TheSemeru(Javanese:ꦱꦼꦩꦺꦫꦸ), orMount Semeru(Javanese:ꦒꦸꦤꦸꦁꦱꦼꦩꦺꦫꦸ,Indonesian:Gunung Semeru) is an activevolcanolocated inEast Java,Indonesia. It is located in a subduction zone, where theIndo-Australian platesubductsunder theEurasia plate.[3]It is the highestmountainon the island ofJava.The name "Semeru" is derived fromMeru,the central world mountain inHinduism,orSumeru,the abode ofgods.ThisstratovolcanoisMahameru,meaning "The Great Mountain" inSanskrit.[4][1]It is one of the more popular hiking destinations in Indonesia.
| Semeru | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,676 m (12,060 ft)[1] |
| Prominence | 3,676 m (12,060 ft) |
| Isolation | 390.92 km (242.91 mi) |
| Listing | Island high point 12th Ultra Ribu |
| Coordinates | 08°06′28″S112°55′19″E/ 8.10778°S 112.92194°E |
| Geography | |
  Semeru Java,Indonesia  Semeru Semeru (Indonesia) | |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Stratovolcano |
| Volcanicarc/belt | Ring of Fire/Sunda Arc |
| Last eruption | Ongoing[2] |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | Unknown |
| Easiest route | Hike |
Geology
editSemeru rises steeply above the coastal plains of eastern Java.Maarscontainingcrater lakeshave formed along a line through the volcano's summit. It was formed south of the overlapping Ajek-ajek and Jambagancalderas.[5]The eruptive products areandesitic.[6]Semeru lies at the south end of theTengger Volcanic Complex.
Eruptive history
editSemeru's eruptive history is extensive. Since 1818, at least 55 eruptions have been recorded (11 of which resulted in fatalities) consisting of lava andpyroclastic flows.All historical eruptions have had aVolcanic Explosivity Index(VEI) of 2 or 3.[7]Semeru has been in a state of near-constant eruption from 1967 to the present.[8]The volcano's most recent eruption occurred in 2024.[9]
Semeru is regularly climbed by tourists, usually starting from the village of Ranu Pane to the north,[citation needed]but though non-technical, it can be dangerous.Soe Hok Gie,an Indonesian political activist of the 1960s, died in 1969 from inhaling poisonous gases while hiking on Mount Semeru.[10]
2021 eruption
editOn 4 December 2021, Semeru erupted for a second time in the year – the first having been on 16 January 2021.[11]Semeru erupted a third time on 6 December 2021.[12]
At least 57 people died,[13]104 more were injured, while 23 were unaccounted for.[14][15][16][17]Thousands were displaced.[18][19][20][21][22]
2022 eruption
editA fresh eruption started on 4 December 2022, as monsoon rains collapsed the mountain's lava dome, provoking evacuations.[23]
A large pyroclastic flow reached up to 19 kilometres (12 miles) from the summit crater. Evacuation of people was quickly undertaken.[24]
Legends
editSemeru is named afterSumeru,the central world mountain inHinduism.As stated in legend, it was transplanted fromIndiato create the island of Java; the tale is recorded in the 15th-century East Javanese workTantu Pagelaran.It was originally placed in the western part of the island, but that caused the island to tip, so the gods moved it eastward. On that journey, parts kept coming off the lower rim, forming the mountainsLawu,Wilis,Kelud,Kawi,Arjuno and Welirang.The damage thus caused to the foot of the mountain caused it to shake, and the top came off and createdPenanggunganas well.[25]Indonesian Hindus also hold a belief that the mountain is the abode ofShivain Java.[26]
Floral problems
editNon-native invasive plants
edit25 non-native plants have been found in Mount Semeru National Park. Thenon-native plants,which threaten theendemiclocal plants,were imported by Dutch botanistVan Steenis,in the colonial era. They includeFoeniculum vulgare,Verbena brasiliensis,Chromolaena odorata,andSalvinia molesta.[27]
Vegetable plantations
editMuderosionfrom surrounding vegetable plantations is adding silt toRanu Pani Lake,causing the lake to gradually shrink. Research has predicted that the lake will disappear by about 2025, unless thevegetable plantationson the hillsides are replaced with more ecologically sustainableperennials.[28]
See also
edit
Citations
edit- ^ab"Global Volcanism Program | Semeru".Smithsonian Institution | Global Volcanism Program.Retrieved29 September2022.
- ^Associated Press(4 December 2022)."Residents are evacuating as Mount Semeru, Indonesia's highest volcano, has erupted".Retrieved4 December2022.
- ^"Mount Semeru".
- ^"Indonesia: Death toll rises to 14 after eruption of Semeru volcano".TheGuardian.5 December 2021.
- ^"Semeru: Summary".Global Volcanism Program.Smithsonian Institution.
- ^"Semeru Volcano".
- ^"Semeru: Eruptive History".Global Volcanism Program.Smithsonian Institution.
- ^"Volcano erupts in Indonesia".abc.net.au.6 March 2009.Retrieved6 November2020.
- ^"Indonesia's Mount Semeru Erupts for the Second Time on Friday, February 16".Tempo. 17 February 2024.
- ^"Birth of Soe Hok Gie".Viva News. 17 December 2008.
- ^"Indonesia's Semeru volcano erupts, spews huge ash cloud".CNBC.4 December 2021.Retrieved4 December2021.
- ^Kurniawan, Willy; Adriansyah, Tommy (6 December 2021)."Indonesia volcano erupts again as death toll rises to 22".ksl.Retrieved6 December2021.
- ^Latu Ratri Mubyarsah, ed. (17 December 2021)."Hari Terakhir Pencarian Korban Erupsi Semeru, 57 Orang Meninggal"(in Indonesian).Jawa Pos.Archivedfrom the original on 20 December 2021.Retrieved20 December2021.
- ^Mufarida, Binti (7 December 2021)."Update, 4.250 Orang Mengungsi Akibat Erupsi Gunung Semeru"(in Indonesian). SINDOnews.Archivedfrom the original on 7 December 2021.Retrieved7 December2021.
- ^"Semeru Volcano Eruption Indonesia".No. Semeru Eruption. Reliefweb. 7 December 2021.Archivedfrom the original on 7 December 2021.Retrieved7 December2021.
- ^Subhanie, Dzikry (7 December 2021)."Update, 3.697 Orang Mengungsi Akibat Erupsi Gunung Semeru"(in Indonesian). SINDOnews.Archivedfrom the original on 7 December 2021.Retrieved7 December2021.
- ^Muhari, Abdul (6 December 2021)."[Update] – Sebanyak 15 Warga Meninggal Dunia dan 27 Lainnya Hilang Akibat Erupsi Semeru"[[Update] – As many as 15 Residents Died and 27 Others Missing Due to Semeru Eruption] (in Indonesian).Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management.Archivedfrom the original on 6 December 2021.Retrieved6 December2021.
- ^Idrus, Pizaro Gozali (14 December 2021)."Death toll from Semeru volcano eruption in Indonesia rises to 48".aa.tr.Retrieved18 October2022.
- ^Andri, Mochamad; Jamaluddin, Masrur; Mogul, Rhea (7 December 2021)."Volcano rescue workers dig through thick layers of hot ash in Indonesia after Mount Semeru erupts".CNN.Retrieved6 December2021.
- ^Crafford, Alice Elizabeth Jones; Venzke, Edward (January 2022)."Global Volcanism Program | Report on Semeru (Indonesia) — January 2022".volcano.si.edu.doi:10.5479/si.gvp.bgvn202201-263300.Retrieved18 October2022.
- ^Wismabrata, Michael Hangga, ed. (5 December 2021)."Update Bencana Erupsi Gunung Semeru, 13 Korban Jiwa dan Evakuasi Terkendala Medan".KOMPAS(in Indonesian).Retrieved5 December2021.
- ^Hasanudin Aco, ed. (4 December 2021)."Update Gunung Semeru Meletus: 1 Warga Meninggal, 3 Orang Masih Hilang, Puluhan Luka-luka"[Update on Mount Semeru Erupts: 1 Resident Dies, 3 People Still Missing, Dozens Injured] (in Indonesian). Tribune News.Retrieved4 December2021.
- ^Associated Press(4 December 2022)."Residents are evacuating as Mount Semeru, Indonesia's highest volcano, has erupted".Retrieved4 December2022.
- ^"Indonesia raises volcano warning to highest level after eruption".ABC News.4 December 2022.Retrieved18 March2023.
- ^Soekmono (1973).Pengantar Sejarah Kebudayaan Indonesia 2.Yogyakarta, Indonesia: Penerbit Kanisius. p. 119.ISBN979-413-290-X.
- ^Larasati, Ayu Utami (6 December 2021)."Legenda Gunung Semeru yang Melekat di Masyarakat".Tagar.id(in Indonesian).Retrieved25 May2022.
- ^Widianto, Eko (25 October 2014)."Foreign Plantations Invade Mt Semeru".Tempo.
- ^Priyasidharta, David (15 December 2014)."Ranu Pane Lake Estimated to Disappear in 10 Years".Tempo.
General sources
edit- "Semeru".Global Volcanism Program.Smithsonian Institution.
- Holt, Claire.Art in Indonesia: Continuities and Change.Ithaca:Cornell University Press,1967. Page 36 explains the mythological aspect of the mountain.
External links
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