Marapi, Complex volcano in West Sumatra, Indonesia
The Marapi rises over a series of forested slopes with multiple summit openings that frequently release gas and ash. Its form shows typical andesite layers with deep erosion gullies and exposed rock faces on the upper sections.
The year 1830 brought a series of violent outbursts that forced villages to shift their locations and seek new farming land. Similar eruptions repeated over the following decades, making the region a known observation area for geologists.
The name Marapi means mountain of fire and reflects how people here have lived with the steady activity of the summit for generations. Local villages watch the smoke from the craters as a daily sign of the living nature that shapes their farming.
All ascents require registration at one of the camps at the base where rangers share current safety information. Groups should start early in the morning and carry protective masks in case of ash fall.
In late 2023 the crater spat out rock and ash over 100 successive times, shutting down airports across the province. This outburst lasted unusually long and scattered material across wide parts of the surrounding districts.
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