Mayon
Luzon
Volcano types:
Stratovolcano
Summit Elev: 2462 m
Latitude: 13.257°N
Longitude: 123.685°E
Beautifully symmetrical Mayon volcano, which rises to 2462 m above the AlbayGulf, is the Philippines' most active volcano. The structurally simple volcano has steep upper slopes averaging 35-40 degrees that are capped by a small summit crater. The historical eruptions of this basaltic-andesitic volcano date back to 1616 and range from strombolian to basaltic plinian, with cyclical activity beginning with basaltic eruptions, followed by longer term andesitic lava flows. Eruptions occur predominately from the central conduit and have also produced lava flows that travel far down the flanks. Pyroclastic flows and mudflows have commonly swept down many of the approximately 40 ravines that radiate from the summit and have often devastated populated lowland areas. Mayon's most violent eruption, in 1814, killed more than 1200 people and devastated several towns.
Taal
Luzon
Volcano types:
Stratovolcano
Caldera
Pyroclastic cones
Summit Elev: 400 m
Latitude: 14.002°N
Longitude: 120.993°E
Taal volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines and has produced some of its most powerful historical eruptions. In contrast to Mayon volcano, Taal is not topographically prominent, but its prehistorical eruptions have greatly changed the topography of SW Luzon. The 15 x 20 km Taal caldera is largely filled by LakeTaal, whose 267 sq km surface lies 700 m below the south caldera rim and only 3 m above sea level. The maximum depth of the lake is 160 m, and several eruptive centers lie submerged beneath the lake. The 5-km-wide VolcanoIsland in north-central LakeTaal is the location of all historical eruptions. The island is a complex volcano composed of coalescing small stratovolcanoes, tuff rings, and scoria cones that has grown about 25% in area during historical time. Powerful pyroclastic flows and surges from historical eruptions of Taal have caused many fatalities.
Banáhao
Luzon
Volcano types:
Complex volcano
Stratovolcanoes
Lava domes
Summit Elev: 2158 m
Latitude: 14.07°N
Longitude: 121.48°E
The 2158-m-high Banáhao (also known as Banahaw) is the highest of a group of volcanoes south and east of Manila. Banáhao is flanked by San Cristobal volcano on the west and Banáhao de Lucban on the NE. Andesitic-to-dacitic lava domes occur on the flanks of Banáhao and San Cristobal. Two major Holocene debris avalanches have occurred at Banáhao volcano. The deposit from one extends 13 km to the NE and the other 26 km to the SE, where it forms 10 km of the coastline of TayabasBay. San Cristobal stratovolcano rises to 1480 m, 7 km west of Banáhao. Its youthful morphology suggests that it postdates Banahao. Banáhao de Lucban is a 1875-m-high stratovolcano that was constructed within the 8-km-wide, horseshoe-shaped caldera related to the two debris avalanches, and is the youngest volcano of the Banáhao complex. The 2-km-wide, 600-m-deep summit crater of Banáhao is open to the SSW and contained a crater lake until 1730, when it drained, forming mudflows. Mudflows were also recorded in 1743?, 1843 and 1909, possibly also associated with explosive activity.
Pinatubo
Luzon
Volcano types:
Stratovolcano
Caldera
Lava domes
Summit Elev: 1486 m
Latitude: 15.13°N
Longitude: 120.35°E
Prior to 1991 Pinatubo volcano was a relatively unknown, heavily forested lava dome complex located 100 km NW of Manila with no records of historical eruptions. The 1991 eruption, one of the world's largest of the 20th century, ejected massive amounts of tephra and produced voluminous pyroclastic flows, forming a small, 2.5-km-wide summit caldera whose floor is now covered by a lake. Caldera formation lowered the height of the summit from 1745 to 1486 m. Although the eruption caused hundreds of fatalities and major damage with severe social and economic impact, successful monitoring efforts greatly reduced the number of fatalities. Widespread lahars that redistributed products of the 1991 eruption have continued to cause severe disruption. At least six major eruptive periods, interrupted by lengthy quiescent periods, have occurred from modern Pinatubo volcano during the past 35,000 years. Most of these have produced major pyroclastic flows and lahars that were even more extensive than in 1991.
Bulusan
Luzon
Volcano types:
Stratovolcanoes
Caldera
Lava domes
Summit Elev: 1565 m
Latitude: 12.770°N
Longitude: 124.05°E
Luzon's southernmost volcano, Bulusan, was constructed along the rim of the 11-km-diameter dacitic-to-rhyolitic Irosin caldera, which was formed about 35,000-40,000 years ago. Bulusan lies at the SE end of the Bicol volcanic arc occupying the peninsula of the same name that forms the elongated SE tip of Luzon. A broad, flat moat is located below the topographically prominent SW rim of Irosin caldera; the NE rim is buried by the andesitic Bulusan complex. Bulusan is flanked by several other large intracaldera lava domes and cones, including the prominent MountJormajan lava dome on the SW flank and SharpPeak to the NE. The summit of 1565-m-high Bulusan volcano is unvegetated and contains a 300-m-wide, 50-m-deep crater. Three small craters are located on the SE flank. Many moderate explosive eruptions have been recorded at Bulusan since the mid-19th century.
Canlaon
Central Philippine
Volcano types:
Stratovolcano
Caldera
Pyroclastic cones
Summit Elev: 2435 m
Latitude: 10.412°N
Longitude: 123.132°E
Canlaon volcano (also spelled Kanlaon), the most active of the central Philippines, forms the highest point on the island of Negros. The massive 2435-m-high stratovolcano is dotted with fissure-controlled pyroclastic cones and craters, many of which are filled by lakes. The summit of Canlaon contains a broad elongated northern caldera with a crater lake and a smaller, but higher, historically active crater to the south. The largest debris avalanche known in the Philippines traveled 33 km to the SW from Canlaon. Historical eruptions, recorded since 1866, have typically consisted of phreatic explosions of small-to-moderate size that produce minor ashfalls near the volcano.
Biliran
Central Philippine
Volcano types:
Compound volcano
Lava domes
Summit Elev: 1301 m
Latitude: 11.523°N
Longitude: 124.535°E
The volcanic island of Biliran, located across the narrow BiliranStrait from the northern tip of LeyteIsland, contains many prominent andesitic lava domes, the highest of which is 1301 m Surio. Fumarole fields are scattered throughout the 20 x 35 km wide island. The only known historical activity at Biliran was a phreatic explosive eruption and possible debris avalanche at a thermal area in 1939.
Apo
Mindanao
Volcano types:
Stratovolcano
Summit Elev: 2954 m
Latitude: 7.008°N
Longitude: 125.27°E
Apo volcano is the highest peak in the Philippines, but its geologic history is poorly known. Apo, which means master, or grandfather, rises to 2954 m SW of the coastal city of Davao and has a flat-topped summit with three peaks. The SW peak of the andesitic volcano is the highest and is capped by a 500-m-wide crater containing a small lake. The youngest crater is on the northern peak. A line of solfataras rises from a fissure on the SE side that extends from 2400 m to the summit. Apo is one of several volcanoes to which the major 1641 eruption from Parker volcano was incorrectly attributed to, but no historical eruptions are known from Apo.
Paco
Mindanao
Volcano types:
Stratovolcano
Calderas
Lava domes
Summit Elev: 524 m
Latitude: 9.593°N
Longitude: 125.520°E
Located at the NE tip of Mindanao, Paco (also known as Manlayao) is truncated by two nested calderas, 2.5 and 5 km in diameter. The basaltic-andesite volcano is located east of the N-S-trending Philippine Fault that cuts across eastern Mindanao. Legends record a major caldera collapse eruption (Wolfe 1982, pers. comm.). The age of the last eruption is not known, although the volcano currently displays fumarolic activity.
Jolo
SuluIslands
Volcano types:
Pyroclastic cones
Summit Elev: 811 m
Latitude: 6.013°N
Longitude: 121.057°E
Numerous pyroclastic cones and craters dot 60-km-wide JoloIsland at the SW end of the Philippines archipelago. Jolo lies in the Sulu archipelago, about 150 km SW of the tip of the ZamboangaPeninsula on SW Mindanao Island. The isolated location of Jolo and political unrest have inhibited geological studies of the volcanic island. Youthful-looking Tumatangus volcano forms the 811 m high point of the island. Bud Dajo (or Buddajo) is a young basaltic cinder cone that reaches 620 m elevation; nearby cones are Matanding, Guimba, and Sungal. Hot springs have been reported at craters on Cagayan Sulu, and solfataras at SiitLake. A tsunami accompanied a possible submarine eruption in 1897. A reported eruption in 1641 actually reflected ashfall from an eruption of Parker volcano on Mindanao.
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