Tomohon, Town Between Two Volcanoes

There is a town in North Sulawesi famous for flowers festival. It is Tomohon. Formerly this town is part of Minahasa regency. However, it is established as new municipality of North Sulawesi in 2013. It becomes the third city of North Sulawesi. By the way, Tomohon has become tourist destination even when it was still a district of Minahasa regency. The reason Tomohon becomes tourist destination is this town locates next to Manado, the capital. It is only twenty five kilometers from Manado. And, it has the facility for visiting tourists.

Tomohon is very small town as long as territory is being concerned. It even less populated than other municipalities of the province. However, since hundred years before many missionaries from Europe has already came to Tomohon. It was due to calm situation of Tomohon. They often made this town as a resting place to acclimatize from cool, freezing place to warm tropical area. Also before returning to their home town, they always took some time to come to Tomohon to relax.

Two Volcanoes in Tomohon

Tomohon is surrounded by two volcanoes. One of them is an active volcanoes. While the other remains calm and dormant. The volcanoes are Mount Lokon and Mount Mahawu. Mount Lokon lays at northwest of Tomohon and Mount Mahawu in northeast. These volcanoes are natural land marks of the town. Mount Lokon erupts regularly. According to KKVO (Kakaskasen Volcano Observatory), the cycle of eruption of Mount Lokon is between several months two twenty years. At the other hand, the cycle of eruption of Mount Mahawu is between sixty to seventy years. These volcanoes are part of caldera in North Sulawesi.

Flora and Fauna

Speaking of ecology, the nature of Tomohon is beautiful. Since it is surrounded by volcanoes, the forest here is beautiful. Both Mount Lokon and Mount Mahawu still have virgin forest for the animals to stay. People leave some area untouchable as virgin forest. Hence the animals can have their home. By the way, there is one species of fig endemic to Sulawesi and Philippines. It is called Minahasan Fig (ficus minahassae). This fig species is found around forest of Tomohon. Sulawesi toad (ingerophrynus celebensi) can also be found around forest of Tomohon. For birdwatchers, Mount Mahawu is the easiest and the best place to encounter Scaly Breasted Kingfisher (Actenoides Princeps). When climbing Mount Lokon, Sultan's cuckcoo-dove (Macropygia dorea) often times shows sitting on the bush in pair. As there is still vast area of jungle unexplored of people, we believe that there are still many species of animals around Tomohon forest. 

Places of Interest

Being surrounded by volcanoes, Tomohon has many places of interest. Volcanoes is number one. Many tourists come to Tomohon for trekking both to Mount Lokon and Mount Mahawu. However, tourist also visit other places of interest. Naturally, Tomohon suburb is a nice place to visit. The rice field of Woloan has recently become tourist destination. The farmland of Mount Mahawu is also nice area for taking pictures. There are several waterfalls in Tomohon. But the most famous is lake Linow. It is a volcanic lake, locates in south of Tomohon. This lake has phenomena to change color.

Tomohon International Flower Festival

Surprisingly, this small town hold an annual event. It is called Tomohon International Flower Festival. It has already been started from 2003. The festival is opened with Tournament of Flowers. Well, Tournament of Flowers is an agenda of event where trucks decorated with flowers and they make parade. And, it is a competition too. It is a competition between florists of Tomohon representing institutions or regions from all over the world. In this agenda, there is also fashion carnival and thanksgiving ceremony.