"Kelimutu revisited" Ende Travelogue by theo1006

Access to Kelimutu was not always as easy as it is now. When Theo first visited, the Trans Flores Highway from Ende to Maumere was not even surfaced yet. And the road uphill from Moni was quite overgrown.
In December 1971 Theo spent a vacation in Ende with the family of a student. Posing in the pic with the Willys jeep is a sister of the student.

The road to Kelimutu in 2011

Nowadays a smooth surfaced road leads from Moni to the nature reserve. Halfway on the road is this porch with a booth where to pay the entrance fee. Posing here is Helen.

Ata Polo lake in 1971

For those who doubt that the lakes can change colour, this scan of a slide shows Ata Polo lake in 1971, when its colour was dark red. So dark that in the picture it shows up as black. Indonesians would call it 'merah hati', i.e. liver red.

Ata Polo lake in 2011

And here is the same lake in 2011, coloured dark green.

Nuwamuri Koofai lake in 1971

Less evident change in the second lake, it was green and still is green.

Ata Mbupu lake in 1971

The third lake, that looks like a sink hole, is the most stable. We never understood why it is called the white lake. In 1971 as in 2011 it looked almost black to us.

Ata Mbupu lake in 2011

What changed: there is more vegetation now.