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7 new tourist spots to feature at festival
Deep: Lake Matano in Sulawesi is the deepest lake in Southeast Asia
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Deep: Lake Matano in Sulawesi is the deepest lake in Southeast Asia. The area is also home to a nickel mine. (JP/Ruslan Sangadji)
Seven new tourist destinations are set to be introduced to visitors to the Lake Matano Festival in East Luwu, South Sulawesi, from Nov. 27 to 29.
According to festival committee spokesperson Suke, speaking in Makassar on Monday, the new destinations include the Matano water cave, Tengkorak (skull) cave, Lake Matano's water springs, Fort Matano, the grave of the Matano kings, four mini islands and the Lawa River.
Suke added that in addition to promoting East Luwu's natural beauty, the festival would also present a variety of entertaining events, including art and music performances, a Lake Matano beauty pageant, a fishing competition, Katingting (wooden boat) races, a boat-decorating contest and water sports.
During the festival, visitors will also be given the chance to tour a mine operated by PT Vale, one of the world's largest nickel-mining companies.
'We are trying to make the festival as interesting as possible to attract more foreign and domestic tourists to East Luwu,' said Suke as quoted by kompas.com.
Formed million of years ago, Lake Matano is a tectonic lake considered one of the oldest in the world. Surrounded by the Verbek mountains, it is blessed with a gorgeous panorama and rich underwater biodiversity. With a depth of about 590 meters, the lake is also the third-deepest lake in Asia.
An endemic and ancient fish species called Buttini (Glossoqobius matanensis) can be found at the lake, which boasts extraordinarily calm and clear waters. (nov/kes)(+)
