Labuan Cermin Lake in Biduk-Biduk Sub-District, East Kalimantan Province

Tourists feel happy when visiting Indonesia due to tons of beautiful places. For example, a stunning lake resides in Biduk-Biduk Sub-district, Derawan Archipelago. Not only it is considered as a beautiful nature attraction, the lake is also unique. Why is that? It features two types of water, which are freshwater and brine. In fact, those types of water don’t mix at all! With such uniqueness and beauty, more people are interested in visiting the lake, including the locals and outsiders. They want to enjoy its peaceful nuance, beautiful scenery and swim in the lake.

The Nuance
As mentioned before, the lake features a calm nuance. It is because the location is in the midst of lush trees and bushes. That means tourists can both relax and enjoy nature without any disturbance. Not to mention the lake features crystal clear water with its bluish color. Its clarity represents the beauty of a mirror, in fact. No wonder, the name includes “Cermin”, which means a mirror. Also, the water is made of the combination of freshwater and brine. It is another charm of the lake, after all.

Exploring Labuan Cermin Lake
The most common activity in Labuan Cermin Lake is relaxation. Visitors can simply sit on their boat and enjoy the serene nuance of the lake. They don’t even need to do anything, as the atmosphere is quite calm. Apart from that, they are allowed to swim in it. The water feels fresh and warm, so it is relaxing! No fee is included in order to enjoy such experience. It only takes some money to rent the boat in order to reach the location. The fact is no land route is available to get to the lake.

The next activity is photography. Due to this reason, no one should forget to carry a camera. It can be either a DSLR or a smartphone. The most important thing is the location where they take the pictures. Another precaution is stability, as they sit or stand on the boat. It is even possible to capture pictures of freshwater fishes and brine creatures there. In fact, the lake features corals, where brine fishes live. These are located on the bottom of the lake, actually.

For those who want to get in the water, it is better to rent a snorkel gear beforehand. This way, they can explore the lake clearly, including fishes and corals. As an alternative, tourists can simply swim on the surface of the water. They don’t even need any equipment to do so. The thing is they must have prepared extra clothes beforehand. Carrying snacks and bottled water is also recommended, especially for those who want to spend hours in the location.

Nearby Attractions

• Sulaiman Bay
• Kaniungan Besar Island
• Penimbul Waterfall

How to Get There
It is a bit difficult to reach the lake. From Balikpapan, travelers need to head to Berau District first.  From there, they may continue the trip to Tanjung Redeb Sub-district. Next, it takes about 6 hours to reach Biduk-Biduk Sub-district. Once they get to such region, it is time to reach the lake. The thing is they must rent a boat to get to Labuan Cermin Lake. That’s it.

Where to Stay

• Clarissa Homestay
• Selvia Hotel
• Fajirah Inn