Kelimutu is a volcano, close to the town of Moni in central Flores Island of Indonesia containing three
summit crater lakes of varying colors. Tiwu Ata Mbupu (Lake of Old People) is usually blue and is the westernmost of the three lakes. The other two lakes, Tiwu Nuwa Muri Koo Fai (Lake of Young Men and Maidens) and Tiwu Ata Polo (Bewitched or Enchanted Lake) are separated by a shared crater wall and are typically green or red in color, respectively.
The lake colors do vary on a periodic basis. Subaqueous fumaroles are the probable cause of active upwelling that occurs at the two eastern lakes. The lake have been a source of minor phreatic eruptions in historical time. The summit of the compound 1639 meters high Kelimutu volcano is elongated two km; the older cones of Kelido and Kelibara are located respectively three kilometers to the north and two kilometers to the south. The scenic lakes are a popular tourist destination. Kelimutu is also of interest to geologists because the three lakes are different colors yet reside at the crest of the same volcano.
The closest airports are Maurnere, and Ende. There are regular flights to Maumere from Bali. The drive from Maumere to Moni, the town at the base of Kelimutu, takes about 3 hours.
