Major Volcanoes of the World
Major Volcanoes of the World : Avachinsky
| Colima | Galeras
| Mauna Loa | Mount
Etna | Mount Nyiragongo
| Mount Rainier | Mount
Unzen | Mount Vesuvius
| Sakurajima | Santamaría
| Santorini | Taal
| Teide |
Ulawun
Taal
Taal Volcano is an active volcano on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. This is located in Talisay and San Nicolas in Batangas. It consists of an island in Lake Taal, which is situated within a caldera formed by an earlier very large eruption. It is about 50 km from the capital, Manila.
The volcano has erupted violently several times, causing loss of life in the populated areas surrounding the lake, the current death toll standing at around 5,000 - 6,000. Because of its proximity to populated areas and eruptive history, the volcano has been designated a Decade Volcano worthy of close study to prevent future natural disasters.
Geological history
Taal Volcano is part of a chain of volcanoes along the western side of the island of Luzon, which were formed by the subduction of the Eurasian Plate underneath the Philippine Mobile Belt. Taal Lake lies within a 25–30 km caldera formed by four explosive eruptions between 500,000 and 100,000 years ago. Each of these eruptions created extensive ignimbrite deposits, reaching as far away as where Manila stands today.
Since the formation of the caldera, subsequent eruptions have created another volcanic island, within the caldera, known as Volcano Island. This island covers an area of about 23 km², and consists of overlapping cones and craters. 47 different cones and craters have been identified on the island. Volcano Island contains a lake about 2km across, called Crater Lake, within which is yet another volcanic island.
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