Telaga Duma (Lake Duma) - Attractions in GALELA - North Halmahera

Telaga (Lake) Duma - Galela is the largest lake on Halmahera Island and has an important history for the local community. Duma offers beautiful natural scenery. The water is clear and calm making it suitable for swimming, fishing and boating. Telaga Duma is one of the attractions that can be found in the region of Galela, North Halmahera, North Maluku province.

The this lake, there are some keramba (fish cages) with a floating restaurant serving grilled fish beside it. The grilled fish is tastier because you are also treated with a beautiful view of Telaga Duma and mountains as the background. Fish available is kind of tilapia. This restaurant is not visible from the main road so we suggest you to ask the local people so you will not to get lost.

Source: Blog Mulyanto Syawal

Not far from the restaurant, about five minutes by vehicle, you will find Tanjung (Cape) Duma. This place is now called Tanjung Van Dijken. At this location, you will find a monument of Hendrik Van Dijken. The monument was built in honor of the Dutch missionary as well as his services as the first evangelist in Halmahera in 1816.

According to the story, this location is a place which considered haunted by the local people because there is an evil giant named tumadoa lives there. Van Dijken were solely placed in this location by the local authorities with the intention that he was obliterated by the giant.

In short, the success of Van Dijken to survive living there then coined the term "duma widoohawa" (Galela language) which means "only him who left unharmed". The word "Duma" then became very popular until it was used as the largest lake name in North Halmahera, although the formation of the lake is related to a great eruption of Mount Tarakani in Galela at that time.

What is interesting from the monument is a statue of Hendrik Van Dijken which depicted standing on the earth of Halmahera, holding the Gospel in his left hand and a hoe in his right hand. The hoe is a symbol that during the mission, Van Dijken also empowered the plantation sector, especially tobacco and coffee. Several large trees that are older than a hundred years in the location of the monument is believed to be the first trees planted by the missionary.

Source: Blog Mulyanto Syawal

On the southwest side of Telaga Duma there is also another historical relic which is the Japanese bunker. Telaga Duma - Galela is located on the north of Tobelo with a distance of about 26 km and 30 minutes long trip by vehicle.