- Address: Merapi, Suroteleng, Selo, Boyolali Regency, Central Java, Indonesia
- Height above sea level: 2930 m
- The last eruption: March 10, 2014.
In Indonesia there are 128 volcanoes , but the most active and dangerous of them is Merapi (Gunung Merapi). It is located in the south of the island of Java near the village of Yogyakarta and is famous for the fact that every day it smokes and throws ash, stones and fragments of magma into the air.
general information
The name of the volcano is translated from the local language as "mountain of fire". It is located at an altitude of 2930 m above sea level. Merapi is located in the zone where the Australian plate is covered by the Eurasian, and on the fault line, which is the southeastern part of the Pacific ring of fire.
Local residents are afraid and like the Merapi volcano at the same time. In the vicinity of the mountain there is a large number of settlements, although almost every family has suffered during eruptions. At the same time, the ashes falling on the fields make these lands the most fertile on the whole island .
Volcanic activity
Major eruptions of the Merapi volcano occur about once every 7 years, and small - every 2 years. The most terrible natural cataclysms occurred here:
- in 1006, the first officially recorded eruption, when the Javanese kingdom of Mataram was almost completely destroyed;
- in 1673 - there was the most destructive release of magma, which destroyed many villages and several cities located at the base of the mountain;
- in 1930, more than 1,300 people died from the eruption of the Merapi volcano on the island of Java;
- in 1974, the natural elements destroyed 2 large settlements;
- in 1975 - Merapi dethroned 5 bridges and a small town, killing 29 people;
- in 2010, the last eruption of the volcano occurred, when rescuers evacuated 35 thousand people, 353 local residents got into the pyroclastic flow and died.
These terrible figures are supplemented by the death of volcanologists and tourists as a result of accidents. Their graves can be seen on the top of Mount Merapi.
Java is the most densely populated island on the planet, and around the volcano is home to about a million people. Major eruptions of Merapi begin with the release of hot ash and ash, obscuring the sun, and light earthquakes. Then huge stones, the size of a house, begin to fly out of the crater, and lava tongues swallow absolutely everything on their way: forests, roads, dams, rivers, farms, etc.
Public policy
In connection with the frequency of these terrible events, the government launched a project to study volcanic rocks and take control of them. For the removal of lava, concrete channels and ditches have been built here, which also supply the region with water. Around Merapi, an all-weather road is laid, its length is about 100 km. Large world communities and countries allocate money for these works, for example, ASEAN, EEC, UN, USA, Canada, etc.
Features of visit
Rising to the Merapi volcano in Indonesia is best in the dry season (April to November). During the rainy season, smoke and steam are gathering on top of the mountain. There are 2 routes to the crater:
- the first is a complex path beginning in the village of Kaliurang;
- the second - the most popular among tourists, the starting point is the village of New Selo.
The ascent is spent from 3 to 6 hours. Time depends on the weather and physical abilities of tourists. At the top of the crater you can spend the night and meet the dawn.
How to get there?
To get to the starting points of climbing is most convenient from Jogjakarta with an organized excursion or independently on the roads:
- Jl. Magelang and Jl. Raya Jogjakarta Solo / Jl. Raya Solo to the settlement of New Selo, the journey takes up to 2 hours;
- Jl. Palagan Tentara Pelajar and Magelang to the village of Kaliurang, the distance is about 15 km.