Deep in the interior of East Kalimantan (Borneo) Indonesia, lie the "Labuan-Cermin Lake", a unique lake above sea. This limpid Lake is special because it has the sea at the bottom. Sea at the bottom of the lake? True, this lake has a flow of salt water exists only in the bottom of the lake.
Labuan-Cermin Lake is located in the District of "Biduk-biduk", East Kalimantan. If viewed on a map, it was right at the back of the nose of Borneo Island. This place can be reached by boat within three hours from Derawan (a place in east kalimantan).
East Kalimantan's Lake Above Sea
The top of the Labuan-Cermin Lake contains fresh water as the common lake. But there are a few feet at the bootom,flowing of salt water. strangely, both types of water is not mixed. In the visible can be seen that the sea water and fresh water are separated by a similar layer of clouds.No one has done research in this area so that the formation of this phenomenon remains a mystery.
White turbid layer was allegedly the basis of harbor spoilage organisms that are trapped and can not go. Two types of water in the lake is also presenting the organism of both worlds. Freshwater fish live on the surface, while the sea-water fish can be found at the bottom of the lake.
When we was there, incidentally is a thin layer of fresh water. the crew diving to taste the salty water at a depth of about two meters. Apparently, the thickness of the layer of fresh water and salt water can be changed according to the ebb and flow of sea water.
This small lake surrounded by woods and there are towering cliffs on one side. We were treated a forest music while swimming - the sound of birds and insects. Not surprisingly, the lake is named Labuan-Cermin (Mirror): the water was crystal clear even people can reflect on it. Currents in some places is quite powerful and easy to drag the people who can not swim.
To reach this place we had to ride past the fishermen and canoe trips for 15 minutes, through the bushes and mangrove forests. The forest was still inhabited by a variety of wild animals such as monkeys, proboscis monkeys, otters and bears.
Because the distance is quite far from the city, rarely or hardly any tourists who visit the place. This place is only known by local people from the surrounding area. Facilities and infrastructure were still sober. Where we stayed was a Fisherman Information Center (FIC) assisted by the Nature Conservancy. an environmental activist organization invited us to visit this place.
IC is shaped house on stilts on the banks of the estuary of a river, only a few hundred meters from the sea. The house has such a small dock for a boat anchor. The river in front of the FIC is brackish watery. Its salinity depending on the ebb and flow of sea water. When the sea receded, the river became very clear so the bottom can be seen clearly.
From the porch we could see the fish milling about. Ard (name) a fisherman's son who love to play in the lake explaining us the kinds of fish. There are many prickly fish, there are sting fish and a long flat-bodied fish. Not only visited by the fishermen, the FIC is also a gathering place for the children of fishermen who want to watch the marine life movies or read about the collections.
It was getting dark when some fishermen went to sea. As we spent the evening with a cup of coffee on the porch and looked at the river and the moon almost full. A peace Atmosphere that dificult to find in the city.
by Dewi
