Indonesia's Lake Toba Named UNESCO Global Geopark

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Toba Caldera, or better known as Lake Toba, was inducted as one of UNESCO's Global Geopark on Tuesday, July 2. The decision was made during the 209th session of the UNESCO Executive Council in Paris.

The Indonesian government succeeded in convincing the UN Agency for Education, Science and Culture that the Toba Caldera has high geological links and traditional heritage with the local communities, especially that of culture and biodiversity.

"With this inclusion, Indonesia can develop the Toba Caldera geopark through the Global Geoparks Network and the Asia Pacific Geoparks Network, especially in relation to local community empowerment," Indonesian Ambassador to UNESCO, Arrmanatha Nasir, said in a written statement, Wednesday, July 8.

Lake Toba was formed by a super-volcanic explosion or supervolcano 74,000 years ago. The base of the caldera is filled with water and is now the largest lake in Indonesia. Its beauty makes it one of the mainstay tourist destinations in Indonesia.

The Toba Caldera made it to the UNESCO list after being assessed by the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council at the 4th UNESCO Global Geoparks International Conference in Lombok, in August and September last year.

In addition to the Toba Caldera, Indonesia has four other UNESCO Global Geopark sites: Lake Batur, Cileteuh, Gunung Sewu, and Mount Rinjani.

Read: Indigenous People Reject Lake Toba Development Project

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