Habema, Papua's Beautiful Lake Above the Clouds

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I had traveled a winding road full of sharp pebbles and steep climbs. The blue sky and rolling white clouds accompanied every step I took. The cold air combined with the warmth of the sun encouraged me to reach that great point, a source of life in the high peaks of Papua.

That's roughly the description of the journey that will be passed when heading to Habema. A lake that is considered sacred and a source of fertility and life by the surrounding Dani people. Not only is the lake superior in mystical terms, but it is also superior in many ways. With an altitude of approximately 3,225 meters above sea level, it is no wonder that this lake is sovereign as one of the highest lakes in Indonesia.

The original name of Lake Habema is actually yuginopa, while the name Habema was taken from the name of a Dutch officer, namely Lieutenant Habema who participated in escorting the expedition team to the top of Trikora in 1909. The lake area is approximately 224.35 hectares with a circumference of 9.79 kilometers and is in the Lorentz Papua National Park area.

Located about 48 kilometers from Wamena City, getting to Lake Habema is not an easy matter. The steep road, as well as the hilly contours of the land make anyone who wants to reach the lake need a vehicle with 4-wheel drive. Maybe if the road is flat, using a car, 48 kilometers will be reached in a relatively short time, about 1.5 to 2 hours. However, because the natural conditions are quite extreme, getting to Habema by car can take up to 3 hours.

The length of time traveled will not be felt if we enjoy every view that is passed during the trip. The expanse of hills with tall trees and cool air will spoil the eyes along the way. Especially, if we leave early in the morning and get the opportunity to enjoy the sunrise between the beautiful mountains. A rare and memorable sight.

Tiredness during the trip will pay off when you arrive at Habema. The scenery is so beautiful, majestic, and very mesmerizing will welcome us. The expanse of grasslands around the lake and endemic Papuan plants such as ant houses or black orchids will make us grateful to be part of the beautiful nature of Papua. If we are lucky, we can also meet various types of Papuan birds, such as birds of paradise, or at least we can enjoy their chirping.

As far as the eye can see, the mountainous landscape will be the main menu, until our eyes are drawn to a vast lake set against a beautiful snowy mountain. For a moment we will be silent and realize that this is Lake Habema. It's as beautiful as a painting, especially since the lake is set against the towering Mount Trikora (formerly Puncak Wilhelmina) with equatorial snow at its peak. This panorama will make us feel as if we are not in Indonesia.

This sense of awe is very natural to feel, given the natural conditions around Lake Habema which are truly different from the natural conditions of Indonesia in general. Air temperatures that reach 0 degrees at night and 10 degrees during the day, vast expanses of grasslands, very unique types of mountain plants, a quiet environment, to the snow that is clearly visible at the top of Trikora make Habema special compared to other mountainous areas in the archipelago.