Tourist Activities at an Active Volcano

Mount Batur (Gunung Batur) is an active volcano located at the center of two concentric calderas north west of Mount Agung, Bali, Indonesia. A caldera is a cauldron-like volcanic feature usually formed by the collapse of land following a volcanic eruption.  The south east side of the larger 10×13 km caldera contains a caldera lake. The inner 7.5-kilometer-wide caldera has been dated at about 23,670 and 28,500 years ago.

The South-East wall of the inner caldera lies beneath Lake Batur. 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. The caldera contains an active, 700-metre-tall stratovolcano rising above the surface of Lake Batur.

Sy and I had a scenic lunch - with a view that overlooks the volcano. Entry to the town is 4,000 Rp per person and was included in the tour package. So was the buffet lunch. There was no rush as we weren't part of a big tour group, and I must say it was a highlight of our holiday, as the scenery was iconic - with sharp contrasts of greens, blue and grey in the background.

The first historically documented eruption of Batur was in 1804, and it has been frequently active with at least 20 more eruptions since then. The tour guide did tell us that this is an active volcano and the most recent eruption was in 1997. But a look at all the tour brouchures reveals an trekking tour to the centre of the volcano to see the sunrise. The trek starts at about 4am.

What astonishes me was that an object that can cause massive destruction and deaths to oneself could be turned into a major tourist attraction. Maybe tourists can just lured by the spectacular views, whether upclose or afar. Maybe it is part of people's bucket list. Or maybe beautiful things in life are always filled with danger.

And if so, that could be the reason why some go to the extreme to experience those dangerous beautiful moments.