Kelimutu
Complex in Indonesia
Key Facts
Elevation
1,639 m (5,377 ft)
Type
Complex
Location
-8.770°, 121.820°
Region
Sunda Volcanic Arc
Rock Type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Tectonic Setting
Subduction zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
Kelimutu is a small, but well-known, Indonesian compound volcano in central Flores Island with three summit crater lakes of varying colors. The western lake, Tiwi Ata Mbupu (Lake of Old People) is commonly blue. Tiwu Nua Muri Kooh Tai (Lake of Young Men and Maidens) and Tiwu Ata Polo (Bewitched, or Enchanted Lake), which share a common crater wall, are commonly colored green and red, respectively, although lake colors periodically vary.
Active upwelling, probably fed by subaqueous fumaroles, occurs at the two eastern lakes. The scenic lakes are a popular tourist destination and have been the source of minor phreatic eruptions in historical time. The summit is elongated 2 km in a WNW-ESE direction; the older cones of Kelido (3 km N) and Kelibara (2 km S).
Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment
Primary Hazards
Risk Level
Geological Composition & Structure
Rock Types
Tectonic Setting
Age & Formation
Eruption Statistics & Analysis
| Metric | Value | Global Ranking | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Recorded Eruptions | Unknown | Low | Moderately active volcano |
| Maximum VEI | VEI Unknown | Minor | Local impact potential |
| Recent Activity | 58 years ago | Historical | Recently active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in Sunda-Banda Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 264140
- •Evidence: Eruption Observed
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
Kelimutu, a small volcano on Flores Island, is noted for its three crater lakes of different colors. This aerial view from the SW shows Tiwu Ata Mbupu at the lower left, and the two craters of Tiwu Nua Muri Kooh Taiand Tiwu and Ata Polo at the upper right. Water color varies periodically with variations of blue, green, and red. Phreatic eruptions have occurred from the middle lake in historical time.
Photo by Tom Casadevall (U.S. Geological Survey).
Authority Sources
Related Volcanoes
Basic Information
This page shows basic data from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. For more detailed information, visit the official Smithsonian page.