Merapi

Merapi, also known as Gunung Merapi, is an active stratovolcano located on the border of Central Java and the Yogyakarta Special Region in Indonesia. It sits about 28 kilometers north of Yogyakarta city and is one of the most active volcanoes in the country. The peak rises to roughly 2,930 meters above sea level.

Merapi is renowned for its frequent, often violent eruptions. Its activity typically involves the growth of a lava dome within the summit crater, explosive explosions, ash plumes, and pyroclastic flows that can travel down the upper slopes. The volcano's eruptions pose recurrent hazards to nearby communities and infrastructure, especially in the areas of Sleman Regency and the greater Yogyakarta metropolitan region.

Monitoring and hazard management are conducted by the Indonesian Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG). The agency operates a network of seismographs, gas sensors, and other instruments, and issues alert levels and evacuation guidance for surrounding populations. Access to the volcano is regulated during heightened activity to protect residents and visitors.

Geology and context: Merapi is part of the Sunda Arc, formed by the subduction of the Indo-Australian Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate. Its eruptive behavior includes cycles of lava dome growth and collapse, producing lava flows and pyroclastic density currents.

Merapi is a site of ongoing scientific study and is also a destination for researchers and carefully managed tourism when conditions allow, though it remains dangerous to approach during periods of eruption or unrest.