Active volcanoes in the Philippines
Encyclopedia
Active is commonly termed for volcanoes with historical eruptions. Moreover, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
(PHIVOLCS) classify active volcano
es in the country as having erupted within historical times (within the last 600 years), with accounts of these eruptions documented by man; or having erupted within the last 10,000 years (Holocene
) based on analyses of datable materials. The PHIVOLCS site currently lists 23 volcano
es as active in the Philippines, 21 of which have historical eruptions and two strongly fumarolic volcanoes - Cabalian
and Leonard Kniaseff
.
The Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program
(GVP) list volcanoes with historical, Holocene
eruptions, or possibly older if strong signs of volcanism are still evident through thermal features like fumarole
s, hot springs
, mud pots, etc. GVP currently lists 50 Philippines volcanoes. The eruptions from the table below were based more on GVP which gives a more detailed eruption history for a particular mountain. The frequency of Historical Eruptions are based on definite historical eruptions and excludes questionable or Uncertain accounts based on the two sources mentioned.
The list below shows 25 active volcanoes in the Philippines was based more on the PHIVOLCS list with some included from the GVP list. The number is not a definite number and could defend on someone's definition of "active" or historical timeframe. Also, volcanoes listed as inactive
or potentially active could renew activity after long periods of dormancy such as Mount Pinatubo
in 1991.
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology is a Philippine national institution dedicated to provide information on the activities of volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis, as well as other specialized information and services primarily for the protection of life and property and in...
(PHIVOLCS) classify active volcano
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
es in the country as having erupted within historical times (within the last 600 years), with accounts of these eruptions documented by man; or having erupted within the last 10,000 years (Holocene
Holocene
The Holocene is a geological epoch which began at the end of the Pleistocene and continues to the present. The Holocene is part of the Quaternary period. Its name comes from the Greek words and , meaning "entirely recent"...
) based on analyses of datable materials. The PHIVOLCS site currently lists 23 volcano
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
es as active in the Philippines, 21 of which have historical eruptions and two strongly fumarolic volcanoes - Cabalian
Cabalian
Cabalian Volcano is an active volcano located in the province of Southern Leyte in the Philippines.-Physical Features:Cabalian is classified by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology as active with solfataric activity...
and Leonard Kniaseff
Leonard Kniaseff
Leonard Kniazeff is a stratovolcano located in the Compostela Valley, within the province of Davao del Norte, Island of Mindanao, Philippines.It has a 203 km diameter caldera lake called Lake Leonard...
.
The Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program
Global Volcanism Program
The Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program documents Earth's volcanoes and their eruptive history over the past 10,000 years. The GVP reports on current eruptions from around the world as well as maintaining a database repository on active volcanoes and their eruptions. In this way, a...
(GVP) list volcanoes with historical, Holocene
Holocene
The Holocene is a geological epoch which began at the end of the Pleistocene and continues to the present. The Holocene is part of the Quaternary period. Its name comes from the Greek words and , meaning "entirely recent"...
eruptions, or possibly older if strong signs of volcanism are still evident through thermal features like fumarole
Fumarole
A fumarole is an opening in a planet's crust, often in the neighborhood of volcanoes, which emits steam and gases such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrochloric acid, and hydrogen sulfide. The steam is created when superheated water turns to steam as its pressure drops when it emerges from...
s, hot springs
Hot Springs
Hot Springs may refer to:* Hot Springs, Arkansas** Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas*Hot Springs, California**Hot Springs, Lassen County, California**Hot Springs, Modoc County, California**Hot Springs, Placer County, California...
, mud pots, etc. GVP currently lists 50 Philippines volcanoes. The eruptions from the table below were based more on GVP which gives a more detailed eruption history for a particular mountain. The frequency of Historical Eruptions are based on definite historical eruptions and excludes questionable or Uncertain accounts based on the two sources mentioned.
The list below shows 25 active volcanoes in the Philippines was based more on the PHIVOLCS list with some included from the GVP list. The number is not a definite number and could defend on someone's definition of "active" or historical timeframe. Also, volcanoes listed as inactive
Inactive volcanoes of the Philippines
This is a list of inactive volcanoes in the Philippines. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology currently lists 355 volcanoes in the Philippines as inactive. The Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program does not list inactive volcanoes...
or potentially active could renew activity after long periods of dormancy such as Mount Pinatubo
Mount Pinatubo
Mount Pinatubo is an active stratovolcano located on the island of Luzon, near the tripoint of the Philippine provinces of Zambales, Tarlac, and Pampanga. It is located in the Tri-Cabusilan Mountain range separating the west coast of Luzon from the central plains, and is west of the dormant and...
in 1991.
Active volcanoes in the Philippines
| Volcano | Coordinates | Elevation (m) | Province/s | Historical Eruptions | ruption Description and Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ambalatungan Group | 17.310982°N 121.103668°E | 2329 metres (7,641.1 ft) | Kalinga | 0 | Explosions in 1952 is uncertain. Fumarolic with solfataras and thermal springs. |
| Babuyan Claro Babuyan Claro Babuyan Claro is a volcano located in the Babuyan Islands, an archipelago in the Luzon Strait north of Luzon Island, in the Philippines. It is separated from Luzon by the Babuyan Channel, and from the Batanes Islands to the north by the Balintang Channel.... |
9.523°N 121.940°E | 1080 metres (3,543.3 ft) | Cagayan Cagayan Cagayan , the "Land of Smiling Beauty", is a province of the Philippines in the Cagayan Valley region in Luzon. Its capital is Tuguegarao City and is located at the northeastern corner of the island of Luzon. Cagayan also includes the Babuyan Islands to the north. The province borders Ilocos Norte... |
3 | Eruptions were recorded in 1831, 1860 and 1913. Askedna Hot Springs is located in the southern base of the volcano. |
| Banahaw | 14.07°N 121.48°E | 2158 metres (7,080.1 ft) | Quezon Quezon -History:Originally, what now forms Quezon was divided among the provinces of Batangas, Laguna, and Nueva Ecija. The area was first explored by Juan de Salcedo in 1571-1572, during his expedition from Laguna to Camarines provinces.... |
0 | Eruptions were uncertain during the mudflows of 1730, 1743(?), 1843 and 1909. |
| Biliran | 11.558°N 124.513°E | 1301 metres (4,268.4 ft) | Biliran Biliran In 1945 liberated by the Philippine Commonwealth forces of the 9th Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army was landed in Biliran with the local guerrilla forces by the attack of the Japanese troops from the island during the Battle of Biliran during World War II.-Conversion:On April... |
1 | Phreatic eruption in 1939. Fumarolic with thermal springs |
| Bulusan Mount Bulusan Mount Bulusan, or Bulusan Volcano, is the southernmost volcano on Luzon Island in the Republic of the Philippines. It is situated in the province of Sorsogon in the Bicol region, southeast of Mayon Volcano and approximately southeast of the Philippine capital of Manila.It is one of the active... |
12.770°N 124.05°E | 1565 metres (5,134.5 ft) | Sorsogon Sorsogon Sorsogon is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region; it is the southernmost province in Luzon and is subdivided into fourteen municipalities and one city. Its capital is Sorsogon City and borders the province of Albay to the north... |
17 | Eruptions years are from 1886 to 2011. Permanently monitored |
| Cagua Cagua Volcano Cagua Volcano is one of the active volcanoes of the Philippines. It has erupted twice in recorded history.- Geography :Cagua, one of the active volcanoes in the Philippines, is located in the province of Cagayan. Specifically, it lies in the Cagayan Valley region, of northern Luzon island... |
18.222°N 122.123°E | 1133 metres (3,717.2 ft) | Cagayan Cagayan Cagayan , the "Land of Smiling Beauty", is a province of the Philippines in the Cagayan Valley region in Luzon. Its capital is Tuguegarao City and is located at the northeastern corner of the island of Luzon. Cagayan also includes the Babuyan Islands to the north. The province borders Ilocos Norte... |
1 | Eruption in 1860 and strong solfataric activity in 1907. Thermal areas are located near the summit and NW to NNE flanks. |
| Camiguin de Babuyanes Camiguin de Babuyanes Camiguin de Babuyanes is an active stratovolcano on Camiguin Island, part of the Babuyan Islands group that is located in Luzon Strait, north of the island of Luzon, in the Philippines... |
18.83°N 121.860°E | 712 metres (2,336 ft) | Cagayan Cagayan Cagayan , the "Land of Smiling Beauty", is a province of the Philippines in the Cagayan Valley region in Luzon. Its capital is Tuguegarao City and is located at the northeastern corner of the island of Luzon. Cagayan also includes the Babuyan Islands to the north. The province borders Ilocos Norte... |
1 | Its only recorded eruption was in 1857. Fumarolic with thermal springs |
| Didicas | 19.077°N 122.202°E | 244 metres (800.5 ft) | Cagayan Cagayan Cagayan , the "Land of Smiling Beauty", is a province of the Philippines in the Cagayan Valley region in Luzon. Its capital is Tuguegarao City and is located at the northeastern corner of the island of Luzon. Cagayan also includes the Babuyan Islands to the north. The province borders Ilocos Norte... |
6 | Eruptions in 1773, 1856, 1900, 1952, 1969 and 1978. A submarine volcano till 1952 when a permanent island was formed. |
| Hibok-Hibok | 9.203°N 124.673°E | 1552 metres (5,091.9 ft) | Camiguin Camiguin Camiguin is an island province of the Philippines located in the Bohol Sea, about off the northern coast of Misamis Oriental in Mindanao. It is the second-smallest province both in population and land area after Batanes... |
4 | Eruption in years 1827, 1862, 1871 and 1948–1952. Activity from 1897-1902 was only solfataric. Permanently monitored. |
| Iraya | 20.469°N 122.010°E | 1009 metres (3,310.4 ft) | Batanes Batanes The Province of Batanes , also called the Batanes Islands, is a Philippine province comprising ten islands that are located in the Luzon Strait between the islands of Luzon and Taiwan... |
1 | Last eruption was in 1454. Seismic swarm in 1998. |
| Iriga Mount Iriga Mount Iriga, also known as Mount Asog, is one of the active volcanos in the Philippines, in the province of Camarines Sur, in the Philippines.... |
13.457°N 123.457°E | 1196 metres (3,923.9 ft) | Camarines Sur Camarines Sur Camarines Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Pili and the province borders Camarines Norte and Quezon to the north, and Albay to the south... |
0 | The eruption in 1628 was discredited. |
| Jolo Group Jolo Group Jolo Group is an active group of volcanoes in the island of Jolo in Southern Philippines.The Global Volcanism Program list Jolo as one of the active volcanoes in the Philippines while the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology collectively list the group as Bud Dajo, one of the cinder... |
6.013°N 121.057°E | 811 metres (2,660.8 ft) | Sulu | 0 | Uncertain submarine eruption in 1897. Listed as Bud Dajo Bud Dajo Bud Dajo , is one of the cinder cones that make up the island of Jolo and part of the Jolo Volcanic Group in the Republic of the Philippines. The extinct volcano is located southeast from the town of Jolo in Sulu province... , a cinder cone Cinder cone According to the , Cinder Cone is the proper name of 1 cinder cone in Canada and 7 cinder cones in the United States:In Canada: Cinder Cone In the United States:... on Jolo Island Jolo Island Jolo is a volcanic island in the southwest Philippines. It is located in the Sulu Archipelago, between Borneo and Mindanao, and has a population of approximately 300,000 people.... , in the PHIVOLCS list. |
| Kanlaon | 10.412°N 123.132°E | 2435 metres (7,988.8 ft) | Negros Occidental Negros Occidental Negros Occidental is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is Bacolod City and it occupies the northwestern half of Negros Island; Negros Oriental is at the southeastern half... , Negros Oriental Negros Oriental Negros Oriental is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region. It occupies the south-eastern half of the island of Negros, with Negros Occidental comprising the north-western half. It also includes Apo Island — a popular dive site for both local and foreign tourists... |
26 | Eruptions were recorded from 1886 to 2006. Permanently monitored. |
| Leonard Kniaseff Leonard Kniaseff Leonard Kniazeff is a stratovolcano located in the Compostela Valley, within the province of Davao del Norte, Island of Mindanao, Philippines.It has a 203 km diameter caldera lake called Lake Leonard... |
7.382°N 126.047°E | 1190 metres (3,904.2 ft) | Davao del Norte Davao del Norte Davao del Norte , and once known simply as Davao, is a province of the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. Its capital is Tagum City. It borders the province of Agusan del Sur to the north, Bukidnon to the west, Compostela Valley to the east, and the city of Davao to the south... |
0 | Last eruption was dated as c.120 AD Anno Domini and Before Christ are designations used to label or number years used with the Julian and Gregorian calendars.... . Strong thermal features. |
| Makaturing Makaturing Makaturing, is a stratovolcano on Mindanao island in the Philippines. It is found in the province of Lanao del Sur in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Makaturing has an elevation of and a base diameter of... |
7.647°N 124.32°E | 1940 metres (6,364.8 ft) | Lanao del Sur Lanao del Sur Lanao del Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao . Its capital is Marawi City and borders Lanao del Norte to the north, Bukidnon to the east, and Maguindanao and Cotabato to the south. To the southwest lies Illana Bay, an arm of the Moro Gulf... |
2 | Eruption recorded in 1865 and 1882. The 1856 and 1858 eruptions was credited to Ragang Ragang Mount Ragang, also called Mount Piapayungan and Blue Mountain by the local people, is a stratovolcano on Mindanao island in the Philippines... |
| Matutum Matutum Matutum is an active volcano in the Philippines.-Location:Matutum is located in the province of South Cotabato, on the island of Mindanao, in the south of the Philippines, at geographical coordinates 6°22'N, 125°06.5'E.... |
6.37°N 125.07°E | 2286 metres (7,500 ft) | South Cotabato South Cotabato South Cotabato is a province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. Its capital is Koronadal City, and it borders Sultan Kudarat to the north and west, Sarangani to the south and east, and Davao del Sur to the east... |
0 | Mountain was fumarolic on March 7, 1911, but if an eruption occurred was uncertain. Thermal springs in Almoan and Linan. |
| Mayon Mayon Volcano Mayon Volcano, also known as Mount Mayon, is an active volcano in the province of Albay, on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. Renowned as the "perfect cone" because of its almost symmetric conical shape, Mayon forms the northern boundary of Legazpi City, the largest city in terms of... |
13.257°N 123.685°E | 2462 metres (8,077.4 ft) | Albay Albay Albay is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Legazpi City and the province borders Camarines Sur to the north and Sorsogon to the south. Also to the northeast is Lagonoy Gulf.... |
50 | Eruptions were recorded from 1616 to 2010. Permanently monitored. |
| Musuan Musuan Musuan Peak or Mount Musuan , also known as Mount Calayo is an active volcano on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. It is 4.5 kilometres south of the city of Valencia, province of Bukidnon, and 81 km southeast of Cagayan de Oro City.... |
7.877°N 125.068°E | 646 metres (2,119.4 ft) | Bukidnon Bukidnon Bukidnon is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Northern Mindanao region. Its capital is Malaybalay City. The province borders, clockwise starting from the north, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Sur, Davao del Norte, Cotabato, Lanao del Sur, and Lanao del Norte.Bukidnon is... |
2 | Eruptions in 1866 & 1867. Strong seismic swarm in 1976. |
| Parker Mount Parker (Cotabato) Mount Parker, locally known as Melibengoy, is a stratovolcano on Mindanao island in the Philippines . It is located in the province of South Cotabato, 30 kilometers west of General Santos City and 44 kilometers south of Koronadal City.The volcano's English name is taken from an American... |
6.113°N 124.892°E | 1824 metres (5,984.3 ft) | Cotabato Cotabato Cotabato , is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao... |
1 | A caldera Caldera A caldera is a cauldron-like volcanic feature usually formed by the collapse of land following a volcanic eruption, such as the one at Yellowstone National Park in the US. They are sometimes confused with volcanic craters... -forming eruption occurred on January 4, 1641. |
| Pinatubo | 15.13°N 120.35°E | 1486 metres (4,875.3 ft) | Zambales Zambales Zambales is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is Iba. Zambales borders Pangasinan to the north, Tarlac and Pampanga to the east, and Bataan to the south. The province lies between the South China Sea and the Zambales Mountains. With a land area of... , Tarlac Tarlac Tarlac is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Luzon Island. Its capital is Tarlac City. Tarlac borders Pampanga to the south, Nueva Ecija to the east, Pangasinan to the north, and Zambales to the west... , Pampanga Pampanga Pampanga is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Pampanga is bordered by the provinces of Bataan and Zambales to the west, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija to the north, and Bulacan to the southeast... |
3 | Reawakened in 1991 producing the 2nd largest eruption in the 20th century. Followed by milder eruptions in 1992 and 1993. |
| Ragang Ragang Mount Ragang, also called Mount Piapayungan and Blue Mountain by the local people, is a stratovolcano on Mindanao island in the Philippines... |
7.70°N 124.50°E | 2815 metres (9,235.6 ft) | Lanao del Sur Lanao del Sur Lanao del Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao . Its capital is Marawi City and borders Lanao del Norte to the north, Bukidnon to the east, and Maguindanao and Cotabato to the south. To the southwest lies Illana Bay, an arm of the Moro Gulf... , Cotabato Cotabato Cotabato , is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao... |
7 | Eruption years are from 1765 to 1873. Eruptions were uncertain in 1915 and 1916. |
| San Pablo Volcanic Field San Pablo Volcanic Field -Identity:The Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program lists the San Pablo volcanic field as a recently active volcanic field with numerous geothermal areas within it.... |
14.12°N 121.30°E | 1090 metres (3,576.1 ft) | Laguna, Batangas Batangas Batangas is a first class province of the Philippines located on the southwestern part of Luzon in the CALABARZON region. Its capital is Batangas City and it is bordered by the provinces of Cavite and Laguna to the north and Quezon to the east. Across the Verde Island Passages to the south is the... |
0 | Last activity was the formation of Sampaloc Lake around 1350 AD +/- 100 years determined by anthropology Anthropology Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German... |
| Smith Smith Volcano Smith Volcano, also known as Mount Babuyan, is a stratovolcano on one of the Babuyan Islands off northern Luzon island in the Philippines.-Physical features:The sparsely-vegetated cinder cone is 688 meters high with a base diameter of 4.5 km.... |
19.534°N 121.917°E | 688 metres (2,257.2 ft) | Cagayan Cagayan Cagayan , the "Land of Smiling Beauty", is a province of the Philippines in the Cagayan Valley region in Luzon. Its capital is Tuguegarao City and is located at the northeastern corner of the island of Luzon. Cagayan also includes the Babuyan Islands to the north. The province borders Ilocos Norte... |
6 | Eruption years are from 1652 to 1924. Combined with Babuyan Claro Babuyan Claro Babuyan Claro is a volcano located in the Babuyan Islands, an archipelago in the Luzon Strait north of Luzon Island, in the Philippines. It is separated from Luzon by the Babuyan Channel, and from the Batanes Islands to the north by the Balintang Channel.... on the GVP list. |
| Taal Taal Volcano Taal Volcano is a complex volcano located on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. Historical eruptions are concentrated on Volcano Island, an island near the middle of Lake Taal. The lake partially fills Taal Caldera, which was formed by powerful prehistoric eruptions between 140,000 to 5,380 BP... |
14.002°N 120.993°E | 400 metres (1,312.3 ft) | Batangas Batangas Batangas is a first class province of the Philippines located on the southwestern part of Luzon in the CALABARZON region. Its capital is Batangas City and it is bordered by the provinces of Cavite and Laguna to the north and Quezon to the east. Across the Verde Island Passages to the south is the... |
33 | Eruption years is from 1572 to 1977. Showing signs of unrest since 1991 and permanently monitored. |
| Unnamed volcano (Ibugos) Unnamed volcano (Ibugos) Unnamed volcano , is a submarine volcano near the island Ibugos in the Philippines.-Location:The volcano is located 5 kilometres off Ibugos Island, one of the Batanes Islands, in the province of Batanes, in the Cagayan Valley Region, in the Philippines, within the Luzon Strait between Luzon and... |
20.33°N 121.75°E | -24 m | Batanes Batanes The Province of Batanes , also called the Batanes Islands, is a Philippine province comprising ten islands that are located in the Luzon Strait between the islands of Luzon and Taiwan... |
3 | Submarine eruptions in 1773, 1850 and 1854. |
See also
- Erupting volcanoes in the Philippines
- Potentially active volcanoes in the Philippines
- Inactive volcanoes in the Philippines
- GeomorphologyGeomorphologyGeomorphology is the scientific study of landforms and the processes that shape them...
- Landforms
- Volcanic fieldVolcanic fieldA volcanic field is an area of the Earth's crust that is prone to localized volcanic activity. They usually contain 10 to 100 volcanoes, such as cinder cones and are usually in clusters. Lava flows may also occur...