How long will the volcano erupt in Bali? Eruption of Mount Agung in Bali: flights cancelled, tourists are asked to be careful. Climbing Batur
More and more volcanoes are awakening all over to the globe. each time it spews out clouds of smoke and ash more and more powerfully..
Volcano Agung frightens Bali authorities
In Indonesian resort island A volcano erupted in Bali, causing flights to and from Australia to be cancelled, after a huge cloud of ash rose into the sky.
The Agung volcano ejects ash and smoke that have shrouded dozens of villages in an impenetrable fog. Lava flows spread over a radius of 2-3 kilometers around the troubled mountain. There were no reports of casualties, but the national disaster management agency established a 2.5-mile exclusion zone around the mountain and said face masks would be distributed to anyone dangerously close to the mountain as a precaution. For this purpose, local officials purchased 50,000 masks.
Bali Airport representative Arie Ahsanurrohim spoke about the cancellation of flights between Bali and Australia, flights to New Zealand will be carried out as scheduled.
Brent Thomas, commercial director of the New Zealand travel company House of Travel, said that tourists should be as collected as possible and carefully observe natural circumstances. “It (the volcano) could go dormant again or it could flare up again, no one knows when that will happen,” Brent Thomas said.
Note that the Agung volcano began to show the first signs of life at the end of 2017. Then the emissions from the bowels of the earth were so powerful that the authorities organized the immediate evacuation of people from dangerous places.
The largest one occurred in 1963, more than 1,000 people became victims, and several villages were destroyed. Agung is just one of more than 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia, which is prone to eruptions and earthquakes due to its location on the "Ring of Fire" - a series of fault lines stretching from the western hemisphere to Japan and southeast Asia.
Airport operations on the island of Bali have been suspended for almost a day due to the activity of the Agung volcano. As a result, more than 440 flights were canceled and about 60 thousand tourists were stranded on the island, media reported.
This is what the columns of ash ejected from the active Agung volcano look like. Bali, November 27, 2017. Photo: Reuters
Flights have been suspended due to the spread following the eruption of Mount Agung. A red warning has been declared in the region. It means that an eruption is imminent or that an eruption with a large release of volcanic ash into the atmosphere is already occurring.
The village, located near the Agung volcano, lives in its own rhythm. Bali, November 27, 2017. Photo: Reuters 
Volcano Agung. Bali, November 27, 2017. Photo: Reuters 
Passengers at the airport look at the departure board, which has changed after the activation of the Agung volcano. Bali, November 26, 2017. Photo: Reuters On Monday, November 27, the threat level was raised to maximum. It is noted that ash columns rose to a height of 3.4 km. There is still a possibility of a powerful eruption. It is forbidden to approach the volcano at a distance closer than 8-10 km, reported at the Disaster Prevention Agency.
A tourist looks at volcanic ash columns. Bali, November 27, 2017. Photo: Reuters 
Volcano Agung. Bali, November 25, 2017. Photo: Reuters 
A Disaster Prevention Agency worker puts a protective mask on a child. Bali, November 27, 2017. Photo: Reuters 
Authorities began distributing protective masks to the population when Mount Agung became active. Bali, November 27, 2017. Photo: Reuters Already, about 40 thousand local residents whose houses are located near the volcano have been evacuated, and about 100 thousand more people are going to be evacuated due to the eruption of Mount Agung, AFP reports, citing representatives of the Indonesian Emergency Management Agency.
Embassy of Belarus in Indonesia
In July 2015, the Indonesian island of Bali came into the spotlight of the general public. The sky above him was cloudy due to the emission of ash. Thousands of tourists were trapped at the airport. The government evacuated local residents from the natural disaster zone. But they found themselves under a layer of volcanic ash. And several villages located on the slopes of the fire-breathing mountain burned down. Does a similar situation often occur in Bali? This is not uncommon for Indonesia. After all, the archipelago state is included in the so-called fire belt of the Earth. This strip, stretching from Kamchatka to the equator along the coast Pacific Ocean, still suffers from the violent tectonic activity of our planet. But Bali is also a popular tourist destination. Wide beaches with white sand, mountains with babbling streams, crystal waterfalls and the lush greenery of the tropical jungle... Add to all this first-class service and well-developed tourist infrastructure. Do travelers to this tropical paradise take a big risk? Read about this in our article.
Explosive Indonesia
Every year, seismologists record about seven thousand earthquakes in this country. The figure is, of course, impressive. But don't let this fact discourage you from traveling to Indonesia. The lion's share of tremors is recorded only by sensitive instruments. But, nevertheless, seismologists vigilantly monitor the activity of the subsurface underground. After all, tremors can be symptoms of a much more dangerous phenomenon - a volcanic eruption. These mountains in Indonesia are truly deadly. Just one precursor to an eruption - the release of sulfur gases - can kill all living things nearby. Columns of smoke cover the entire sky with impenetrable darkness. Hot stones fall - volcanic bombs. And streams of lava flow down, burning everything in its path. There are five hundred volcanoes in Indonesia. But only 128 of them are active, and 65 are considered especially dangerous. Are volcanoes in Bali dangerous and how dangerous? We hasten to assure you that eruptions mainly take place in Sumatra. In the “tropical paradise” beloved by tourists, the situation is not so tense. Although…
Active volcanoes in Bali
To calm down a little, let's remember school science, or more precisely, fifth grade geography. Volcanoes are extinct, dormant and active. Seismologists decide which category a particular mountain belongs to based on the date of the last eruption. Bali is a volcanic island in origin. But not all the mountains on it are potentially dangerous. After all, the island was formed millions of years ago. And if a particular volcano last erupted more than ten thousand years ago, it is called extinct. When he showed activity 3500 years ago, he was recorded as dormant. Now about the situation in Bali. It is believed that there are only two active volcanoes on this island. These are Gugung ("Mountain") Agung and Batur. All other volcanoes in Bali are extinct or dormant. Therefore, you can safely go to this island. Last eruption The Bali volcano occurred in 2000. This cannot be called a real explosion - Gugung Batur threw out a column of ash three hundred meters high, and that was the end of the matter. But in 1964 there was a real eruption (from the same volcano). The highest point of the island, Gugung Agung, has not been active for a very long time.
Dangerous neighborhood?
Two active volcanoes on one small island are still a bit much, fearful tourists might think. And they will turn out to be wrong. Once you look at the population density around the local volcanoes, your slightest fears will disappear. Small villages can be found even in craters. Farmers are attracted to this neighborhood because the mineral-rich volcanic ash is an excellent fertilizer for the soil. Due to the altitudinal zone, a mild microclimate has developed on the slopes of the mountain, conducive to a good harvest. There are also no problems with watering crops, since short rains often occur on the mountain slopes. Any volcano in Bali is held in high regard by local residents. The temples on the slopes testify to this. And since these structures are ancient, we can conclude that the locals do not consider the proximity to the volcano dangerous. Bali's tourism industry uses these mountains for excursions.
The importance of volcanoes for local residents
In the religion and culture of the Indonesians, the center of the Universe was the mythical Mount Mahameru. This axis of the universe split in half. This is how Agung and Batur arose - volcanoes on the top of which the gods live. All villages in Bali are oriented towards the highest mountain of the island. Residents go to bed with their heads towards Gugung Agung - so that the soul is close to the gods. Legend has it that before the volcanoes appeared, the island was deserted and barren. This is partly true: the ash fertilizes the local soil well. The gods come down to people on major holidays, and then return to the heights. To honor them, temples were built on the slopes of volcanoes. Because Agung is the most high mountain islands, then the Besakih complex is the most revered place of worship. This volcano in Bali is under the patronage of Batara Mahadeva (in local Hinduism, Shiva). Once every hundred years, the ceremony of Eka Dasa Rudra - “cleansing the world from all sins” - is held in the Besakih temple on the slopes of Agung. And this holiday in 1963 turned into a tragedy.
Agung eruption
The world cleansing ceremony was scheduled for the spring of 1963. However, when the Agung volcano woke up in Bali in February, the priests said that the residents had chosen the wrong date for the ritual. They say that Shiva does not want to come down to people on this day and expresses his dissatisfaction with the columns of smoke coming from the crater of the mountain. Volcanologists also agreed with the priests. They warned Indonesian President Sukarno that Agung was showing signs of activity and could erupt. However, he had already invited foreign delegations to the celebration and did not want to postpone the ceremony. On March 18, 1963, the Agung eruption entered its active phase. The crater exploded and lava came down. The Besakih Temple was miraculously not damaged. The lava flow passed only a few meters from the buildings. However a large number of people died then. Now the top of the volcano resembles a lunar landscape, which tourists come to admire. And local residents still honor Agung. They hang the offerings on a curved bamboo penjor pole, which in outline resembles the most high peak islands.
Gugung Agung
This is the highest stratovolcano in Bali - its peak rises 3142 meters above sea level. It is located in the eastern part of the island. The name Gugung Agung translates as “Great Mountain”. In the entire history of observations, the volcano in Bali has erupted only four times: in 1808, 1821, 1843 and 1963-1964. The last one was the most significant and powerful. Then two thousand people died, lava and mudflows came down. The crimson sunsets that were then observed in Europe were associated, according to some scientists, with the release of large amounts of ash into the atmosphere from the Agung vent. After the eruption, the parameters of the crater also changed. Now it is an oval funnel five hundred meters long and two hundred wide. The volcano showed little activity in the 1980s. In 2000-2001, abnormally hot temperatures in the springs were noticed near Agung. Now the “Great Mountain” is dormant... Under the close attention of volcanologists.
Volcano Batur in Bali
This is the third highest mountain on the island. It is located very close to Agung. For tourists, Batur is favorite place for climbing. Why? Firstly, the height. 1717 meters is not three thousand. The hike itself, if you start it very early in the morning, lasts half a day, and you can relax on the beaches. Secondly, at the foot of Batur there is a lake of the same name, the most picturesque in the area. There are also temples on the slopes of the volcano. One of the tourist attractions of Batur is the jets of hot steam. They make their way out of various crevices of the mountain, reminding careless travelers that the volcano is active. The guides assure that it is quite possible to cook scrambled eggs in the jets of this steam. The last eruption of Batur occurred (in conjunction with Agung) in 1964. After this, the volcano again threw a column of ash three hundred meters into the air in 2000, as a result of which it was closed for several days international Airport. Now Batur is quiet. Only jets of steam warn of a hidden threat.
Batukaru
This is the second largest volcano in Bali. Its height is two thousand three hundred and fifty meters. On the slopes of this extinct volcano There is also a temple - Pura Luhur. The road to it leads through a forest with playful monkeys. It is recommended to climb this mountain to take good pictures of the island from a bird's eye view.
Caldera Chatur
When our planet was still young, the volcanoes on it were simply huge. When they erupted, calderas with many independent peaks were formed. This is what Chatur is now - a ridge of volcanoes stretching for eleven kilometers. Excursions go to Sengayang, Pohan, Lesung and Pengilingan, as this region is famous for its thermal springs. There are still beautiful lakes- Bro, Tamblingan and Buyan. To the southwest of Chatur stands Batukaru, the second highest volcano in Bali.
What happened in the summer of 2015
On June 3rd, news arrived that the skies over Bali airport were closed. Because the island is popular tourist destination, this news caused a stir. Has there really been a new volcanic eruption in Bali? Batur has been sleeping since 1964, and so has Agung. What happened? In fact, the seismological situation has worsened in Java and Sumatra. He made some noise. He woke up in early 2014, killing sixteen people. The mountain is located in the north of Sumatra. In the summer of this year, Sinabung threw volcanic ash into the sky. Columns of thick smoke reached a height of two thousand meters, temporarily making air travel impossible. In July, two more volcanoes woke up in Java - Gamalama and Raung. Nine hundred flights were canceled because of them.
Tourist attraction or serious risk?
So should you be afraid of volcanoes in Bali? As the reviews of tourists, and the measured and calm life of the islanders themselves show, there is no reason for concern. Volcanoes do not wake up instantly and unexpectedly. Their eruption is preceded by various phenomena, such as an increase in the temperature of the sources and the release of gases. A volcano on the island of Bali such as Batur is especially attractive to tourists.
The volcano in Bali, in addition to being a tourist attraction, plays a big role in the cultural and spiritual life of the Balinese people. There are two volcanoes on the island of Bali - Mount Agung and Mount Batur. The proximity to formidable giants could not but affect folklore and fine arts. Volcanoes Batur and Agung also influence daily life islanders and climate of Bali.
Volcano Agung
Most high volcano in Bali rises 3142 meters above sea level and is highest point islands. The title can be translated as “ great mountain" Belongs to the type of stratovolcanoes. The crater of the volcano measures 500 by 200 meters. Located in the eastern part of the island. During the history of observations, the volcano has erupted only 5 times - in 1808, 1821, 1843, 1963-1964 and in 2018. Moreover, the eruption of 1963 was the most powerful and destructive and was accompanied by the descent of mud flows from the slopes of the volcano.
According to some sources, crimson sunsets in Europe were caused by this eruption. It is estimated that about 2,000 people living near Agung died. There was little volcanic activity in the 1980s. In 2000-2001, thermal anomalies occurred at the foot of Mount Agung. On this moment Agung is dormant, but this volcano in Bali is under the close attention of Indonesian volcanologists.
Volcano Agung also affects the amount of precipitation in various regions. Clouds coming from the West of the island are blocked by the slopes of the mountain and as a result this area receives more moisture. Due to this, the eastern regions of Bali are drier and hotter.
Volcano Batur
It also belongs to the type of stratovolcanoes and rises to 1717 meters. It is located in the northeastern part of the island in the Kintamani region and is one of the island’s attractions. The outer caldera (circus-shaped basin) of the volcano measures 10 by 13.5 km. and was formed 29,300 years ago during a time of colossal eruptions. Lake Batur is located in the inner caldera of the volcano. Volcano Batur is quite active and the last major eruption was in 1968, as evidenced by frozen basaltic lava flows.
The last significant activity of the volcano was observed in 2000, when a column of ash rose 300 meters. In 2012, UNESCO declared the area of the volcano's caldera a Geological Park. For tourists who want to enjoy the stunningly beautiful view, a similar excursion is organized. The ascent, accompanied by a guide, will take only 3 hours. A popular tour is also being organized to the volcano, during which you can see Batur itself and other attractions of the center of the island.
The significance of the volcano in Bali in culture and religion
In Balinese-Hindu mythology, the center of the universe, its axis of the universe, is the sacred mountain Mahameru, which the Gods later split and the two most sacred mountains in Bali - Agung and Batur. The Balinese believe that the tops of volcanoes are the abode of gods and deified ancestors, who descend to people several times a year (during ) and then return again. All Balinese villages are oriented towards Agung, and the Balinese always try to sleep with their heads towards the top, since according to beliefs, the human soul is in the head and in this case it will be closer to the gods.
The patron saint of Mount Agung is considered to be Batara Mahadeva (in traditional Hinduism, Shiva), who personifies the masculine principle. The legends of the island say that before the appearance of Agung and Batur, the island of Bali was a lifeless and barren plain. The legend is partly right - the island owes its mineral-rich soil fertility to volcanoes.
On the slopes of Mount Agung is the most important and revered temple in Bali - the “mother” of all temples in Bali. According to ancient Balinese texts, once every 100 years it is in this temple that the unique and most important ceremony of cleansing the whole world from sins is held - Eka Dasa Rudra. Such a ceremony was planned in 1963.
When the volcano woke up in February 1963 and began to make itself felt, the high priests began to claim that this was a very bad sign from the gods and that the Balinese had chosen the wrong date for the ceremony. However, then-Indonesian President Sukarno, who invited a foreign delegation to Bali, ordered the ceremony to be held anyway.
However, already on March 18, explosions occurred and the active phase of the eruption began, during which a large number of people died. Although the Besakih temple was located on the slope of the volcano, it remained undamaged and the lava passed a few meters from the buildings. The Balinese found an explanation for this miracle in the fact that the Gods decided to take pity on the majestic temple. Although another temple, Pura Pasar Agung, was not so lucky and was completely destroyed. The most significant volcano in Bali can also be recognized in decorations during ceremonies and holidays, when the Balinese decorate the thresholds of their houses with a tall, curved bamboo pole called a penjor. This pole, bending under the weight of gifts to the gods at the end, follows the contours of Agung and symbolizes him.
Lake Batur in the caldera of the Batur volcano is considered sacred by the Balinese and is one of the abode of the Balinese goddess fresh water Devi Danu, in whose honor the Ulun Danu Batur temple was erected (also dedicated to her in the Bedugul region).
It is believed that sacred lake feed 11 sources. The water from them then flows to other islands through underground channels. It is forbidden to swim in the lake; you can only fish and irrigate the land.
There are many legends about this. One of them tells how the king on the island of Java, Sri Jaya Pangus, and his wife Kang Ching Wee did not have children for a long time. And the king decided to leave his wife and go on a long journey. After a storm, he was thrown ashore on a magical island. After trying to explore the island, he decided to meditate. To do this, he found himself a place near a beautiful and clean lake (Batur). When he woke up, he saw the goddess Devi Dana in front of him. The goddess seduced him and he stayed with her. After many years of waiting, Kang Ching Wee's wife went in search of her husband. However, I found him in Bali already married to Dewi Danu and with a child. Out of resentment, she ordered her guards to kill Sri Jai. In response to this, Devi Danu turned the king and queen into statues. The son became the heir to the throne and the dynasty continued to exist.
The second most important volcano in Bali is especially revered by. They live isolated from the rest of the world in the village of Trunyan on a small strip of land. It is located between the Batur caldera and the lake. This tribe is known for burying the dead simply by placing them under a special magical tree. Locals explain their isolation with a legend. According to it, a Javanese prince fell in love with a goddess living in the branches of a huge Banyan tree. She agreed to marry him only on the condition that he would not bring anyone with him. And she forbade him to show him the way to the village. The Bali Aga believe that eruptions and other disasters are the cause of the spiritual pollution of the people in Bali.
In the 2000s, after another volcanic activity, the Balinese decided to appease the gods. They remembered the catastrophic destruction in 1963-1964. For this, it was decided to hold a ceremony on the Batur volcano. Pilgrims from all over the island took part in it. They surrounded the volcano with many kilometers of sarong (white cloth) and left a large number of offerings near the crater. After this, activity decreased significantly and the mountain calmed down.
The volcano in Bali, like on many other islands of the archipelago, has always destroyed and created. Therefore, the islanders always treated him with respect. They created an aura of divinity and greatness around him. It is very difficult to imagine Balinese culture and religion without Agung and Batur volcanoes. Modern development of geology and the study of processes in earth's crust gives answers to many questions. However, for the Balinese, the volcanoes of Bali are still sacred and inhabited by gods and spirits. This makes the island's culture unique and distinctive.
Bali is a unique island. This also applies to its geography: it is located in the area of the giant Pacific “ring of fire” - the junction of several lithospheric plates that form the continents on our planet.
In fact, this is reflected in its landscape: the island is intersected by an impressive mountain range dividing Bali into north and south. There are also external outlets for the release of magma - the same two volcanoes that attract so many tourists: Agung and Batur.
Both volcanoes are considered active. But if Batur last showed signs of life in 2000, then Agung periodically reminds itself of itself with emissions within a radius of up to 4 km from the vent. Tourists have no reason to worry about this: according to the findings of scientists, there are no prerequisites for larger-scale eruptions. Nevertheless, a protective zone has been established for Agung: tourist routes should not pass closer than 10 km from the crater of the volcano. Considering that the coming resort villages are located almost 40 km from the dangerous point, the safety of vacationers is guaranteed.
At the same time, you need to understand that for the sake of your own safety, you should under no circumstances climb the volcano on your own. Walk on mountain routes only possible with a guide.
Must-see volcanoes
As we have already mentioned, there are only two large volcanoes of interest to tourists - Agung and Batur. Each has individual characteristics of its location and surrounding landscape, and climbing them promises to be one of the most exciting events in the life of any traveler.
The top of it active volcano is located at an altitude of more than 3 thousand meters above sea level, and therefore the ascent will require decent physical preparation from you. However, on the way to the giant (crater diameter is 520x375 m, depth is about 200 m) you will have the opportunity to explore many other iconic Balinese attractions.
- Visit the city of Candidasa. In it and its surroundings you can see the unique temples of Tirta Ganga and Taman Ujung, combining national architectural motifs and elements of European-style buildings.
- Explore Goa Lavah (Bat Cave). Located not far from the city, according to legend, the patron saint of Bali, the huge snake Nag, lives there. The long tunnel makes a somewhat depressing impression with its darkness and gloomy atmosphere, but is one of the most popular places from tourists.
- Take a swim at the famous Blue Lagoon Beach, located halfway to Agung.
Climbing the volcano itself will require you to have at least entry-level athletic training. The lower half of the summit is covered with abundant greenery and palm groves, making the climb quite easy. It’s more difficult in the second half: the landscape becomes almost bare, monotonous, and it’s also much colder there. Of course, there is something to try for - cosmic views. But don't forget to take warm clothes and water with you!
Of course, don't forget to take amazing photos beautiful landscapes. “Mother Mountain,” as the locals call it, is a wonderful panoramic platform to observe the island below.
More modest in size and altitude (only about 1700 m above sea level), Batur nevertheless gives more freedom to tourists. You probably already guessed why - it’s safer here: the formidable giant has not made itself known for almost 20 years.
Arriving at the volcano, you can choose two options for spending your time. The first is purely visual. I must say that it is quite suitable for lovers of large-scale panoramic landscapes - it is very convenient and comfortable to watch Batur from the observation deck of the village of Kintamani. Moreover, next to mountain peak there is a volcanic lake of the same name - the landscape is simply fantastic.
The second option, although for the strong in spirit and body, is still more gentle than in the case of Agung, and provides more opportunities for tourist entertainment. For example, you can cook your breakfast right above the geysers of hot volcanic springs. By the way, boiled bananas also turn out very well.
The climb to Batur takes about 3 hours - in total, the entire journey plus a walk along the top will take you about 7 hours. We recommend planning your ascent in such a way as to meet the sunrise at the top - specially equipped observation decks it couldn't come in handy there.
Along the way you can see the following attractions.
- Lake Batur. Of volcanic origin, it is the largest fresh lake Bali. Here you can also visit a small temple dedicated to the goddess of fertility and take a ride on a fishing boat.
- Hot volcanic springs. Thermal treatments under open air- It is something! 4 km from Batur itself there are three stone baths carved into the rock, the hot water in which comes from volcanic springs. Healing properties and simply excellent relaxation are guaranteed! The ticket will cost 200 thousand rupees.
Volcanoes of Bali: how to get there?
To Angung: take the Jl. Gn. Agung Besakih (from the southwest) or through the cities of Klungkung and Candidasa (there are bus services from Kuta, where famous beach and tourist centers).
To Batur: the most convenient way to go is from the tourist villages of the Bukit Peninsula (Ubud or Denpasar). The entire journey will take about 1-1.5 hours by car or bus.
Upon arrival at settlements choose a way to get to the volcanoes. There are two such options.
- As part of an organized excursion. It can be purchased at any tourist office for quite reasonable money - about $35-40 per person. An additional advantage of this type of climb is that you will be provided with a truly experienced guide, and a small snack will be prepared at the top.
- On your own with a guide. In the same Chandidasa (Angung) or Kintamani (Batur) you can easily find an experienced person - or rather, he will find you himself. There is no fundamental difference between a tour package and “handicrafts” - except that the group is selected a little smaller: 3-4 people. Besides, for the money, this is a good way to save $10-15. But whether they are worth it is up to you to decide.
Important information
It concerns the most important thing - your safety! Experienced tourists recommend taking the following things with you.
- Wear soft sneakers on your feet: this way you won’t wear out your feet, because you’ll have to walk for a very long time.
- A mandatory supply of sweets is to quickly restore the strength lost during the ascent.
- Warm clothes. If it is hot and humid below, then above it is cold and piercing wind. Without a jacket, warm pants and a hat, you simply won’t be able to get up.
- Don’t forget to take a flashlight with you, and it’s better to have two at once: let one be a spare. Staying in the dark and getting lost halfway at night (those who greet the dawn set out precisely in the dark) is not a pleasant pleasure.
- A navigator or compass is required - if you know how to use it. Mark the location where you stopped or parked your rented scooter. By the way, do not forget that it must always be filled with gasoline.