Cultural Fluctuation of Lake Communities by the Shrinkage of Lake Limboto, Indonesia

Abstract

The fluctuating conditions of Lake Limboto have greatly affected the activities of people living around the lake. The shallowing and narrowing of the lake poses a significant problem to local people’s survival. The lake is predicted to disappear by 2030, which will consequentially lead to a diminishment in the productivity of the lake. This article aims to analyze how the communities around the lake respond in their daily activities to the transformation of the lake and the shocking prediction about its lifespan. This study uses an interdisciplinary approach by integrating multiple fields of study to understand and address the problems regarding this issue. This research comprised a literature review, field survey, and in-depth interview process around the lake. This research relied on the framework of cultural studies to analyze the survival and resilience of the people around the lake, gaining an understanding of their special daily activities. The results of this study show that some people are aware of the lake’s gradual recession, but they have not prepared for it, treating the problem as only a government affair. They continue to live at the lake’s shores, enduring even amidst impoverished conditions.