Ciwidey’s White Crater Lake Shrinks Amid Extreme Dry Spell

White Crater Lake in Ciwidey, Bandung Regency, West Java, has shrunk by 40 per cent as a result of a prolonged dry spell.

Budi Kawal, the site manager, said the lake’s water level was affected by weather conditions. It fell during the dry season, but could rise again when the rainy season begins.

“White Crater Lake’s water level has currently fallen by around 40 per cent because of the prolonged dry spell. It could rise again when the rainy season arrives,” Budi said when contacted on Thursday (22 October).

A video showing the lake’s receding waters has gone viral on social media. It shows the lakeshore drying out and exposing land.

Although the water level has fallen, the change has not yet affected visitor numbers.

“Thankfully, visitor numbers have not been affected so far. People who used to take photographs by the water can now do so on the exposed land, so numbers remain stable. There are around 600 visitors on weekdays and more than 1,500 at weekends,” he said.

Budi added that the receding water had made more land visible along the lakeshore, giving visitors another place to take photographs. Tourist facilities remain unchanged.

“The facilities are still the same as before; there have been no changes,” he said.