Mount Lewotobi

Prelims Bits

Context:

Mount Lewotobi, a prominent volcano in Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara province, witnessed a fresh volcanic eruption.

Geographical Location & Tectonic Setting

• Located on Flores Island, in the East Nusa Tenggara region of Indonesia.
• Lies at the junction of three major tectonic plates: the Eurasian, Australian, and Pacific plates.
• Situated in the Pacific Ring of Fire – a region known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.

Volcano Characteristics

• Type: Stratovolcano (also known as a composite volcano), recognized for steep slopes and explosive eruptions.
• Twin Volcano System:
  • Lewotobi Lakilaki (male peak) – elevation: 1584 m, summit crater: 400 m wide
  • Lewotobi Perempuan (female peak) – elevation: 1703 m, summit crater: 700 m wide
  • The two peaks are divided by a 2 km wide saddle at around 1232 m altitude

Eruption Activity

• Lewotobi Lakilaki has shown regular eruptive activity during the 19th and 20th centuries
• Lewotobi Perempuan has erupted only twice as per recorded history
• Includes features like small lava domes and a prominent flank cone named Iliwokar on the eastern side of Perempuan

Indonesia’s Volcanic Profile

• Home to 127 active volcanoes, Indonesia ranks as the world’s most volcanically active nation
• Located along active subduction zones, which make it prone to massive eruptions
• Historic eruptions such as Mount Tambora (1815) highlight the severe volcanic risk in the region