Samosir Island ~ Just Sharing

Source: Wikipedia

Samosir, or Samosir Island, is a large volcanic island in Lake Toba, located in the north of the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. Administratively, Samosir Island is governed as six of the nine districts within Samosir Regency. The lake and island were formed after the eruption of a super volcano some 75,000 years ago. The island was originally connected to the surrounding caldera wall by a small isthmus, which was cut through to aid navigation.

Source: NASA

At 630 km², Samosir is the largest island within an island, and the fifth largest lake island in the world. It also contains two smaller lakes, Lake Sidihoni and Lake Aek Natonang. Across the lake on the east from the island lies Uluan Peninsula. The island is linked to the mainland of Sumatra on its western part by a narrow land connecting the town of Pangururan on Samosir and Tele on mainland Sumatra. Tele consequently offers one of the best views of Lake Toba and Samosir Island.

Panoramic view of the town of Ambarita on Samosir, Lake Toba
Tourism

Samosir is a popular tourist destination due to its exotic history and the vistas it offers. The tourist resorts are concentrated in the Tuktuk area. The island is the centre of the Batak culture and many of this people's artifacts remain on the island. Most of the tourist accommodations are concentrated in the small town of Tuktuk, which is located a one-hour ferry ride across the lake from the town of Parapat.

Samosir Regency is a regency in North Sumatra. Its seat is Pangururan. In 2000, the regency covered an area of 1419 square kilometres and according to the 2000 census it had a population of 130,097.

6 of 9 districts (kecamatan), are on the island Samosir.

Samosir Island districts
Onan Runggu
Palipi
Pangururan
Ronggur Nihuta
Simanindo
Sitiotio

Mainland districts
Harian
Sianjur Mula Mula
Nainggolan

Botanical Garden

2011: Samosir Regency with supervision from LIPI will build a 100 hectares Botanical Garden. It will finish 10 years later with cost predicted about Rp.73 billion ($8.6 million)

Samosir Island Maps