Kelimutu Volcano
Updated: Mar 29, 2024 11:53 GMT -
Complex volcano 1639 m / 5,377 ft
Flores (Indonesia), -8.77°S / 121.82°E
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
Flores (Indonesia), -8.77°S / 121.82°E
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
Last update: 15 Dec 2021
Kelimutu (Keli Mutu) volcano in central Flores, Indonesia, is famous for its 3 colorful acid crater lakes, where different salts and oxides in suspension or solution give the lakes varying colors ranging from blue and dark green to intense red. In historic times, few small phreatic explosions have been the only activity at the volcano.
The scenic craters with their lakes are popular tourist destinations.
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Kelimutu volcano eruptions: 1968, 1938, 1865
Latest nearby earthquakes
Time | Mag. / Depth | Distance / Location |
Background
The western lake, Tiwi Ata Mbupu (Lake of Old People) is commonly blue. Tiwu Nua Muri Kooh Tai (Lake of Young Men and Maidens) and Tiwu Ata Polo (Bewitched, or Enchanted Lake), which share a common crater wall, are commonly green- and red-colored, respectively, although lake colors vary periodically. During the dry season reduction processes let Ba, Cu, and As minerals precipitate, in the wet season, the oxidation and precipitation of iron minerals (ferric oxide: Fe2O3) produces intense red colors.Active upwelling occurs at the two eastern lakes and is probably fed by subaqueous fumaroles.
Kelimutu volcano is flanked by the older cones of Kelido and Kelibara 3 km to the north and 2 km to the south, respectively.
(Source: GVP)
Kelimutu Volcano Photos
Sulfur whirlpool in one of the Kelimutu crater lakes. (Photo: mlyvers)
Eruptions of Kelimutu volcano
1995 fatal accident & measurements of the lake
A Dutch tourist fell into Tiwu Nua Muri Kooh Tai lake and died. Rescue searchers climbed into the crater with ropes and oxygen gas masks. During their 5days unsuccessful rescue efforts, they also carried out interesting measurments of the lake. The pH of the lake was measured at 0.5, its temperature 37°C, and minor bubbling was observed at the surface. ...more info
A Dutch tourist fell into Tiwu Nua Muri Kooh Tai lake and died. Rescue searchers climbed into the crater with ropes and oxygen gas masks. During their 5days unsuccessful rescue efforts, they also carried out interesting measurments of the lake. The pH of the lake was measured at 0.5, its temperature 37°C, and minor bubbling was observed at the surface. ...more info
1993 seismic unrest
Kelimutu showed increased seismic activity in February-April 1993, with 318 deep and 196 shallow earthquakes recorded.
(Source: GVP monthly activity reports)
Kelimutu showed increased seismic activity in February-April 1993, with 318 deep and 196 shallow earthquakes recorded.
(Source: GVP monthly activity reports)
1986 unrest - increased gas bubbling
...more info
...more info