Caldera walls
A view over south Toba.
Almarams — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Woyphen — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Almarams — CC BY-SA 4.0
A pine-forest park on a high rim above the southern end of Lake Toba, one of the sites of the Toba Caldera Geopark in UNESCO's Global Geoparks network, which tells the story of the colossal eruption that created the lake some 74,000 years ago. From its viewing platforms the view takes in the wide blue lake and the towering caldera walls, Bakara bay and the historic Bakara valley below, and Batak villages and rice fields on the shores. Among the pines are walking paths, seating and small cafés. Entry is a small fee of about ten thousand rupiah. The air is cool and fresh, and the view is clearest in the morning. The site lies off the usual tourist circuit around Parapat and Samosir, about an hour and a half from Balige, so it suits those driving around the lake. Combine it with Balige and its museums on the way back.
A view over south Toba.
Paths and cafés.
Below among the mountains.
Paranginan, Humbang Hasundutan regency, south of Lake Toba
From a colossal eruption some 74,000 years ago, one of the greatest in Earth's history, after which the ground collapsed into a giant caldera that filled with water; Samosir island later rose in its middle.