Samosir Island and Lake Toba - North Sumatera - Indonesia

Samosir Island is one island that place in the middle of Lake Toba. The size of this island is similar with Singapore. Lake toba is the largest and deepest crater lake in world.906 meter above sea level, a water surface area of 1,265 square km, 90 km long with a coastline of 285 km, and with an average depth of 450 meters. Samosir island is the home of Batak people. The population of Samosir Island is approximately 130.568, or 91 per square kilometer.

Lake Toba lies about 300km east of Kuala Lumpur, on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Located at an altitude of 800m, the lake is 100km long and 30km wide, and today is dotted with highland resorts and traditional houses of the Toba Batak people. Samosir Island dominates Lake Toba, and as it’s only about a 5-hour drive from the city of Medan, it’s popular with tourists seeking hiking excursions, a cool break from the tropical climate, or a serene getaway (though check with a tour operator before you plan a trip).

The island measures 45 by 20 km, and originally was a peninsula. It only became a peninsula after the Dutch arrived and dug a canal across the small piece of land of 200 meters in 1906. This action seemed to have a lot to do among the local population, because they thought the island would slip away towards the middle o

f the lake and simply disappear. The eastern coast of the island rises steeply from a small bank towards a central plateau with an altitude of 780 meters.

This gradually descends towards the southern and western coast of the island and is scattered with small villages which dangerously lean against the rock, and cross ravains. The Samosir plateau mainly is clear rock, with some scattered forests, swamps and a small lake. There is a road parallel with the shores of the island, but this can be bad at certain points, with a number of bad bridges in the southwestern corner.

From Pangururan, the kecamatan-centre at the western side, a bridge connects the island with mainland Sumatera. The road ascends to an altitude of 1800 meters after that. Here, the village of Tele offers a good view over the lake and the island. During the northeastern monsoon (September until January), a strong wind usually arrived from the high altitudes, the “alogo bolong” or 'big wind'. This produces waves of over one meter high, which can made traffic over water very hard. Local ferries, most of the time overloaded with freight and people, can be lost during these storms. Earlier the Batak used big tree-trunk canoos (solu) made of a single tree to cross the lake. Noaways only very small canoos are used. F.M. Schnitget, author of 'Forgotten Kingdoms in Sumatera', visited Samosir in the 1930's and described the adapt houses, stone graves and coffins of no less than 26 villages.

Looking for these villages is hard, because many of the names have been changed since them; others were abandoned and some of the stone sarcophaguses were removed from their original location. Outside the paved roads time and patience are an important factor to find the graves. But for many people a visit to Samosir is no more than a quiet ferry fare to Tomok, where the most famous of all Toba Bakat sarcophaguses are just on a few minutes away from the pier.

Horas is the local greeting delivered with enthusiasm. The Batak people love their lake and island, and many traditional local songs are written about it. You are sure to hear some of these Batak songs on visit to Samosir island Lake Toba, singing is a strong part of the local culture walk past (or into) a toddy shop any evening after local men have consumed a few glasses of Tuak, or palm wine , and hear it for your self.

Lissoi is their saying for cheers. There are also some fine woodcarvers on Samosir Island, as a glance at any of the souvenir shops will verify.

The traveler can visit so many places in this Island;

1. Siallagan Ambarita
   Tomb or monument of King Siallagan, and stone chair legend are council, prison and executed the guilty victims.
2. Tomok
   One of Huta (Village) tourist destination in Samosir. Hundreds-years-old King Sidabutar sarcophagus. And you can see Sopo (Traditional Batak House).
   Many souvenir likes Ulos, Handcraft, t-shirt you can get on As long as road to King Sidabutar sarcophagus and cheaper.
3. Muara
   Muara is one of the districts within Toba Samosir right by the side of the Lake Toba. Named Muara because it is the estuary of many rivers which is then streaming to Lake Toba. A very enchanting place.

4. Simanindo
   Traditional dance Sigale - gale and gondang playing, it is welcome dance to tourist. King's House become Batak Museum, and beside there is Solu House, King's Solu.
5. Pangururan
   Main town of Samosir, the administrative center of the island. Many Hotel, Bars or Pub and Restaurant.
6. Tuk Tuk Siodang
   One of jetty in Samosir, where boat from Ajibata, Parapat. Many Hotel, Bars or Pub and Restaurant.
7. Limbong
   Hobon stone place to keep treasure Batak, and Sopo Tetea Bulan.

Why Visit Samosir Island?

Because Samosir Island is beautifully panorama and natural, have fresh air and the biggest lake in the world.