ABOUT LAKE TOBA & SAMOSIR

The Lake:
Lake Toba is Indonesia’s largest lake, located in the province of North Sumatra, 176 km to the west of the provincial capital, Medan. Lake Toba can be reached by car from Medan within three hours. By Plane, Medan is approximately 40 minutes away from Singapore and two hours from Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia.

Lake Toba is the largest volcano-tectonic lake in the world, stretching 87km long from the northwest to southwest direction, and approximately 27km wide.   The Lake is located approximately 904 meters above sea level has a maximum depth of about 505 meters. 

The Island (Samosir):

Samosir Island is the little island located in the middle of Lake Toba (CLICK HERE TO VIEW IMAGE).

Samosir, or Pulau Samosir, is a large volcanic island located in the niddle of Lake Toba. Administratively, it is governed as 6 of 9 districts within Samosir Regency. The lake and island were formed after the eruption of a super volcano some 75 000 years ago.The island was originally connected to the surrounding caldera wall by a small isthmus, which was cut through to aid navigation.

At 630km², Samosir is also notable as being the largest island within an island, and the fifth largest lake island in the world.It also has 2 named lakes, Lake Sidihoni and Lake Aek Natonang. Across the lake on the east from the island lies Uluan Peninsula.

The island is actually linked to the mainland of Sumatra on its western part by a narrow land connecting the town of Pangururan on Samosir and Tele on the mainland Sumatra. Tele offers one of the best spots to view Lake Toba and Samosir Island.

Samosir is a popular tourist destination due to the vistas it offers. The tourist resorts are concentrated in the Tuktuk area. The island is the centre of the Batak culture and many of this people's artifacts remain on the island. Almost all of the hotels are concentrated in the small town of Tuktuk, which is one hour ferry ride across the lake from the town of Parapat.