Posts about Nature

Hunting for a Lava View of Mount Merapi

Merapi Volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in the world, spewing lava almost daily. This attracts many tourists to the opportunity to see its molten lava, especially at night.
The problem is the unpredictable weather on the mountain, especially if you’re visiting Yogyakarta during the rainy season. Here are some tips to help you save time.

First, check out the Merapi Lava View Live YouTube channel before leaving (6-7 PM is the best time). There are several live camera locations. If the view is clear and the molten lava is visible, it’s time to leave. Sometimes, not all locations have clear views, so ask your driver for a good viewing point. Jogjatripper has some view points that people don’t usually visit if necessary.

Secondly, you need a good camera or phone. The view point can vary from 4 – 6 km away, sometimes with not really good visibility that naked eyes cannot really see clearly.

Check Merapi lava view tour here.

Tambora : A volcanic explosion that changed the world

Today, April 10, 2026, the world commemorates 211 years since the peak eruption of Mount Tambora on Sumbawa Island shook human civilization.

In 1815, this volcanic activity reached its most devastating phase, sending ash 32 kilometers into the atmosphere and flowing molten rock that incinerated surrounding villages.

The explosion is recorded as the most powerful eruption in human history, ranking at a seven out of eight on the U.S. Geological Survey’s Volcano Explosivity Index.

The impact not only destroyed local geographic maps but also altered the physical structure of the mountain, shrinking it from a height of 14,000 feet (4,267 meters) to just 9,000 feet (2,743 meters).

Although thousands died instantly from pyroclastic flows, history records that the true horror began when the volcanic ash spread across the globe.

A crucial question arises behind this grim record: did secondary impacts such as climate change and epidemics actually claim far more lives than the explosion itself? How could an eruption in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) create a “year without a summer” in other parts of the world?

The Chain of Death from Crop Failure to Global Pandemic

Data from History and National Geographic shows a stark difference between the number of direct and indirect victims.

Instantly, approximately 10,000 to 12,000 people on Sumbawa Island died from pyroclastic flows, toxic gases, and a moderate tsunami triggered by the collapse of the volcano.

However, in the following months and years, the death toll skyrocketed, reaching an estimated 71,000 to 121,000 in the surrounding region due to post-eruption starvation and disease.

Gillen D’Arcy Wood, author of Tambora: The Eruption That Changed the World, cites even more dire figures when considering the long-term global effects.

• • Cause: The April 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora was the most powerful in recorded history, releasing massive amounts of ash and aerosols into the atmosphere that dimmed the sun.
  • Global Impact: Average global temperatures dropped by 0.4 – 0.7ºC (0.7 – 1.3ºF)
  • Regional Effects:
    • North America: Snow was reported in June in New England, and frost persisted through summer, destroying crops.
    • Europe: Cold, rainy weather led to massive crop failures and the “last great subsistence crisis” in Western history.
    • Asia: The monsoon season was disrupted, causing floods, while in China and Taiwan, cold weather/snow was reported, causing famine in Yunnan.

Read other posts about mountains here

2010 Merapi eruption, the biggest in a century

No one expected the 2010 Merapi eruption would be so devastating. Residents along the slopes of Merapi were accustomed to eruptions.

They had lived with them for decades, with eruptions occurring almost every year-round. But in 2010, Merapi erupted millions of tons of hot material, its largest eruption in 100 years.
The government at the time had ordered all residents within the danger zone to evacuate.

The 2010 Mount Merapi eruption caused many deaths due to several powerful and unexpected volcanic hazards around Mount Merapi.

Extremely Powerful Eruption

The 2010 eruption was one of the largest in over a century. Explosive blasts sent ash clouds and volcanic material high into the atmosphere.

Deadly Pyroclastic Flows

The most dangerous factor was pyroclastic flows—super-hot clouds of gas, ash, and rock moving up to 100 km/h.
Temperatures can exceed 600°C, destroying everything in their path.

Larger Danger Zone Than Expected

Scientists initially estimated a smaller danger zone, but the eruption became much stronger, sending pyroclastic flows farther than predicted, reaching villages outside earlier evacuation areas.

Some Residents Refused to Evacuate

Some people stayed behind to protect homes, farms, and livestock. Others trusted spiritual guardians like Mbah Maridjan, who also died during the eruption.

Dense Population Around the Volcano

Thousands of people live on the fertile slopes of Merapi because volcanic soil is very good for farming. This high population density increased casualties.

Nighttime Eruptions

Several major eruptions occurred at night, when evacuation and visibility were more difficult.