Ayamaru Lakes

Ayamaru Lakes
File:Lake Ayamura.jpg South Shore of Lake Ayamura
Location	Bird's Head Peninsula
Coordinates	1°16′S 132°12′E
Primary inflows	Framu River
Primary outflows	Ayamaru River
Basin countries	Indonesia
Average depth	30 ft (9.1 m)
Max. depth	40 ft (12 m)
Surface elevation	180 ft (55 m)
Islands	Kaymundan Island
Settlements	Greemakolo, Rawas

The Ayamura Lakes are a group of lakes found in the southwestern-central part of the Bird's Head Peninsula in West Papua. The lakes are named after the Ayamaru people that lived here for thousands of years. The nearest village to the group is Greemakolo. The many villages around the Ayamaru Lakes started the Ayamaru language.

Physical Features

The group makes up Lake Ayamaru and Lake Hain. The lakes are surrounded by many low hills. The water in both of the lakes are a clear blue because of the rich material found in the water. There are deep holes in the lakes that lead to underwater caverns. The vivid colors on the north shores of the Ayamaru Lakes are the result of pigmented bacteria in the microbial mats that grow around the edges of the mineral-rich water. The bacteria produce colors ranging from orange to red; the amount of color in the microbial mats depends on the ratio of chlorophyll to carotenoids and on the temperature of the water which favors one bacterium over another. The pH in the lake exeeds to 8.0. On the south shores of the lakes is filled with wetlands and many wildlife.

Lake Ayamaru

The largest lake in the group, Lake Ayamura has a more warm temperature than Lake Hatlin. In the ceter of the lake is Kaymundan Island, a small island filled with trees. On the northwestern shore of the lake is the village of Greemakolo. The lake is a bit foggy because of the temperatures up to 71 F. This is also where the Ayamaru River starts. The people from the surrounding villages use the lake for fishing and bathing.

File:Kaymundan Island.jpg

Kaymundan Island.

Lake Hain

Lake Hain is made up of two lakes and has temperatures up to 100 F. This is where the Framu River flows in. Most of the lake is covered with smoke because of its high temperatures. It is actually a hot spring.

File:Central Region of Bird's Head Peninsula.gif

The area around the Ayamaru Lakes.

Wildlife

Most of the wildlife are found in the wetlands of the southern shores of Lake Ayamura. Also many fish found over here, too. The most common fish found in Lake Ayamaru is the Ayamaru Rainbowfish(Melanotaenia ajamaruensis) and the Boeseman's Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia boesemani).

File:Melanotaenia-fasinensis1.jpg

Some fish of the Ayamaru Lakes.