Toba Volcano
Updated: Nov 30, 2025 20:03 GMT -
Caldera
Sumatra (Indonesia), 2.34°N / 98.83°E 
Summit height: 2157 m (7,077 ft)
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
Toba volcano has produced the largest known volcanic eruption on earth during the past 2 million years.
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Explosive.
Toba volcano eruptions: 74,000 y BP
Latest nearby earthquakes
Background
About 74,000 years BP, more than 2500 cubic kilometers of magma were erupted. The eruption led to the final formation of one of earths largest calderas, the 35x100 km wide Toba caldera. Eruptions of this size are exptremely rare and are called supervolcano-eruptions. The Toba caldera is in fact the Earth's largest Quaternary caldera. It was formed during four major Pleistocene ignimbrite-producing eruptions beginning at 1.2 million years ago and culminating with the colossal Young Toba Tuff (YTT) eruption about 74,000 years ago. The YTT emplaced about 2500-3000 cu km (dense rock equivalent) of ignimbrite and airfall ash from vents at the NW and SE ends of present-day Lake Toba.After the YTT eruption, resurgent doming formed the massive Samosir Island and Uluan Peninsula structural blocks. Additional post-YTT eruptions include a series of lava domes, the growth of the solfatarically active Pusukbukit volcano on the south margin of the caldera, and the formation of Tandukbenua volcano at the NW-most rim of the caldera. Lack of vegetation suggests that this volcano may be only a few hundred years old.
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Source: GVP, Smithsonian Institute
Toba Volcano Photos
Volcanoes El Chonco, San Cristobal (highest volcano in Nicaragua) and Casita, view from Chichigalpa (Photo: WNomad)
Stratovolcano San Cristobal, view from Chichigalpa, Nicaragua (Photo: WNomad)
Latest satellite images
Toba 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 Toba volcano (world scale)
Terrain-type map of Toba volcano (world scale)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Toba volcano (region scale large)
Terrain-type map of Toba volcano (region scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Toba volcano (region scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Toba volcano (region scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Toba volcano (region scale small)
Terrain-type map of Toba volcano (region scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Toba volcano (local scale large)
Terrain-type map of Toba volcano (local scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Toba volcano (local scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Toba volcano (local scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Toba volcano (local scale small)
Terrain-type map of Toba volcano (local scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Toba volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Terrain-type map of Toba volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Toba volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Terrain-type map of Toba volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Toba volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Terrain-type map of Toba volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Toba volcano (scale of 5-10 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Toba volcano (scale of few kilometers)
