Lawu
Stratovolcano in Indonesia
Key Facts
Elevation
3,265 m (10,712 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano
Location
-7.625°, 111.192°
Region
Sunda Volcanic Arc
Rock Type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Tectonic Setting
Subduction zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
The Lawu volcanic complex includes a deeply eroded volcano to the south joined to a younger edifice to the north considered by van Bemmelen (1949b) to be probably Holocene. No eruptions or dated deposits are known, but it was mapped by Sampurno and Samodra (1997) as Holocene. The southern end of the broad 3-km-long summit of the younger edifice contains eroded crater rims and a lava dome that fed flows 3.
5 km down the S flank. A fumarolic area is also located on the S flank. A small cone with a crater is present on the lower SE flank of the older edifice, ~19 km from the summit.
An event was reported in November 1885 CE, with booms, rumbling sounds, and "ash rain" later in the day; this was similar to a landslide reported in 1978. A major eruption attributed to Lawu in 1752 CE was actually from Kelud volcano.
Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment
Primary Hazards
- Pyroclastic flows
- Lava flows
- Volcanic bombs and ballistics
- Lahars and mudflows
Risk Level
Geological Composition & Structure
Rock Types
Tectonic Setting
Age & Formation
Eruption Statistics & Analysis
| Metric | Value | Global Ranking | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Recorded Eruptions | Unknown | Low | Moderately active volcano |
| Maximum VEI | VEI Unknown | Minor | Local impact potential |
| Recent Activity | Unknown | Historical | Historically active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in Sunda-Banda Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 263260
- •Evidence: Evidence Uncertain
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
Lawu dominates the skyline east of the city of Surakarta (Solo). This view is from the south, with a white plume rising from a thermal area at the center of the photo. Lawu was constructed to the north of an older complex during the Holocene. A rift valley between the two volcanoes is occupied on the east by several crater lakes.
Photo by J. Matehelumual, 1979 (Volcanological Survey of Indonesia).
Authority Sources
Related Volcanoes
Basic Information
This page shows basic data from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. For more detailed information, visit the official Smithsonian page.