Have you ever heard of the name Lake Rombebai? Well, this lake is located in West Papua. It is true that Papua is popular for its beautiful scenery, gorgeous marine life, history, and rich culture. Those things are also the charm of this place.
But you should try another thing when you happen to explore Papua. For instance, visiting the lakes on this island. You might be surprised with how much you’ve been missing out if you skip the lake visit when you are in Papua.
Lake Rombebai and the Charm
West Papua is surely more than Raja Ampat. Sure, this place is huge and mesmerizing. Yet, Papua is rich and it is impossible to explore the entire thing at once. Besides the numerous tourism destinations, West Papua has stories to tell.
So, if you are looking for a place to enjoy West Papua at its best then Rombebai Lake should be on your list. Here are things you can adore if you happen to get into this stunning lake of Memberamo Raya.
#1 Located Next to the Longest River
Papua Indonesia is home for various stunning things. You might’ve been familiar with the Mamberamo River, right? Well, Rombebai Lake and Mamberamo River are located next to each other. If you see it from above, they flow nicely together – side by side.
Mamberamo River itself gets the water from Jayawijaya and it flows through the Pacific Ocean. Even though Rombebai Lake is located about 20 kilometers from the Mamberamo estuary, the water in the lakes depends on the river’s condition. Still, it’s a worthwhile view.
#2 Various Fauna
As one of must-visit West Papua destinations, Lake Rombebai is also home to various unique fauna. The lake itself is also part of Suaka Margasatwa Mamberamo-Foya – a wildlife sanctuary. Standing on a 1,440,000-hectare ground, this sanctuary is pretty huge, though.
Other than a jungle, this place also hosts a wide mangrove forest near the beach, lake, river, and peat swamp along with mountainous forest. This is why you will most likely run into unique animals and species when you are visiting Rombebai, considering this lake is part of the sanctuary.
Thus, if you are into adventure and love nature that much, visiting Rombebai Lake is a must. Make sure to include this destination on your bucket-list!
#3 Local Practices
It is crucial to follow the travel guide when you are visiting West Papua – you should follow the guidance regardless of where the location is. Other than exhibiting the delicacy of nature, Rombebai Lake is where you will find astonishing local practices.
One of the most common things you will see in this lake is those locals who go to the lake to catch fish. Generally, at least 28 species of freshwater fish live in this lake. The number is quite a lot, for sure.
Thus, locals will catch the fish to meet their daily meals. Some of them also trade it on the market. Yet, all the interactions you see in the surrounding are quite exciting, for sure.
Lakes are one of those things that you shouldn’t miss when you are visiting West Papua. Scuba diving might be fun and exciting. But have you tried visiting all the lakes in Papua? Sentani Lake, for instance, is quite big and fun to explore.
While Sentani is the largest, Lake Rombebai is the other one you have to visit as well. Other than the stunning surroundings, this lake is the water source for people who live in Papua. Take your chance to learn about the culture and enjoy the panorama, after all.
