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| Labuan Cermin Lake in Berau is protected by East Kalimantan authorities as a rare two-layer water geoheritage site within Sangkulirang Mangkalihat Geopark. |
BERAU, EAST KALIMANTAN – The East Kalimantan Provincial Government has intensified conservation efforts at Labuan Cermin Lake in Biduk-Biduk Village, Berau Regency, on Saturday, focusing on protecting its fragile karst ecosystem and maintaining its status as a nationally recognized geological heritage site.
Acting Head of the East Kalimantan Forestry Office, Rusmadi, said authorities continue to urge visitors to avoid damaging karst formations and to refrain from littering in order to preserve the sustainability of the ecotourism area.
“We continue to urge visitors not to damage karst rocks and not to litter in order to support sustainable tourism conservation,” Rusmadi said in Samarinda.
Labuan Cermin Lake, located in Biduk-Biduk Village, Berau Regency, is known for its rare natural phenomenon where freshwater forms a stable upper layer while seawater exists beneath it. This unique hydrological structure led to its official designation as a Geoheritage site in 2024 under the Decree of the Indonesian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources No. 187.K/GL.1/MEM.G/2024.
Rusmadi noted that the lake is also an important geological component within the Sangkulirang Mangkalihat Geopark, one of East Kalimantan’s key conservation and geotourism areas.
“This water area is also one of the leading geological components under the Sangkulirang Mangkalihat Geopark,” he said.
Geologically, the site is formed within a karst landscape system featuring freshwater lake ecosystems, with northern water flows heading toward the sea. The area also contains classic limestone and marl formations from the Domaring Formation, estimated to be 12 to 15 million years old.
Its geological structure is further shaped by the Mangkalihat Fault, which influences the emergence of springs aligned from northwest to southeast.
“The geological structure is also influenced by the Mangkalihat fault activity, which triggers spring formations stretching from northwest to southeast,” Rusmadi explained.
To ensure protection of the site, the Regional Technical Implementation Unit of the Production Forest Management Unit (KPHP) Berau Pantai under the East Kalimantan Forestry Office has been deployed to monitor the area directly.
Local authorities have also prohibited any activities that could damage natural vegetation or pollute the lake’s clear waters. The policy aims to preserve ecological balance while supporting sustainable nature-based tourism in Berau.
“We continue to intensify environmental awareness campaigns so that local communities and visitors understand the importance of maintaining ecological balance in this karst jewel of East Kalimantan,” Rusmadi emphasized.
Labuan Cermin Lake remains one of East Kalimantan’s most important geotourism assets. Beyond its stunning crystal-clear waters, the site holds significant scientific and geological value, reinforcing its role in conservation and sustainable tourism development in the region.
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