Lake Sentarum's Promise of Plenty
Lake Sentarum in West Kalimantan is one of the world's largest tidal basinabout 132,000 square hectares in area. Last February, the House of Representatives (DPR) asked the government to rehabilitate Lake Sentarum so the flora and fauna-rich body of water can be used more optimally. The communities living around the lake must be prepared to face the threat of major flooding, given that the water level can rise up to 10 meters high during the monsoons. But this basin area of the Kapuas River is also home to the most diverse species of fresh water fish in the world, and the forests around the lake are also well-known for its production of delicious, health-restoring honey. Tempo contributor Putri Ayudya reports from West Kalimantan how the resilient residents around Lake Sentarum live and survive the annual threats of flooding and forest fires.
April 4, 2012
The journey to Lake Sentarum National Park (TNDS) was grueling. First, Tempo had to cover a distance of 700 kilometers from Pontianak, the capital of West Kalimantan, by road. After eight or nine hours, we reached the park's first station. It is the first gate leading to the lake on the Kapuas River basin. There, we hired a boat and headed for the hub of the lake. The view was breathtaking. For half an hour, we sailed past islets with young shoo
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