## Merapi Volcano, South Java, Indonesia

Gunung Merapi is Java's most feared volcano, located north of Yogyakarta. As it is a convergent plate margin volcano, pyroclastics such as ash and boulders are commonly erupted from its crater. Its 1066 eruption partially buried Borobudur in ash. In 1930, eruptions killed around 1300 people. The damage is done by the flow of pyroclastic material down the slopes of the volcano, and later, by mudflows. These mudflows (lahars) start when heavy rain activates ash and other pyroclastic material which accumulate in the river valleys nearly blocking it. Such lahars are dangerous and can travel long distances. In the rainy season which followed the November 1994 volcanic activities, 20 lahars travelled down the Boyong River. Dams and barriers have been constructed to hold back such lahars but the threat to Yogyakarta is a very real threat. Annual offerings are made to placate the volcano.

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