West Sumatra is one of the provinces in Indonesia which is famous for its natural beauty. Starting from the charming hills that surround it, beaches that spoil the eye, lakes that contain thousands of flora and fauna in them, to towering mountains. There is no doubt that West Sumatra is a suitable tourist destination to visit. One of the beautiful tours is the charm of Lake Maninjau.
Lake Maninjau is a volcanic lake which is right in the middle of Agam Regency, West Sumatra. Located at an altitude of approximately 460 meters above sea level. This lake stretches for 100 square kilometers with an average depth of 105 meters. With its breadth, Lake Maninjau become the eleventh largest lake in Indonesia.
Historically, this lake was formed by a volcanic eruption from Mount Sitinjau which occurred approximately 52,000 years ago. The caldera that was formed in such a large area then developed into a lake. This is the same as what happened to Lake Toba in North Sumatra and Lake Batur in Bali. This beautiful lake is the second largest lake in West Sumatra after Lake Singkarak. The main attraction of Lake Maninjau lies in its natural panorama when viewed from a distance.
Outside the scientific lens, there is a legend that has been passed down from generation to generation among the local community regarding the origin of this lake. This legend is known to the people as 'Bujang Sembilan', which tells the story of 10 brothers and sisters consisting of 9 boys and a girl.
Once upon a time the girl was in love with a young man named Sigiran, but the love story ended with the emergence of slander from her nine older siblings. His older brother accused the relationship that occurred between the two of them had exceeded the limits of societal norms. With the accusations made by his nine siblings, the girl and her lover then swore an oath.Â
Both of them will jump into the crater of Mount Tinjau (Sitinjau) to prove their purity. Before jumping, they said loudly, if they are guilty then the mountain will not erupt, but if both of them are innocent then the mountain will erupt. This story ends with the eruption of Mount Sitinjau, thus proving both of them are innocent.
The charm of Lake Maninjau is not only that. Because of its location, which is surrounded by mountains, this lake also has very beautiful views, starting from the natural charm, which is full of green colors, enchanting cliffs, and collections of clouds that always cover this place, which will further enhance the existing scenery. In addition, its natural conditions are still very well maintained, so the air is still fresh, making anyone feel at home for a long time there, as well as other charms that words cannot describe. So it's no wonder that Lake Maninjau is a place that must be visited when you step on West Sumatra
