Mount Batur (; ) is an active volcano located at the center of two concentric calderas northwest of Mount Agung on the island of Bali, Indonesia. The southeast side of the larger 10×13 km caldera contains a caldera lake. Both the larger caldera, and a smaller 7.5 km caldera were formed by a collapse of the magma chamber, the first larger collapse taking place about 29,300 years ago, and the second inner caldera collapsing about 20,150 years ago. Another estimate of the inner caldera's formation date, formed during the emplacement of the Bali (or Ubud) ignimbrite, has been dated at about 23,670 and 28,500 years ago.

The first documented eruption was in 1804 and the most recent was in 2000. The substantial lava field from the 1963 eruption is visible today when viewed from Kintamani, a town on the southwest ridge of the caldera.

Villages in the caldera

The caldera is populated and includes the four main villages of Kedisan, Songan, Trunyan, and Toya Bungkah, among a total of 15 villages. The locals largely rely on agriculture for income but tourism has become increasingly popular due to the relatively straightforward trek to the summit of the central crater.

Global Geoparks Network

On 20 September 2012 UNESCO made Mount Batur Caldera a part of the Global Geoparks Network.

Sedimentation

Heavy sedimentation in Mount Batur Caldera decreases the water in the lake. A plan was devised to restrict locations around the lake for tourist accommodations, to inform residents of the problems of fish farm cages in the lake, and perhaps to dredge some of the natural sedimentation from volcanic ash.

The lake is subject to water pollution from fishing and agricultural runoff, promoting the growth of too many water hyacinths, further worsening conditions in the lake, causing some to wonder if the lake will disappear between heavy sedimentation at the bottom and a dense cover of water hyacinths.

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File:Гунунг-Батур.JPG|From the southeast foot.

File:Mount Batur.JPG|From the SSW.

File:Gunung Batur, Kintamani MWD 15.jpg|From the northeast.

File:Bangli Mount Batur.jpg|View from Mount Batur

File:Mount batur and lake.jpg|Batur caldera as seen from the southwest.<br />Mount Batur in the center. Lake Batur on the right. <br />Taken from the caldera rim in the south-southwest.

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See also

  • Lake Batur
  • Lake Tamblingan
  • List of volcanoes in Indonesia
  • Subak (irrigation)
  • Tukad Ayung
  • Tukad Daya
  • West Bali National Park

References