Alor's icy seawater phenomenon could be a tourist attraction<\/p>\n
Antara, Alor, East Nusa Tenggara<\/p>\n
Abbas, a motorcycle taxi driver, becomes high spirited when he
\ntalks about a rare natural spectacle in the village of Alor
\nKecil, Baratlaut district, Alor regency.<\/p>\n
\"There are times when the sea water turns cold as ice in a
\ncertain area during which many fish die. The latest occurrence of
\nthis phenomenon took place last week,\" said Abbas.<\/p>\n
Residents had a great time collecting fish that had died due
\nto the abrupt change in water temperature. It has became a
\ntourist attraction.<\/p>\n
According to Abbas, the chairman of the Northwest Alor
\nMotorcycle Taxi Drivers Association, people from as far as
\nKalabahi, the capital of Alor regency, flock to the beach to see
\nfish sprawling about when the water temperature turns icy. \"In
\nthose conditions, we compete to gather the most fish. Many
\ntownspeople bring canned drinks to cool them in the seawater for
\nseveral minutes,\" said the man who was born in Alor.<\/p>\n
According to a former Alor regental councillor, Rahmat
\nMarweki, 45, about a kilometer stretch of seawater will turn
\nchilly along the coast of Alor Kecil village.<\/p>\n
Due to drastic drop in water temperature in the Mulut Kumbang
\nBay area, the view to Kepa Island, which lays across from Alor
\nKecil village, is obstructed due to the formation of a cold mist
\non the surface of the sea.<\/p>\n
Rahmat related that no one from outside of Alor could stand
\nbeing in the water for more than several minutes, to depict how
\ncold the water becomes in the bay area.<\/p>\n
\"But the children of Alor are used to it. They even go diving
\nto catch fish when the water goes cold,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Even though most of the residents of Alor Kecil earn a living
\nfrom fishing, they do not sell the fish they collect. \"Who could
\nwe sell them to when so many townsfolk have come down and
\ngathered fish for themselves. So we just enjoy eating the fish
\nwith our families,\" said Rahmat, who is a Manglolong tribal
\nfigure from Makassar.<\/p>\n
A customary leader from the Manglolong tribe, Muhammad Kare,
\n49, explained that the phenomenon most often occurred in the
\nmonths of March and October, and in early April. But lately, the
\nevent has not taken place twice a year as it usually did.<\/p>\n
Kare said that the natural phenomenon usually took place
\nduring the change of seasons. But of late, it has been taking
\nplace once every two months.<\/p>\n
Despite that, when the phenomenon will happen cannot be
\npredicted. He said that the icy conditions often lasted four or
\nfive days.<\/p>\n
According to Rahmat, foreign scientists had once studied the
\ncauses of the natural phenomenon a few years ago, but was
\nfruitless because diving in the area was difficult.<\/p>\n
\"The strong waves in Mulut Kumbang Bay makes the sea water
\nhere cold but not frozen,\" said the United Development Party
\n(PPP) activist.<\/p>\n
Rahmat said that a researcher from Australia had once
\nattempted to explore an underwater cave believed to be the source
\nof the icy water a few years ago, but always failed to reach the
\nend, returning with no results.<\/p>\n
He said the spectacle should be developed as a tourist
\nresource for Alor regency. Moreover, the regency, a stone's throw
\naway from Timor Leste, has an abundance of breathtaking coral
\nreefs.<\/p>\n
\"The coral reefs in Pantar Strait are stunning. There are 14
\nsnorkeling points and the underwater beauty is comparable with
\nBunaken,\" said Rahmat.<\/p>\n
Rahmat said that tourism development in the area faced a
\nnumber of obstacles, particularly in terms of access to the area.<\/p>\n
The only modes of public transportation from Kalabahi to the
\narea are minivans called oto, and motorcycle taxis traversing the
\nsmall road that is full of potholes. The road from Kalabahi to
\nAlor Kecil is being paved now.<\/p>\n
Other means of transportation from Kupang to Kalabahi are
\nferries and airplanes that are not available daily. There are
\nfour flights from Kupang each week every Saturday, Sunday, Monday
\nand Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\"Investors are not keen to invest in the area due to the
\ntransportation problem. Alor is like a sleeping giant possessing
\nspectacular natural marine wealth,\" said Rahmat.<\/p>\n
He explained that a number of facilities were available in the
\narea, including cottages on Kepa island frequented by tourists on
\ndiving tours. Each cabin costs Rp 60,000 (US$6.50) with three
\nmeals provided per day.<\/p>\n
\"Tourists have actually been visiting Alor since 1978, but the
\npace of development here has not been rapid like Bali or Lombok,\"
\nsaid Rahmat.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/alors-icy-seawater-phenomenon-could-be-a-tourist-attraction-1447893297",
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