Lake Toba Experience and Lessons Learned Brief Haryatiningsih Moedjodo*, LakeNet Country Director-Indonesia,
[email protected] Payaman Simanjuntak, Lake Toba Heritage Foundation, Jakarta, Indonesia Peter Hehanussa, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Cibinong, Indonesia Lufi andi, West Java Environmental Impact Management Agency, Bandung, Indonesia * Corresponding author 1. Introduction level. Biophysically, the cool, refreshing environment, clean air, and fertile soil of the region make it an ideal place for human Lake Toba is Indonesia’s largest lake, located in the province settlement. It is no surprise, therefore, that the ancestors of of North Sumatra, 176 km to the west of the provincial capital, the Batak ethnic minority chose it as their permanent site for Medan. Lake Toba can be reached by car from Medan within settlement centuries ago. It was here that their descendants three hours. By plane, Medan is 40 minutes away from developed into the fi ve ethnic Batak groups; namely, the Singapore and two hours from Jakarta, the capital city of Angkola-Mandailing, Karo, Pakpak-Dairi, Simalungun and Indonesia. Toba. Samosir Island and the Toba lakeside is the site of the original Batak culture, containing invaluable historical objects As the largest volcano-tectonic lake in the world, Lake Toba is and artifacts, art and culture. In fact, Batak culture is still alive 87 km long in the northwest to southeast direction, and has and present here, preserved in its original form. a width of 27 km. Located 904 meters above sea level, and with a maximum depth of 505 meters, the lake is one of the The unique geographical position of the lake facilitates a country’s important tourist destinations.