Kelimutu is a volcano, close to the town of Moni in central Flores Island of Indonesia containing three summit crater lakes of varying colors. Tiwu Ata Mbupu (Lake of Old People) is usually blue and is the westernmost of the three lakes. The other two lakes, Tiwu Nuwa Muri Koo Fai (Lake of Young Men and Maidens) and Tiwu Ata Polo (Bewitched or Enchanted Lake) are separated by a shared crater wall and are typically green or red in color, respectively. The lake colors do vary on a periodic basis. Subaqueous fumaroles are the probable cause of active upwelling that occurs at the two eastern lakes.The lake have been a source of minor phreatic eruptions in historical time. The summit of the compound 1639-m-high Kelimutu volcano is elongated two km in a WNW-ESE direction; the older cones of Kelido and Kelibara are located respectively three km to the north and two km to the south. The scenic lakes are a popular tourist destination. Keli Mutu is also of interest to geologists because the three lakes are different colors yet reside at the crest of the same volcano.
The closest airports are Maumere, and Ende. There are regular flights to Maumere from Bali. The drive from Maumere to Moni, the town at the base of Keli Mutu, takes about 3 hours.
MONI" GATE TO LAKE KELIMUTU
Moni is a small settlement at the foot of the volcanic Mount Kelimutu on the island of Flores in Indonesia. It is a good base for a trip to the coloured lakes of the volcano.
Get in. Moni can be reached by minibus from Labuanbajo. It is a cramped trip but the scenery is breathtaking. It is also possible to hire a jeep and guide to take you across the island. This is quite expensive but would save a considerable amount of time.
Get around. To get up to the volcano it is possible to hire a minibus, or you can simply hike. Try taking the bus up and then walking down through the gorgeous villages.
What to See. Mount Kelimutu is the obvious attraction. Beautiful at sunrise, the three mineral lakes at the top (in the craters) change colour with the changing light of the morning. The settlement itself is surrounded by spectacular scenery, landscapes dotted with palms and banana trees. There are also a number of visible burial sites in front gardens, a local cultural tradition.
Jopu Traditional Hand Weaving Villages. Ikats weaving is one of the most attractive to see in the area of Moni, Take a walk to Jopu villages where you can see how the process of Ikat weaving. Along the routes between Moni and Jopu is the most beautiful view on the area, take walk all the way to Jopu and on the way back take a bus ride from Jopu to Moni.
