Kawah Putih
(English: White Crater) located on the top of Mount Patuha in Ciwidey, about 25 km from Bandung regency, West Java. Kawah Putih is a striking crater lake and tourist spot in a
volcanic crater. Kawah Putih
lake is one of the two craters which make up Mount Patuha, an andesitic
stratovolcano (a "composite" volcano. Kawah Putih crater lake itself
represents a relatively stable volcanic system with no records of
significant activity since around 1600.
The lake is 2,430 meters above sea level so the local climate is often quite chilly (temperatures are frequently around 10 degrees Celsius). This makes a brisk change from the humidity of the north Java plain and the capital city of Jakarta. Kawah Putih is a sizeable highly acid lake (pH 0.5-1.3) which changes colour from bluish to whitish green, or brown, depending on the concentration of sulfur and the temperature or the oxidation state. The sand and rocks surrounding the lake have been also leached into whitish colours through interaction with the acidic lake waters (with possible mineral precipitation as well).
Kawah Putih site was opened to visitors in 1987. Since then, the natural beauty of Kawah Putih became one of the popular tourist destination in West Java. Access to leading tourist attractions Bandung white crater is spelled
out very easily, can be reached by public transport or use a motorcycle or car.
Kawah Putih (white crater) West Java, Indonesia
