Mount Mahawu

Mount Mahawu is a stratovolcano in North Sulawesi featuring a crater roughly 180 meters across and 140 meters deep with distinctive cone formations on its northern slopes. At the summit sits a sulfur pond where volcanic gases continue to emerge from fissures in the crater floor.

A major volcanic eruption in 1789 created the crater formation visible today and established the sulfur pond that remains active. This event reshaped the mountain and left lasting geological marks that visitors can still observe.

The communities living around this volcano integrate tourism with their daily routines without abandoning traditional ways. The crater and its sulfur pond hold spiritual meaning for residents who have called this region home for centuries.

A paved walkway connects the parking area to the crater rim, with the round trip taking about one hour on foot. The terrain is generally easy to navigate, though the heat and sulfur fumes near the crater edge can be challenging.

From the rim, visitors can see several neighboring volcanoes including Lokon and Soputan, along with Lake Tondano stretching across the landscape below. This vantage point offers a rare chance to observe multiple active volcanic peaks and their surroundings from a single location.