Like Lake Sentani, the Paniai Lakes—one of the biggest lakes in Indonesia—are popular as a natural attraction in Papua. The lakes situated in West Paniai District, Paniai Regency, Papua Province, are known for the breathtaking natural view beneath mountains. Now you don’t need to go abroad to witness the beauty of exotic lakes; instead, visit the Paniai Lakes. Take a look at the attraction of the Paniai Lakes below and be ready to be charmed with it.
The Lakes and the Discovery
The Wissel Lakes are what the Paniai Lakes were originally known, and the name wasn’t coming without any reason. On December 31, 1936, Frits Julius Wissel, a navy pilot from the Netherlands, and his crew flew over the lakes during a survey for the Dutch New Guinea, and the lakes were named after his name.
The Paniai Lakes come from three extensive freshwater lakes, including Paniai, Tigi, and Tage—situated in different regencies. Lakes Paniai and Tage are in the Paniai Regency, while you can find Lake Tigi in Deiyai Regency. The lakes vary in size as you’ll see Lake Paniai as the largest and Lake Tage as the smallest. The lakes come from different rivers, including Koto, Agadide, Ekadide, Weya, and other numerous small streams.
Exotic Mountainous View
Like Raja Ampat in West Papua, the Paniai Lakes also offer an exotic panorama through the sparkling blue freshwater, the elegant white sand beach, and the rugged cliffs. It makes sense to call them one of the most beautiful lakes on Earth, so don’t be surprised to find domestic tourists and international tourists coming to visit the lakes.
The Paniai Lakes are surrounded by impeccable mountainous areas. If you look onto the east of the lakes, you’ll find Babaigo Mountain a little bit emerging to the lake. In the middle of the lakes is the little island, Mayageiya, while you can see Kaigo Bay in the south of the lakes. It is such a great pleasure to go for as you’ll be served with fresh air and a cool breeze about 1700 meters above sea level.
Fascinating Animals
Another attraction of the Paniai Lakes is the beautiful creatures living under the lakes. In approximately 30.3 meters deep, the lakes are a perfect place for various fish and other animals. Here you’ll be able to see the endemic fish, the Paniai gudgeon (Oxyeleotris wisselensis), and more non-native ones, like the common carp (Cyprinus carpio), Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), and Nile tilapia (O. niloticus).
Unlike the limited diversity of fish, the Paniai Lakes are rich in Parastacid crayfish of the genus Cherax. There are eight species of Cherax known here which are endemic to the lakes. There are five endemic species of Lake Paniai, including C. boschmai, C. buitendijkae, C. murido, C. pallidus, and C. paniaicus, as well as two endemic species of Lake Tigi, like C. longipes and C. solus, and one species (C. communis) found in both and the surrounding areas. You can also find an endemic skink called Emoia paniai that is also named after the place.
Fun Things to Do in Paniai Lakes
There are some activities you can do on the Paniai Lakes. If you’re into life underwater, go diving and snorkeling. These two activities are likely to do by many tourists coming to enjoy the view. If you want to enjoy the lakes and the mountain view simultaneously, you can go fishing alternatively as the lakes have numerous fish to catch. You can also rent a boat to fish in the middle of the lakes.
Water activities are a lot of fun, but you can try on exploration if you go for another joy on land. The island, cliff, and mountains are perfect for those who are into adventures and challenges. Thus, go for an adventure tour around the lakes and find many interesting things during the journey.
Camping can also be one good alternative to spend your unforgettable trip on the Paniai Lakes. There is nothing better than camping under the sky among the cool breeze of the mountainous atmosphere. At night, you can have a mini campfire to warm your body, gather with friends, share stories, and have the memorable night ever in your lifetime.
Accessibility
To reach the site, you can start from the capital city of Paniai Regency, Enarotali City. Then, you’ll find two alternatives to go to the lakes through a road trip or a flight. If you choose the road trip, you can take a bus and go for an extreme and curvy road. Alternatively, opt for a flight by taking the Cessna type plane, like AMAF and AMA planes, which can land on highland and ground structures.
The entry fee to the site is tentative as it’s possible to find different information about it from different sources. Some say that it’s free charge, yet others mention that it might cost Rp20,000 per pax. Thus, it’s suggested to find further information through its Call Center to make sure about the fee and prepare more to cover the unexpected trip cost.
Those are several things to know about the Paniai Lakes in Papua. Like Lake Ayamaru in West Papua, the Paniai Lakes are also worth going for. Visit the lakes and have a nice holiday!
