Mount Merapi, an active Volcano

Mount Merapi, Gunung Merapi in Indonesian language, is a conical volcano in Central Java, Indonesia. It is the most active volcano in Indonesia and has erupted regularly since 1548. Its name means Mountain of Fire. It is very close to the city of Yogyakarta, and thousands of people live on the flanks of the volcano, with villages as high as 1700 m above sea level.

Several of its eruptions have caused fatalities. It was erupting from 1992 to 2002, and a particularly large explosion killed 43 people in 1994. It began erupting again in 2006, and scientists believe a large eruption is imminent. In light of the hazards it poses to populated areas, it has been designated a Decade Volcano.

Mt Merapi was smoking all while we were in Jogja.... GJ was fascinated by it and spent ages on the roof top terrace of the Hyatt with the kids watching this Volcano. I took these photos from here, photos from other vantage spots were so hazy that the volcano was obscured.

If the sky was clear the open air foyer of the Hyatt perfectly framed a view of Mt Merapi.