As you know, Indonesia is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, on a line thousands of kilometers long where the Indo-Australian and Eurasian lithospheric plates collide. It is to this complex geological process that every volcano in Indonesia owes its appearance.

There are interesting statistics that show that Indonesia is a world leader in many aspects of volcanic activity. This region has the largest number of active volcanoes and ranks second, after Japan, in the number of confirmed eruptions. The country's high population density has led to Indonesia leading in the number of eruptions leading to human casualties. The most terrible and destructive thing happened at the end of the 19th century, when the eruption of the raging Krakatau volcano and the tsunami caused by it led to the death of about 36 thousand people, 295 cities and villages were washed into the sea, many of them were destroyed even before the tsunami approached by the shock wave that fell equatorial forests on the coast of the Sunda Strait and tore off the roofs of houses in Jakarta, 150 kilometers from the site of the disaster. The consequences of the eruption were felt to varying degrees in all areas globe. And these days, Indonesian volcanoes often produce “noise effects” and throw columns of ash and portions of lava onto the surface.

The famous expression “they live like on a volcano” can be literally applied to Indonesians. But in order to understand what it’s like to live in the country of volcanoes, you need to see this miracle with your own eyes at least once, I thought, and got busy organizing our trip to Indonesia with mandatory visit active volcanoes.

Fear of volcanoes is not in the first place on the list of my fears; the top priority has long been given to the tsunami, but still a slight chill from the upcoming meeting with the fire-breathing mountains was felt. And I really hoped that during our visit all the monsters would sleep quietly and peacefully. But two volcanoes still added fuel to the fire of my worries. On May 24, the Merapi volcano, which is located 30 kilometers from Yogyakarta on the island of Java, erupted; photos and videos of a huge column of ash spread throughout the world’s media; due to the increased danger, the city’s airport was closed for some time. And on July 2, Agung on the island of Bali became more active, the local population from the surrounding areas was evacuated, and a zone within a radius of 4 kilometers was closed to visitors. On July 6, we set foot on Indonesian soil at Denpasar airport.

The first volcano we saw is located in the northeast of Bali - this is a volcano Gunung Batur or simply Batur. The volcano is easily accessible with about a 40-minute drive from the popular town of Ubud. Batur is an active volcano that experiences tremors from time to time. The largest emission over the past decade was recorded in 1999-2000, when the ash column reached more than 300 meters in height. Residents of villages located at the foot could observe minor activity of the volcano in June 2011.

The Sinabung volcano has awakened on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The island announced highest level danger and began an emergency evacuation of tourists and residents.

Associated Press reports.

Thousands of residents and tourists have become hostages in Indonesian resorts due to a new eruption of Mount Sinabung.

Photos and videos that appeared online show how a column of volcanic ash rose from the crater to a height of more than 5 thousand meters. Experts have already reported that this eruption will significantly complicate aviation flights. It is expected that in the future the cloud will go to south direction. The Indonesian National Disaster Management Agency, in turn, reported that clouds of hot ash spread 4.9 thousand meters to the south.

According to rescuers, there were no casualties or injuries as a result of the eruption. During the emergency evacuation, almost 3 thousand residents left their homes.

Volcanic eruption in Indonesia

A 5-kilometer column of smoke and dust rose into the sky on the island of Sumatra

Emergency evacuations are being carried out on the island of Sumatra

Volcano awakens in Indonesia, rescuers begin emergency evacuation

The Australian agency responsible for monitoring volcanic ash in the region, for its part, announced a “red level” of danger for airlines.

What is happening now on the island of Sumatra, watch the video.

Note that Sinabung is just one of more than 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia. For several centuries it was considered dead, but became active again in 2010. In early 2014, the Sinabung eruption resulted in the deaths of at least 16 people.

Volcanoes are creations of Mother Nature, which attract with their beauty and at the same time pose a huge danger to humanity and all life on our planet. Some people only see them in pictures, while others practically live next to them. One of the countries that has a huge number of volcanoes is Indonesia.

Getting to know the country

Many Russians who actively use tourism services have traveled to Indonesia. If you ask people who have once been here about what this country is like, many will start talking about Bali. It is with this island that travelers associate Indonesia. In fact, the named state is not only the island of Bali. This is more than 17 thousand small islands.

It so happens that Bali is the most popular island Indonesia in terms of tourism. It attracts travelers interesting story and temples preserved from ancient times, its amazing landscapes, tropical forests, endless beaches. The island is also famous for its impressive volcanoes. By the way, Indonesia is famous for these natural attractions. Currently, the country is a leader in the number of active volcanoes (78) and in the number of eruptions leading to human casualties (114).

Kelimutu

Some Indonesian volcanoes deserve special consideration. One of them is Kelimutu. It is located on the island of Flores. Its last activity was recorded in 1968, which means that the last eruption occurred half a century ago. Now Kelimutu is a popular tourist attraction, a real miracle of nature.

What is striking about the volcano on the island of Flores? Its amazing attractions are 3 lakes. Nature has transformed the volcano in 50 years. Lakes about 1650 m deep formed in its collapsed peaks. One lake has a dazzling turquoise hue, while the rest are emerald green and brownish red, sometimes black.

Legends associated with Kelimutu

The inhabitants of the island of Flores have developed mystical beliefs in relation to the volcano. People believe that the lakes are the other world, and each of them was formed for certain dead people. Turquoise Lake intended for young and innocent souls, emerald green is for people who died at an old age and lived their lives with dignity, and brownish red is for sinners who did bad deeds, killed people, living beings.

The lakes of Kelimutu volcano are separated by thin barriers. Residents who believe in an otherworldly life are sure that the walls were formed for a reason. They point out to people that there is a very thin and fragile line between good and evil. A person who destroys it during life through his atrocities or wrong actions ultimately dooms his soul after death to exist in darkness among evildoers.

Sinabung

One of the famous volcanoes in Indonesia is located in the northern part of the island of Sumatra. Its name is Sinabung. This is an active volcano, which has recently periodically awakened and instilled horror and panic in the inhabitants of the island. Its first sudden eruption began in August 2010. Until this moment, the volcano had been dormant for more than 4 centuries.

Subsequent eruptions were recorded every year. The victims were reported in the media in February 2014. During the next eruption, a local television journalist and members of the Indonesian Christian student movement GMKI died. Wrote in media mass media and about 4 children. The students came with their school teacher to see the eruption up close. Unfortunately, their educational trip to the Sinabung volcano in Indonesia ended tragically.

Volcanoes of Java

Perhaps the second most visited place after Bali is the Indonesian island of Java. Tourists either choose it as the main goal of their trip or visit it after excursions in Bali. The island of Java attracts with its natural attractions. Among them we can highlight National Park Bromo-Tengger-Semeru. It attracts travelers with its dangerous romance, because it is home to volcanoes such as Semeru, Kursi, Bromo, Batok.

Of the listed volcanoes, Bromo is attractive to tourists because it is the most photogenic. It is an active volcano in Indonesia. Periodically erupting clouds of smoke and sulfur create an amazing spectacle that travelers want to capture on camera.

Ijen

When considering the island of Java, one cannot fail to mention the Ijen volcano. It is located in the National Park of the same name. The volcano is interesting because a lake of an apple-greenish hue has formed in its caldera. This place is sometimes called hellish. There are several reasons. Firstly, the lake is hot. On its surface the temperature is about 60 degrees. At depth it is higher. There the temperature exceeds 200 degrees.

The shores of the lake, which belongs to the Ijen volcano in Indonesia, make it especially unusual. Sulphurous rollers are cast on them in gold. Local residents here are engaged in sulfur mining. They work in inhumane conditions, because the air contains harmful gases and vapors. People work in masks, and without it, acute coughing attacks occur.

Tambora

Among the Indonesian volcanoes, Tambora entered history. It is located on the island of Sumbawa. This creation of nature is associated with the most powerful eruption that humanity has seen in its lifetime. A tragic event occurred in 1815. Until this moment, the volcano had not erupted for several centuries. In 1815, the total volume of lava and ash was 150-180 km 3.

At the moment of the eruption, a powerful explosion occurred. It was even heard by residents of the island of Sumatra, located 2 thousand km away. The entire area, located at a distance of 600 km, was plunged into darkness after a volcanic eruption in Indonesia. According to approximate estimates, terrible a natural phenomenon killed 12 thousand people. About 60 thousand people later died from hunger and diseases that were a consequence powerful eruption.

Tambora today

After 1815, several small eruptions were recorded, but they were not so large-scale or tragic. Currently, the volcano continues to be considered active. He is being carefully monitored, because such a colossal number of victims cannot be allowed anymore.

Now, according to experts, this powerful volcano in Indonesia does not pose a threat to local residents. But, despite this, a special plan for the prevention and elimination of emergency situations has been developed. According to it, the nearby territory was divided into 2 zones. One of them is considered dangerous. During an eruption in this area, everything will be destroyed by lava and ash. People are now prohibited from living in the danger zone. Another part of the nearby territory is an area of ​​increased attention. It may be indirectly affected by an eruption in the future. Local residents are allowed to live in this area. Now there are several settlements.

Each volcano in Indonesia is interesting in its own way. Travelers going to this country for vivid impressions and unusual memories should visit at least one of them. Some volcanoes, as mentioned above, attract with their dangerous romance, others attract with mystical legends, and still others arouse interest in connection with major eruptions that occurred in the distant past.

Indonesia includes an island with an area of ​​about 130 thousand square kilometers. Almost a third of it is jungle. The island of Java is famous for the fact that there are volcanoes on its territory, the total number of which is 120. Moreover, 30 of them are active.

Java is one of the most large islands Indonesia, where the capital of the country is located. But not all tourists know and visit this island, because the now famous and popular Bali is located very close to it. And although the island of Java is much less suitable for tourism, unlike Bali, it is still worth a visit. If only because of those 120 volcanoes that are located on the island. And even if you won’t be able to see everything, you can choose and visit at least the most interesting ones.

One of these volcanoes is Ijen. Firstly, it is interesting because its crater is filled with a turquoise-colored sulfur lake. In this volcano, locals mine sulfur in an open pit. Workers carrying baskets with heavy pieces of sulfur can be seen here almost constantly. You can even offer them your help and try to lift a weight of 50-60 kilograms to the top of the volcano. This volcano is also famous for its unusual bluish glow. The fact is that sulfur dioxide still continues to come to the surface in some areas and ignite. Since you can only see this phenomenon in the dark, that’s when the bulk of tourists come here.

The next volcanoes of the island of Java, which are also worth visiting, are the entire Tengger volcanic complex. It consists of three volcanoes, which are the hallmark of the entire island of Java. In order to admire the breathtaking views of the Tengger volcanoes there is even a special Observation deck. From here you can see landscapes that can be called cosmic rather than terrestrial. All volcanoes in the complex are active. Those who want to tickle their nerves can climb one of them called Bromo and look into the crater from where steam constantly rises.

There is another active volcano on the island of Java called Merapi. It is located in the central part of the island near the capital of the country - Yogyaert. This volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in all of Indonesia. Small eruptions occur here twice a year. But quite large eruptions also occur, due to which local residents are even evacuated. The last such eruption was recorded in 2010, when several hundred thousand locals were taken out. Seeing the very top of the volcano is not an easy task, as it is often hidden in thick clouds.

The most easily accessible volcano for tourists is also located in the center of the island and is called Tangkuban Perahu. You can drive right to its top by car along an asphalt road. Therefore, of course, there are always the most tourists here. But thanks to this, there are also many cafes and tourist souvenir shops. There is also a specially equipped observation deck from which you can admire two craters of the volcano at once.

In addition to volcanoes, the island of Java has many other interesting attractions that will also interest and surprise travelers. For example, here is Borobudur, a Buddhist architectural and sculptural religious building built between 750 and 850. For hundreds of years, Borobudur was covered with a thick layer of volcanic ash. Scientists agree that local residents had to leave here due to a volcanic eruption.

And it was on this Indonesian island that the remains of Pithecanthropus and Javanthropus were found. The former are also called ape-men, a fossil subspecies of humans that was once considered an intermediate stage between australopithecines and neanderthals. Javantropus is another fossil man from Indonesia.

There are 78 dormant volcanoes that are part of the Pacific Ocean. fire ring. It was formed at the junction of two lithospheric plates, the Indo-Australian and Eurasian. Today this area is the most volcanically active in the world. It has recorded 1,250 eruptions, 119 of which resulted in human casualties.

The list of the most popular volcanoes in Indonesia among tourists is as follows:

1. . The height is 1640 m. It is located on, captivating with the beauty of its lakes. The volcano is part of Kelimutu. At the top of the mountain there is not one, but three lakes, which differ in size, color and composition. Climbing to the top of Kelimutu Volcano in Indonesia reveals red, green and blue-black pools that change throughout the day depending on the light and weather.
2. . Height 2400 m. This volcano is famous for its blue lava and the largest acid lake in the world. People come here from all over the world to see an incredible spectacle - a spill of shining lava and lightning striking from the ground 5 m in height. The volcano crater is filled deep lake, in which sulfuric and hydrochloric acid splashes instead of water. Its attractive emerald color is very dangerous. It is unsafe to come close to the lake, as well as to be in the crater of the Ijen volcano in Indonesia without special respirators that protect against sulfur vapor.


3. in Indonesia. Located in the east of the island of Java, it is incredibly beautiful and attracts many tourists with its grandeur. They climb to a height of 2330 m to watch the sunrise and admire unreal volcanic views. The slopes are covered with lush greenery, but the higher you get to the top, the more futuristic the landscape becomes. Black sand dunes, low-hanging clouds of smoke make an indelible impression on travelers.


4. Volcano Sinabung. Height 2450 m. Located in the north. For a long time the volcano was considered dormant, but from 2010 to this day it erupts once every 3 years, which leads to numerous destruction and evacuation of residents. Lately he has increased his activity and alarms residents every year. In May 2017, it again began emitting ash so powerfully that it was closed to tourists for an indefinite period of time. Now it is impossible to drive closer than 7 km to the Sinabung volcano in Indonesia, and people from local villages have been taken to a safe distance.


5. Vulcan Lucy in Indonesia is the largest mud volcano located on the island of Java in the place. It appeared artificially in the process of natural gas production, when drilling wells. In 2006, streams of mud began to rise from the ground under the pressure of gas. The surrounding area was quickly flooded by strong mudflows. All attempts by geologists working on drilling to stop the release of mud, water and steam were unsuccessful. Even stone balls dropped into the crater in large quantities. The peak of eruptions occurred in 2008, when Lucy ejected 180 thousand cubic meters every day. m of mud, which led to the evacuation of local residents. Today it has collapsed under its own weight and has temporarily fallen silent.


6. in Indonesia. Height 2970 m. One of the most frequently erupting volcanoes on the island of Java, it last erupted in 2014. The Indonesians call it “mountain of fire,” which speaks of its continuous activity over many centuries. Eruptions began to be recorded in 1548, and since then small eruptions occur twice a year, and large ones - once every 7 years.


7. . Infamous for the most powerful eruption in world history. Once upon a time volcanic island There was a dormant volcano in the Lesser Sunda Islands group. In May 1883, he woke up and threw a column of ash and flame 70 km high into the sky. Unable to withstand the pressure, the mountain exploded, hitting a space at a distance of 500 km with rock fragments. The shock wave in the capital demolished some buildings, many roofs, windows and doors. The tsunami rose to 30 m, and the shock wave managed to fly around the entire earth 7 times. Today it is low mountain 813 m above sea level, which grows every year and is again gaining its activity. After the latest measurements, it is prohibited to approach the Krakatoa volcano in Indonesia closer than 1500 m.


8. . Height 2850 m. Located on the Lesser Sunda Islands group. The last recorded eruption was in 1967, but the most famous was 1815, which was called the “year without a summer.” On April 10, the awakened Tambora volcano in Indonesia shot flames to a height of 30 m, ash and sulfur vapors entered the stratosphere, causing serious climate change, which was called the Little Ice Age.


9. . The height is 3675 m, it is highest point islands of Java. The name was given to him local residents in honor of the Hindu god Semeru, they often refer to him as “Mahameru”, which means “ Big mountain" Climbing this volcano will require you to be quite physically active and will take at least 2 days. It is suitable for experienced and confident tourists. From the top there are breathtaking views of the island, living green and lifeless Martian valleys that were scorched by eruptions. The volcano is quite active and constantly emits clouds of smoke and ash.


10. . Most big volcano, 3800 m above sea level, located in Indonesia on the island of Sumatra, on the territory national park. At its foot live the famous Sumatran tigers and Javan rhinoceroses. At the top in the crater there is a high-mountain volcanic lake, which is considered the highest among the lakes of Southeast Asia.


11. . A favorite of travelers who appreciate beauty. Tourists come here specifically to watch the sunrise and admire the amazing landscape that opens up. beautiful island. The height of the volcano is only 1700 m, the climb is not difficult, accessible even to unprepared people. In addition to tourists, the Balinese themselves often climb the volcano. They believe that gods live on the mountain, and before starting the ascent they pray to them and perform rituals and offerings.