Lake Lalolalo

Lake Lalolalo, on the island of Wallis, is the most striking and mysterious of the several crater lakes that dot this small French Pacific territory. Almost perfectly circular, this deep volcanic lake is enclosed by sheer, vertical cliffs of dark rock cloaked in lush green forest that plunge straight into its dark, still waters, giving it a dramatic, almost otherworldly atmosphere. The lake has long held a place in local legend and tradition, adding to its air of mystery, and it is home to nesting seabirds on its cliffs and a wealth of birdlife. Reached through the island's greenery to viewpoints on the rim, Lalolalo offers a beautiful and evocative encounter with the volcanic origins and natural heritage of Wallis.

What you actually see

• The round crater lake - the perfectly circular deep volcanic lake.
• The sheer cliffs - the forested cliffs plunging to the water.
• The dark still waters - the atmospheric, mysterious lake surface.
• The birdlife - the nesting seabirds on the cliffs.

When to go

May to October, the drier and cooler season, brings the most pleasant weather for visiting the lake and its viewpoints, avoiding the hotter, wetter months; the tropical climate is warm year-round. Clear, calm days best show the lake's dark, mirror-still waters.

Honest expectations

Lalolalo is a natural viewpoint to be admired from the rim rather than a site of activities, so a visit is brief and contemplative, and Wallis and Futuna are remote and little-visited with limited facilities. As a perfectly round, mysterious crater lake ringed by sheer forested cliffs, one of the most striking natural sights of the territory, though, Lake Lalolalo is a genuinely beautiful and atmospheric spot.

Nearby

The capital Mata-Utu and the ancient site of Talietumu lie on Wallis.