Ayamaru Lakes
Encyclopedia
The Ayamura Lakes are a group of lakes found in the southwestern-central part of the Bird's Head Peninsula
in West Papua. The lakes are named after the Ayamaru people that lived here for thousands of years. The nearest village to the group is Greemakolo
. The many villages around the Ayamaru Lakes started the Ayamaru language.
in the microbial mats
that grow around the edges of the mineral-rich water. The bacteria produce colors ranging from orange to red; the amount of color in the microbial mats depends on the ratio of chlorophyll
to carotenoid
s and on the temperature of the water which favors one bacterium over another. The pH in the lake exceeds to 8.0. On the south shores of the lakes is filled with wetlands and many wildlife.
. The lake is a bit foggy because of the temperatures up to 71 F. This is also where the Ayamaru River starts. The people from the surrounding villages use the lake for fishing and bathing.
(Melanotaenia ajamaruensis) and the Boeseman's rainbowfish
(Melanotaenia boesemani).
Bird's Head Peninsula
The Bird's Head Peninsula or Doberai Peninsula is a large peninsula that makes up the northwest portion of the Province of West Papua, Indonesia.-Location and geography:...
in West Papua. The lakes are named after the Ayamaru people that lived here for thousands of years. The nearest village to the group is Greemakolo
Greemakolo
Greemakolo is a village in West Papua, Indonesia. The village is located in the southwestern-central part of the Bird's Head Peninsula, northeast of Teminabuan....
. The many villages around the Ayamaru Lakes started the Ayamaru language.
Physical Features
The group makes up Lake Ayamaru and Lake Hain. The lakes are surrounded by many low hills. The water in both of the lakes are a clear blue because of the rich material found in the water. There are deep holes in the lakes that lead to underwater caverns. The vivid colors on the north shores of the Ayamaru Lakes are the result of pigmented bacteriaBacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
in the microbial mats
Biofilm
A biofilm is an aggregate of microorganisms in which cells adhere to each other on a surface. These adherent cells are frequently embedded within a self-produced matrix of extracellular polymeric substance...
that grow around the edges of the mineral-rich water. The bacteria produce colors ranging from orange to red; the amount of color in the microbial mats depends on the ratio of chlorophyll
Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in almost all plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. Its name is derived from the Greek words χλωρος, chloros and φύλλον, phyllon . Chlorophyll is an extremely important biomolecule, critical in photosynthesis, which allows plants to obtain energy from light...
to carotenoid
Carotenoid
Carotenoids are tetraterpenoid organic pigments that are naturally occurring in the chloroplasts and chromoplasts of plants and some other photosynthetic organisms like algae, some bacteria, and some types of fungus. Carotenoids can be synthesized fats and other basic organic metabolic building...
s and on the temperature of the water which favors one bacterium over another. The pH in the lake exceeds to 8.0. On the south shores of the lakes is filled with wetlands and many wildlife.
Lake Ayamaru
The largest lake in the group, Lake Ayamura has a more warm temperature than Lake Hatlin. In the ceter of the lake is Kaymundan Island, a small island filled with trees. On the northwestern shore of the lake is the village of GreemakoloGreemakolo
Greemakolo is a village in West Papua, Indonesia. The village is located in the southwestern-central part of the Bird's Head Peninsula, northeast of Teminabuan....
. The lake is a bit foggy because of the temperatures up to 71 F. This is also where the Ayamaru River starts. The people from the surrounding villages use the lake for fishing and bathing.
Lake Hain
Lake Hain is made up of two lakes and has temperatures up to 100 F. This is where the Framu River flows in. Most of the lake is covered with smoke because of its high temperatures. It is actually a hot spring.Wildlife
Most of the wildlife are found in the wetlands of the southern shores of Lake Ayamura. Also many fish found over here, too. The most common fish found in Lake Ayamaru is the Ajamaru Lakes rainbowfishAjamaru Lakes rainbowfish
The Ajamaru Lakes rainbowfish is a species of fish in the Melanotaeniidae family. It is endemic to West Papua in Indonesia.-References:* Allen, G. 1996. . Downloaded on 2 February 2011....
(Melanotaenia ajamaruensis) and the Boeseman's rainbowfish
Boeseman's rainbowfish
Boeseman's rainbowfish is a species of fish in the Melanotaeniidae family. It is also known as Boesemani rainbowfish. It is endemic to Ayamaru River in a mountainous region of the Vogelkop Peninsula, West Papua....
(Melanotaenia boesemani).