The Kelimutu Volcano

From afar, the Kelimutu volcano in Indonesia looks like any other one of the many volcanoes found across the region. Aside from the three lakes that are located inside its crater, it is also. They appear at first glance to be typical lakes that gradually grew within the mouth of a volcano. If you observed them over time, though, you’d see that their color changes almost consistently, and in no discernible pattern.

Satellite photos captured over time show that the colors range from diverse white tints to turquoise blue and blood red. As seen in the picture below, Kelimutu features three summit crater lakes. Blue is frequently the color of Tiwi Ata Mbupu Lake. Tiwu Nua Muri Kooh Tai and Tiwu Ata Polo are usually green and red, respectively, and they share a common crater wall.

Fumaroles, which are volcanic vents that continuously spew minerals and gases into the lakes, are the cause of the shifting colors. Although the volcano has never been consistently examined due to the remoteness of the area, there may be some microbiological processes engaged in the process as well.

Location: Flores island, Indonesia