Mount Merbabu

Mount Merbabu
Mt Merbabu viewed from Salatiga
Elevation	3,145 m (10,318 ft)
Listing	Ultra Ribu
Translation	Mountain of ash (Indonesian)
Location
Location	Central Java, Indonesia
Coordinates	7°27′S 110°26′E / 7.45°S 110.43°E / -7.45; 110.43
Geology
Type	Dormant stratovolcano
Last eruption	1797
Climbing
Easiest route	Hike starting near Kopeng

Mount Merbabu (Indonesian: Gunung Merbabu) is a dormant stratovolcano in Central Java province on the Indonesian island of Java. The name Merbabu could be loosely translated as 'Mountain of Ash' from the Javanese combined words; Meru means "mountain" and awu or abu means "ash".

The active volcano Mount Merapi is directly adjacent on its south-east side, while the city of Salatiga is located on its northern foothills. A 1,500m high broad saddle lies between Merbabu and Merapi,^[1] the site of the village of Selo and highly fertile^{[citation needed]} farming land.

There are two peaks; Syarif (3,119 m) and Kenteng Songo (3,145 m). Three U-shaped radial valleys extend from the Kenteng Songo summit in northwesterly, northeastly and southeastly directions.

Two known moderate eruptions occurred in 1560 and 1797. The 1797 event was rated 2: Explosive, on the Volcanic Explosivity Index.^[2] An unconfirmed eruption may have occurred in 1570.^[3]

Geologically recent eruptions originated from a North Northwest-South Southeast fissure system that cut across the summit and fed the large-volume lava flows from Kopeng and Kajor craters on the northern and southern flanks, respectively.^[1]

Merbabu can be climbed from several routes originating from the town of Kopeng on the north east sideside, and also from Selo on the southern side. A climb from Kopeng to Kenteng Songo takes between 8 and 10 hours.^{[citation needed]}

An area of 57 km² at the mountain has been declared a national park in 2004.^[4]

See also

• List of volcanoes in Indonesia

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Global Volcanism Program | Merbabu | Summary. Volcano.si.edu. Retrieved on 2010-11-05.
2. ^ Global Volcanism Program | Merbabu | Eruptive History. Volcano.si.edu. Retrieved on 2010-11-05.
3. ^ Simkin, T., and Siebert, L., 1994, Volcanoes of the World: Geoscience Press, Tucson, Arizona, 349 p.
4. ^ Lestari Hutan Indonesia. Retrieved 26 February 2010.

External links

• Centre of Volcanology & Geological Hazard Mitigation, Pusat Vulkanologi & Mitigasi Bencana Geologi, Volcanological Survey of Indonesia.