Lake Limboto is a broad, shallow lake west of Gorontalo, fringed by wetlands, villages, fish traps, and birdlife. It is not a pristine wilderness lake; it is a lived-in landscape, and that is what makes it useful for understanding the city.
The area also has the small amphibious aircraft landing museum, tied to President Sukarno's 1950 arrival by Catalina aircraft. Combine the lake with Otanaha Fortress, which looks down over the same water from the hills.