Mount Marapi
Encyclopedia
Marapi is a complex volcano
in West Sumatra
, Indonesia
. Its name means Mountain of Fire, and it is the most active volcano
in Sumatra
. Its elevation is 2891.3 metres (9,485.9 ft). A number of cities and towns are situated around the mountain, including Bukittinggi
, Padang Panjang
and Batusangkar
.
According to legend, the mountain is the site first settled by the Minangkabau people after their ship landed on the mountain when it was the size of an egg and surrounded by water. There are large numbers of upright burial stones in the region which are oriented in the direction of the mountain, indicating its cultural significance.
At the Indonesian Independence Day, August 17th, it has become customary for local population to walk up the mountain in large groups. The 2004 eruption occurred when a group of 24 people were near the crater on August 17th. In 2011 there will be no such walk as following the eruption of August 3rd the mountain has been closed for at least one month.
Complex volcano
A complex volcano, also called a compound volcano, is a volcano with more than one feature. They form because changes of their eruptive characteristics or the location of multiple vents in an area...
in West Sumatra
West Sumatra
West Sumatra is a province of Indonesia. It lies on the west coast of the island Sumatra. It borders the provinces of North Sumatra to the north, Riau and Jambi to the east, and Bengkulu to the southeast. It includes the Mentawai Islands off the coast...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. Its name means Mountain of Fire, and it is the most active volcano
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
in Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
. Its elevation is 2891.3 metres (9,485.9 ft). A number of cities and towns are situated around the mountain, including Bukittinggi
Bukittinggi
Bukittinggi is one of the larger cities in West Sumatra, Indonesia, with a population of over 91,000 people and an area of 25.24 km². It is situated in the Minangkabau highlands, 90 km by road from the West Sumatran capital city of Padang. It is located at , near the volcanoes Mount...
, Padang Panjang
Padang Panjang
Padang Panjang is located in the cool highlands of West Sumatra, inland from the provincial capital Padang. It sits on a plateau beneath the volcanoes Mount Marapi and Mount Singgalang. It has an area of 23 km² and a population of over 40,000...
and Batusangkar
Batusangkar
Batusangkar is the capital of the Tanah Datar regency of West Sumatra, Indonesia.The town is near the former seat of the Minangkabau royalty established by Adityawarman in Pagaruyung, represented by the reconstructed Pagaruyung Palace...
.
According to legend, the mountain is the site first settled by the Minangkabau people after their ship landed on the mountain when it was the size of an egg and surrounded by water. There are large numbers of upright burial stones in the region which are oriented in the direction of the mountain, indicating its cultural significance.
At the Indonesian Independence Day, August 17th, it has become customary for local population to walk up the mountain in large groups. The 2004 eruption occurred when a group of 24 people were near the crater on August 17th. In 2011 there will be no such walk as following the eruption of August 3rd the mountain has been closed for at least one month.