Batur Volcano
Updated: Apr 19, 2025 21:06 GMT -
Caldera
Bali, Indonesia, -8.24°S / 115.38°E 
Summit height: 1717 m / 5,633 ft
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
Last update: 10 Jan 2025 (Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report)
Batur is the most active volcano on the popular tourist island of Bali and one of Inondesia's more active ones. During the past centuries, Batur has had a number of small eruptions every few years. Thanks to the scenic beauty of the caldera with its lake and the cone of Batur, it is one of Bali's most popular destinations.
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Batur volcano eruptions: 1804, 1821, 1847(?), 1849, 1854, 1888, 1897, 1904, 1921, 1922, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1963-64, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976(?), 1994, 1998, 1999-2000
Latest nearby earthquakes
| Date and Time | Mag / Depth | Distance / Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Background
The volcano is located at the center of two concentric calderas NW of Agung volcano. The outer 10 x 13.5 km wide caldera was formed during eruption of the Bali (or Ubud) Ignimbrite about 29,300 years ago and now contains a caldera lake on its SE side, opposite the satellitic cone of 2152-m-high Gunung Abang, the topographic high of the Batur complex.The inner 6.4 x 9.4 km wide caldera was formed about 20,150 years ago during eruption of the Gunungkawi Ignimbrite. The SE wall of the inner caldera lies beneath Lake Batur; Batur cone has been constructed within the inner caldera to a height above the outer caldera rim. The 1717-m-high Batur stratovolcano has produced vents over much of the inner caldera, but a NE-SW fissure system has localized the Batur I, II, and III craters along the summit ridge.
Historical eruptions have been characterized by mild-to-moderate explosive activity sometimes accompanied by lava emission. Basaltic lava flows from both summit and flank vents have reached the caldera floor and the shores of Lake Batur in historical time.
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Source: GVP, Smithsonian Institution
Batur Volcano Photos
View of Batur volcano (1,717 m) from the peak of Agung (3,142 m) at night. (Photo: Anton Jankovoy)
Mount Batur volcano in Bali (Photo: Ivana Dorn)
Batur caldera lake (Photo: Uwe Ehlers / geoart.eu)
Batur caldera lake (Photo: Uwe Ehlers / geoart.eu)
Significant volcanic eruptions: Batur volcano
In the past 10,000 years, Batur has had at least 25 confirmed eruptions, all documented by historical records or observations. Additionally, there are 3 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Batur volcano.
The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Batur volcano since around 1900. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Batur can be found on the news page of Batur volcano.
| Date | Note | VEI | Deaths | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
| Batur III Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
?? | Uncertain Eruption | 1? | |||
| Batur III Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
?? | Uncertain Eruption Historical obs./docs. | 1 | |||
| Batur III Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
| SW flank (1963 vent) Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
| SW flank (Batur III) Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
| SW flank (west of 1965 vent) Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
| SW flank (near Batur III) Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
| SW, W flanks (near Batur III, Butus) Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
| 1963 Sep 5 (eruption | Historical obs./docs. | 2 | 2 | Info | |
| SW flank below Batur III Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
| Batur II Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
| Batur II Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
| Batur II Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
| SW flank (Batur II) Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
| Batur I, Batur II, Batur III Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
| West caldera floor (Gunung Anti) Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
Remark:
Our list of volcanic eruptions closely follows the database of eruptions of the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Project (GVP), the internationally most recognized data source for volcanic eruptions, but also includes significant eruptive episodes or related volcano events. "Volcanic eruptions" are usually to be understood as sequences of individual eruptive episodes that can follow each other, or even overlap (if several vents are involved), and can last many years, decades or even longer. For example, the current activity of Stromboli volcano is understood as a single eruption that has been ongoing since 1934.
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K | Global Volcanism Project / Smithsonian Institution
Batur Volcano FAQ
+When was the last eruption of Batur volcano?
The last confirmed eruption of Batur occurred during 1999 - 2000.
+How often does Batur volcano erupt?
Since 1804, Batur volcano has had at least 25 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 8.8 years.
+How active is Batur volcano at present?
Batur volcano is relatively active: Since 1900, it has had 21 eruptions, and been active during 21 years out of 126 as of now. This means, Batur has been in eruption one in 6 years on average. The last eruption was from 1999 until 2000 and ended 25 years ago.
+When was the largest eruption of Batur volcano?
The largest eruption of Batur volcano in historic times occurred in 1974. It ranks as a strombolian to vulcanian eruption with a magnitude 2 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.
Latest satellite images
Batur Volcano Maps
Below is a selection of maps showing the location and surroundings of the volcano at various resolutions based on aerial-imagery / terrain maps. Feel free to use them for non-commercial purposes on your blog or website as long as you credit them with a link back to this page (click to copy it).
Satellite/aerial-type map of Batur volcano (world scale)
Terrain-type map of Batur volcano (world scale)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Batur volcano (region scale large)
Terrain-type map of Batur volcano (region scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Batur volcano (region scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Batur volcano (region scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Batur volcano (region scale small)
Terrain-type map of Batur volcano (region scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Batur volcano (local scale large)
Terrain-type map of Batur volcano (local scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Batur volcano (local scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Batur volcano (local scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Batur volcano (local scale small)
Terrain-type map of Batur volcano (local scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Batur volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Terrain-type map of Batur volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Batur volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Terrain-type map of Batur volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Batur volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Terrain-type map of Batur volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Batur volcano (scale of 5-10 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Batur volcano (scale of few kilometers)
