Lake Letas

Lake Letas fills much of the caldera on Gaua and is the largest lake in Vanuatu, with the active cone of Mount Garet rising directly out of its western shore. Water leaves the lake over a lip and falls as the Siri waterfall on the far side. The walk in from the coast takes several hours through forest and gardens. Canoes cross the lake toward the volcano when conditions allow.

Background

The lake lies in the middle of Gaua, an island 20 km in diameter in the Banks Islands, at 418 meters above sea level. Shaped like a U, it wraps around Mount Gharat on every side but the southwest, covers 19 km² and reaches 119 meters in depth. Its fresh water is greenish, sits at 32 °C and supports only eels and shrimps. A natural overflow on the eastern shore sends water about 3 km east to Siri Waterfall, then another 3 km along the Namang or Be Solomul rivers to the sea. An application for UNESCO World Heritage status was made in 2004, and the lake became a Ramsar site on 15 September 2023.

Source: Wikipedia, "Lake Letas"

Highlights

• The lake - the largest body of fresh water in the country.
• Mount Garet - the active cone rising out of the lake's western side.
• The caldera - the collapse structure holding the whole system.
• The canoe crossing - the route toward the volcano when conditions allow.

When to go

April to October is the dry season and the walk in is manageable. November to March is wet and the tracks become very difficult. Volcanic activity can close access.

Things to know

The walk in takes several hours through mud and a guide is mandatory. Accommodation is camping or very basic village guesthouses. Volcanic activity at Garet closes access without notice.

Nearby

Siri Waterfall is on the other side, and Sola is north.

Key facts