Thousands evacuated following volcano eruption in Indonesia

Subject : Geography

Section: Geomorphology

In the news:

Mt Lewotobi Laki-Laki spewed volcanic ash 1.5 km above its peak, according to the Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation.

Mt Lewotobi Laki-Laki:

Lewotobi is a twin volcano located in the southeastern part of the island of Flores, Indonesia.
It comprises the Lewotobi Lakilaki (Male Lewotobi) and Lewotobi Perempuan (Female Lewotobi) stratovolcanoes.
Older forms of its name include Lobetabi, Lovotivo and Loby Toby.

What is a stratovolcano?

A stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, is a conical volcano built up by many layers (strata) of hardened lava and tephra.
Unlike shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes are characterized by a steep profile with a summit crater and periodic intervals of explosive eruptions and effusive eruptions, although some have collapsed summit craters called calderas.
The lava flowing from stratovolcanoes typically cools and hardens before spreading far, due to high viscosity. The magma forming this lava is often felsic, having high to intermediate levels of silica (as in rhyolite, dacite, or andesite), with lesser amounts of less viscous mafic magma.
They are among the most common types of volcanoes, in contrast to the less common shield volcanoes.
Examples: Krakatoa in Indonesia, Vesuvius in Italy, Mount St. Helens in Washington State, US, and Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines.

Volcanic tourism:

Iceland is becoming a prime destination for volcano tourism – a niche segment that attracts thousands of thrill-seekers every year to sites in Sicily, Indonesia, and New Zealand.
The 2021 Fagradalsfjall volcano eruption in southwest Iceland — has drawn thousands of visitors.
It is also called the ‘tourist eruptions’ where one can get quite close to the crater and witness the lava flow. These thrill-seeking tourists are also called “Lava chasers”.
Some major volcanic tourism spots are: the Grindavik eruption in Iceland, Mauna Loa in Hawaii, the Marapi volcanic eruption and Mt Lewotobi Laki-Laki eruption in Indonesia, Onsen ryokans (hot springs inns) in villages near volcanoes in Japan, the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, and Mount Vesuvius among others.