Linow Lake in Tomohon City, North Sulawesi Province

Each traveler may come to a different vacation destination when visiting Tomohon City in North Sulawesi Province. Still, not any single of them wants to miss to visit a stunning lake called Linow. The location is in Lahendong Village and it belongs to South Tomohon Sub-District. One thing that makes it unique is the color gradation or transition of the water. According to the locals, the lake emits a distinct color depending on the time when tourists visit the site. There are 3 colors, including blue, green, and yellow-brownish.

The Nuance
As mentioned earlier, the most recognizable thing in Linow Lake is none other than the color of the water surface. Despite the beauty, tourists are not allowed to swim or get in the water. It is because the amount of sulfur is quite dense there, so it is not safe. Instead, visitors can take advantage of the nuance to enjoy relaxation and sightseeing. The fact is the site is surrounded by green hills and lush trees. The management even provides a pier-like facility where tourists can find benches to sit on by the lake. The only disappointing thing is the location emits a strong sulfuric odor, which can be unpleasant to visitors sometimes.

Exploring Linow Lake
In terms of name, “Linow” derives from the Minahasa Language. The meaning is a place where water gathers. Today, due to the uniqueness, the lake has been included in the top vacation spots located in Tomohon City. Most visitors come to the site in order to witness the color alteration of the lake itself! Sometimes, it appears blue but it turns green soon after. In other time, it becomes yellowish! So, why is that? According to the locals, the alteration happens due to the distinct density of sulfur contained in it. Other factors are the sun reflection and refraction.

The next reason why many people come to Linow Lake is the fun trip itself. It is because they need to pass through hilly landscapes covered by lush trees when heading to the location. Not to mention the view of Lokon Mountain can be seen clearly during the trip. As for the tip, tourists should drop by for a while and take some photos of such beautiful panorama.

Once approaching the lake, tourists may smell the unpleasant odor right away. It is caused by the sulfur contained in the lake, actually. For the information, it is the residual sulfur left by the big eruption of Mahawu Mountain in the past. Here is the tip. Tourists should come early in the morning when the air is the freshest. This way, they won’t get disturbed much by such unpleasant odor.

Nearby Attractions

• Tondangow Hot Spring
• Pangolombian Lake
• Leilem Village

How to Get There
A trip to Linow Lake takes approximately 1 hour and 5 minutes if tourists come from Manado City. It is because the distance is 33.5 km. Once arriving at South Tomohon Sub-District, they can simply head to Lahendong Village where the lake is located. Have no worries. The trip becomes faster if they take Raya Manado Tomohon (which is considered the fastest route).

Where to Stay

• Greenlake Bungalow
• Airy Hoel