The Legend of Lake Toba

Lake Toba is the largest lake in Southeast Asia, once created by an enermous eruptin less tahn 100.000 years ago. The eruption was approximately 8.000 times. The lake covers 1.265 square km excluding Samosir Island and is 90 km long. The depth is in on average 450m and up to 900m in some places. The lake situated at an altitude of 906m above sea level. The steep coastline interspersed with valleys creates wonderful scenery.

There is a legend on how Lake Toba was formed. Once upon a time there was a man living in the area of the present day Danau Toba. No one knew when or from where he came.He lived in a simple hut in a farming area. he had a garden and did some fishing. One day he caught a big fish in his trap. It was tha biggest catch ever in his life. Whwn he back home the fish turned into a beautiful princess decorated with jewels. He feel in love to her and proposed to her. She nodded romantically, however, the princess had one condition. The man had to promise never to tell anyone that she had been a fish. If he would, there would be a disaster. They married and got a daughter and lived happily. The daughter always brought to her father out in their fields. The gilr was very greedy and one day she ate all her father's lunch. Her father got angry and scolded; "You dammed daughter of the fish!" The princess started to cry when she heard what her husband had said. She told her daughter to go to the hills, as there would be a disaster.When the daughter has left for safety the princess prayed. Soon there was a earthquate, rain started to fall and springs appeared everywhere. The whole area got floaded and became lake Toba. The princess turned into a fish again and the father became the island of Samosir.

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The traditional Batak Canoe, the Solu, was 10-15m long. When a new Solu was built offering were made for both the canoe spirit and to Boru Sangiang Naga, the Goddess of the water. Bataks feared her as disaster could easily happen when she was angry.