Samosir
Encyclopedia
For the Regency named Samosir, see Samosir Regency
.
Samosir, or Samosir Island, is a large volcanic
island in Lake Toba
, located in the north of the island of Sumatra
in Indonesia
. Administratively, Samosir Island is governed as six of the nine 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 630 km², Samosir is the largest island within an island, and the fifth largest lake island in the world. It also contains two smaller lakes, Lake Sidihoni
and Lake Aek Natonang. Across the lake on the east from the island lies Uluan Peninsula
. The island is linked to the mainland of Sumatra on its western part by a narrow land connecting the town of Pangururan
on Samosir and Tele
on mainland Sumatra. Tele consequently offers one of the best views of Lake Toba and Samosir Island.
due to its exotic history and 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. Most of the tourist accommodations are concentrated in the small town of Tuktuk, which is located a one-hour ferry ride across the lake from the town of Parapat
.
Samosir Regency
Samosir Regency is a regency in North Sumatra. Its seat is Pangururan. In 2000, the regency covered an area of 1419 square kilometres and according to the 2000 census it had a population of 130,097.6 of 9 districts , are on the island Samosir....
.
Samosir, or Samosir Island, is a large volcanic
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
island in Lake Toba
Lake Toba
Lake Toba is a lake and supervolcano. The lake is 100 kilometres long and 30 kilometres wide, and 505 metres at its deepest point. Located in the middle of the northern part of the Indonesian island of Sumatra with a surface elevation of about , the lake stretches from to...
, located in the north of the island of Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
in Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. Administratively, Samosir Island is governed as six of the nine districts within Samosir Regency
Samosir Regency
Samosir Regency is a regency in North Sumatra. Its seat is Pangururan. In 2000, the regency covered an area of 1419 square kilometres and according to the 2000 census it had a population of 130,097.6 of 9 districts , are on the island Samosir....
. 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
Caldera
A caldera is a cauldron-like volcanic feature usually formed by the collapse of land following a volcanic eruption, such as the one at Yellowstone National Park in the US. They are sometimes confused with volcanic craters...
wall by a small isthmus
Isthmus
An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas usually with waterforms on either side.Canals are often built through isthmuses where they may be particularly advantageous to create a shortcut for marine transportation...
, which was cut through to aid navigation.
At 630 km², Samosir is the largest island within an island, and the fifth largest lake island in the world. It also contains two smaller lakes, Lake Sidihoni
Lake Sidihoni
Lake Sidihoni is a lake located within Samosir Island which itself is an island within Lake Toba, in North Sumatra, Indonesia and is therefore notable for being a "lake within a lake". It is approximately 11-12km to the east of hot spring pools at Pangururan....
and Lake Aek Natonang. Across the lake on the east from the island lies Uluan Peninsula
Uluan Peninsula
Uluan Peninsula is a peninsula jutting out into Lake Toba on the eastern side towards Medan, in Simalungun Regency and Toba Samosir Regency of North Sumatra province. It has experienced a large amount of uplift since the series of massive volcanic eruption that began 1.2 million years ago, the...
. The island is linked to the mainland of Sumatra on its western part by a narrow land connecting the town of Pangururan
Pangururan
Pangururan is a town in North Sumatra province of Indonesia and it is the seat of Samosir Regency....
on Samosir and Tele
Tele
Tele* Tele- is a Greek prefix meaning "distant". It can be short for television in British English, Spanish and Italian.* The Fender Telecaster guitar is nicknamed the "Tele".* Lake Tele, a lake in the crotcho known as the home of the Mokele mbembe....
on mainland Sumatra. Tele consequently offers one of the best views of Lake Toba and Samosir Island.
Tourism
Samosir is a popular tourist destinationTourist destination
A tourist destination is a city, town, or other area that is dependent to a significant extent on the revenues accruing from tourism. It may contain one or more tourist attractions and possibly some "tourist traps."...
due to its exotic history and the vistas it offers. The tourist resorts are concentrated in the Tuktuk area. The island is the centre of the Batak
Batak (Indonesia)
Batak is a collective term used to identify a number of ethnic groups predominantly found in North Sumatra, Indonesia. The term is used to include the Toba, Karo, Pakpak, Simalungun, Angkola and Mandailing, each of which are distinct but related groups with distinct, albeit related, languages and...
culture and many of this people's artifacts remain on the island. Most of the tourist accommodations are concentrated in the small town of Tuktuk, which is located a one-hour ferry ride across the lake from the town of Parapat
Parapat
Parapat is a small town in North Sumatra province on the edge of Lake Toba, on the Uluan Peninsula where it forms the narrowest eastern link to Samosir Island. It is the primary transit point by ferry for visitors going to Samosir Island, and connected via Trans-Sumatran Highway to Pematang...
.