Batur (Indonesia): Recorded Eruptions and Historical Activity

Batur is a caldera volcano located in Indonesia, standing at an elevation of 1,711 meters within a subduction zone and continental crust setting. According to the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program, the volcano has a confirmed record of 25 eruptions. The documented historical activity spans from the 19th century CE through the 20th century CE, featuring reported observational evidence for its eruptive phases.

Chronology of Recorded Eruptions

The structured historical record for Batur begins in the 19th century CE. Across the available collection, 25 eruptions have been confirmed through reported observations. These events are distributed across two centuries: 6 eruptions occurred in the 19th century CE, and 19 eruptions took place in the 20th century CE.

The earliest recorded eruption in the dataset began on July 2, 1804. Later historical activity included events situated across different parts of the volcanic complex, such as the west caldera floor at Gunung Anti, as well as designated activity areas such as Batur I, Batur II, and Batur III. For example, an eruption in the Batur III area started on March 12, 1974, and ended on April 16, 1974.

While the structured chronological period of confirmed eruptions in the primary event database lists its latest starting date on March 15, 1999 (concluding on June 16, 2000), the overall volcano profile notes a last known eruption year of 2000. All recorded eruptions carry a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of either 1.0 or 2.0.