danau

Danau is the Indonesian term for a lake, a large inland body of standing water. The word is used in Indonesia and in some Malay-speaking regions to designate natural lakes, and it can also refer to artificial reservoirs in local usage. In Indonesian, danau is one of several terms for lake, with regional variants such as tasik or telaga.

Lakes form through various geological processes, including tectonic plate movement, volcanic activity, glacial carving, riverine damming, and sedimentation. Indonesia, with extensive volcanic and tectonic activity, has many caldera lakes and crater lakes, such as Danau Toba, a large caldera lake on Sumatra.

Danau Toba is considered the largest volcanic lake in the world by surface area and hosts a diverse ecosystem and a historic volcanic basin.

Lakes influence regional hydrology and ecology: they store freshwater, regulate water flow, support fisheries, and provide habitat for aquatic plants and animals. They are important for local climate moderation and as migration stopovers for birds; many Indonesian lakes host endemic species.

Humans use lakes for water supply, fisheries, transportation, tourism, and sometimes hydroelectric power. They face threats from pollution, sedimentation, invasive species, overuse, and climate change. Conservation and sustainable management focus on water quality, watershed protection, sustainable fisheries, and reducing nutrient loading.

Notable lakes in Indonesia include Danau Toba, Danau Singkarak, and Danau Matano, illustrating the variety of lake types across the archipelago.