🌋VolcanoAtlas

Taal Volcano

The World's Deadliest Island-Within-a-Lake-Within-an-Island Volcano

Elevation

311 m

Last Eruption

2024–2025

Type

Caldera

Country

Philippines

Location

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Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

  • Pyroclastic flows and surges
  • Large explosive eruptions (VEI 4+)
  • Ash fall and tephra deposits
  • Lahars and debris flows

Risk Level

Population at RiskHigh
Infrastructure RiskHigh
Aviation RiskSignificant

Geological Composition & Structure

Rock Types

Primary
Unknown
Silica Content
Varied composition

Tectonic Setting

Unknown
Intraplate setting with hotspot or regional volcanic activity.

Age & Formation

Epoch
Unknown
Evidence
Unknown

Eruption Statistics & Analysis

MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
Recent Activity-20239999 years agoVery RecentCurrently active

Monitoring & Alert Status

Monitoring Networks

Global Volcanism Program
International eruption database

Current Status

Active
Recent volcanic activity detected. Continuous monitoring in place.

Authority Sources

Smithsonian GVP
Official volcano database

Related Volcanoes

All Philippines Volcanoes
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Caldera Volcanoes
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Luzon, Batangas Province
Regional volcanoes
green mountain near body of water under white clouds and blue sky during daytime

Lance Lozano

via Unsplash

a balcony with a view of the ocean

Hector John Periquin

via Unsplash

grayscale photography of Taal volcano

Brian Kairuz

via Unsplash

green grass field near blue sea under blue sky during daytime

Robin Kutesa

via Unsplash

Volcano island with floating houses on lake

Bridget Adolfo

via Unsplash

a scenic view of the ocean from a high point of view

Karlo King

via Unsplash

Other Volcanoes in Philippines

Interesting Facts

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Taal is one of only a handful of volcanoes on Earth with a lake within a crater within an island within a lake within a caldera — a nested geographic structure unique in world volcanology.

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The prehistoric VEI 6 eruption around 3580 BCE was in the same explosive magnitude class as the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption, which caused measurable global cooling.

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Despite a summit elevation of just 311 m (1,020 ft), Taal is classified among the world's 16 Decade Volcanoes — the most dangerous volcanoes identified by the international scientific community.

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The 1911 eruption killed 1,335 people, making it the deadliest eruption in Philippine history until Pinatubo in 1991, and led directly to the creation of the Philippine Commission on Volcanology.

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The 1965 eruption of Taal was one of the first volcanic events where 'base surges' — a concept borrowed from nuclear weapons testing — were scientifically documented and described, advancing global understanding of volcanic hazards.

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During the 2020 eruption, Taal's SO₂ emissions peaked at over 20,000 tonnes per day — among the highest volcanic degassing rates ever recorded anywhere in the world.

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Lake Taal is home to the tawilis (Sardinella tawilis), the world's only exclusively freshwater sardine species, which is endemic to the lake and found nowhere else on Earth.

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The 2020 eruption generated near-continuous volcanic lightning within the eruption column — a phenomenon rarely captured on camera at such scale — producing images that were broadcast worldwide.

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Approximately 5–6 million people live within 30 km of Taal's Main Crater, making it one of the most densely populated volcanic hazard zones on the planet.

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The 1754 eruption lasted approximately 7 months and was so devastating that the provincial capital had to be permanently relocated, reshaping the political geography of Batangas Province.

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Taal has erupted 40 times since ~3580 BCE, averaging roughly one eruption every 14 years during the historical period — a frequency that places it among the most active volcanoes in the Philippines.

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The surface of Lake Taal sits just 3 m (10 ft) above sea level, making the caldera floor one of the lowest volcanic depression surfaces on Earth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Taal Volcano still active?
Yes, Taal Volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines and in the world. Volcanologists classify it as 'active' based on its 40 recorded eruptions spanning approximately 5,600 years, most recently in 2024–2025. The volcano is continuously monitored by PHIVOLCS (Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology), which maintains a network of seismometers, GPS stations, and gas sensors around the caldera. Taal has been in a state of elevated unrest since the major VEI 4 eruption of January 2020, with ongoing SO₂ degassing, seismic activity, and periodic phreatic explosions. Scientists consider further eruptions not just possible but probable. Taal is one of only 16 volcanoes worldwide designated as a 'Decade Volcano' by the international volcanological community.
When did Taal Volcano last erupt?
Taal's most recent eruption began in April 2024 and continued into 2025, classified at VEI 2 with phreatic (steam-driven) explosions and elevated sulfur dioxide emissions. The most significant recent eruption occurred on January 12, 2020 (VEI 4), when a dramatic phreatomagmatic explosion generated a 14–15 km eruption column with spectacular volcanic lightning, forcing the evacuation of nearly 500,000 people. Between these events, Taal also erupted in July 2021 (VEI 1), November 2021–2022 (VEI 2), and October 2022 (VEI 1), indicating that the volcano has been in a persistent state of unrest for over five years.
Could Taal erupt again?
Yes, Taal is virtually certain to erupt again. The volcano has produced 40 eruptions over approximately 5,600 years, averaging one eruption roughly every 14 years during the historical period. Since the VEI 4 eruption in January 2020, Taal has remained in a state of elevated unrest with continuous SO₂ degassing, frequent volcanic earthquakes, and multiple smaller eruptions. PHIVOLCS has repeatedly warned that a larger eruption remains possible. Historically, Taal's eruption clusters — such as the sequence from 1965 to 1977 — suggest that periods of heightened activity can persist for years or decades. The next significant eruption could range from a moderate phreatic event to a major phreatomagmatic explosion similar to the 1754, 1911, or 2020 events.
How many people have died from Taal eruptions?
Taal has killed at least 1,500 people across its recorded history, making it one of the deadliest volcanoes in the Philippines. The 1911 eruption was the most lethal, killing 1,335 people when base surges swept across Volcano Island and the shores of Lake Taal. The 1965 eruption killed approximately 200 people in lakeside communities. The 1754 eruption caused hundreds of deaths, though precise figures are uncertain due to incomplete colonial records. The 2020 VEI 4 eruption, thanks to modern monitoring and the massive evacuation of nearly 500,000 people, resulted in 39 indirect deaths from evacuation-related causes rather than direct volcanic impacts.
How tall is Taal Volcano?
Taal Volcano's highest point on Volcano Island stands at just 311 m (1,020 ft) above sea level, making it one of the lowest-elevation active volcanoes in the world. However, this figure is deceptive: the caldera rim (along Tagaytay Ridge to the north) rises to approximately 600–700 m, and the ancestral Taal edifice before the caldera-forming eruptions may have exceeded 2,000 m. The total relief from the deepest point of Lake Taal (160 m below the surface, or 157 m below sea level) to the island's summit is approximately 468 m. Taal's modest height belies its explosive power — the VEI 6 prehistoric eruption ranks among the most powerful known from any Philippine volcano.
What type of volcano is Taal?
Taal is classified as a caldera volcano. A caldera is a large, basin-shaped volcanic depression formed when a volcano collapses into its emptied magma chamber after a massive eruption. Taal's Talisay caldera measures 15 × 20 km and was formed by at least four major ignimbrite-producing eruptions. Within this caldera lies Lake Taal, and within the lake sits Volcano Island — itself composed of multiple coalescing stratovolcanoes, tuff rings, and scoria cones. This nested structure makes Taal unusually complex. Its eruption style is predominantly phreatomagmatic, meaning explosions are driven by the violent interaction of hot magma with the abundant water from Lake Taal and the crater lake.
Why is Taal considered so dangerous?
Taal is considered one of the world's most dangerous volcanoes due to four compounding factors. First, its phreatomagmatic eruption style produces base surges — ground-hugging currents of superheated gas and debris moving at 100–300 km/h — that can cross Lake Taal and reach populated shorelines within minutes, far too fast for ground-based evacuation. Second, approximately 5–6 million people live within 30 km of the volcano, with dense communities directly on the lake shores. Third, its eruption frequency (40 eruptions in ~5,600 years) means eruptions are not rare events but recurring threats. Fourth, the VEI 6 prehistoric eruption demonstrates Taal is capable of catastrophic caldera-forming events. These factors led to its designation as one of 16 IAVCEI Decade Volcanoes.
Can you visit Taal Volcano?
Access to Taal depends on the current PHIVOLCS alert level. During periods of low unrest (Alert Level 1), limited boat tours from the Talisay shore to Volcano Island and guided hikes to the Main Crater rim have been intermittently available. However, since the 2020 eruption, Volcano Island has been within the Permanent Danger Zone and access has been frequently restricted. The Tagaytay Ridge viewpoint on the caldera's northern rim — accessible by car from Manila in about 1.5 hours — offers spectacular panoramic views of the entire caldera, Lake Taal, and Volcano Island, and remains accessible regardless of alert level. Always check current PHIVOLCS bulletins before visiting the Taal region.
What is the 'island within a lake within an island' at Taal?
Taal's famous nested geography works as follows: Volcano Island sits in Lake Taal, which fills the Talisay caldera on the island of Luzon. On Volcano Island, the Main Crater contained its own crater lake (until it was largely drained by the 2020 eruption), and within that crater lake was a small island called Vulcan Point. This created the remarkable sequence: an island (Vulcan Point) within a lake (Main Crater lake) within an island (Volcano Island) within a lake (Lake Taal) within an island (Luzon). This nested structure, sometimes called 'the world's most complex volcanic geography,' is unique and has made Taal a subject of geographic curiosity worldwide.
What happened during the 2020 Taal eruption?
On January 12, 2020, at approximately 2:30 PM local time, Taal erupted in a powerful phreatomagmatic explosion from the Main Crater on Volcano Island. The eruption column rose to 14–15 km (46,000–49,000 ft) and was illuminated by near-continuous volcanic lightning. Heavy ashfall blanketed Batangas and Cavite provinces, reaching Manila 60 km away and forcing the closure of Ninoy Aquino International Airport. PHIVOLCS raised the alert to Level 4, and nearly 500,000 people were evacuated. The eruption was classified as VEI 4. While no direct deaths occurred from the eruption itself — a testament to the monitoring and evacuation effort — 39 people died from related causes. The event caused an estimated ₱3.4 billion (US$67 million) in agricultural damage alone.