of the lake is  more than 50 meters below, the visitors have to stand around 3 meters from the lip of the cliff above the lake. The story is that if we throw a stone to the lake, we will not be able to see the position of the stone, but someone else can see it.  The green of the forest trees combined with the black color of the land from the effects of the eruption of Mount Gamalama  and  birdsong, make the scenery and atmosphere on the Lake Tolire Besar  more beautiful and charming. 

Until now, there has  not anyone who examines how deep Lake Tolire is, but local people believe its depth is difficult to reach because it connects to the sea. Lake Tolire Besar also has a story about white crocodile that  guards the presence and sustainability of  the lake.  While  for  Lake Tolire Kecil which is located approximately 200 meters from Lake Tolire Besar  is closer to the shoreline. The Lake just  like a shrimp or fish pond on the edge of the beach which is grown by  coconut trees and various species of trees around it . It is  not too special if it is  compared with Lake Tolire Besar.