Dukono Volcano


Dukono volcano is one of several active volcanoes on Halmahera Island, North Maluku province, northeastern Indonesia. Nearby one finds Ibu and Gamkonora volcanoes, as well as Gamalama which forms the small island of Ternate off the west coast, one of the main entry portals to the region due to its regional airport. Further south again lies a further small island, formed by Makian volcano. The Halmahera magmatic arc is associated with eastward subduction of the Molucca plate under Halmahera. Only about 80 km further west, the Molucca plate subducts westward under Northern Sulawesi, there forming the North Sulawesi-Sangihe Islands magmatic arc which also encompasses several active volcanoes, including Lokon-Empung and Soputan.

Ash cloud rising from Dukono volcano Dukono volcano, high pressure eruption of lava from central vent

Ash cloud rising from crater of Dukono

Powerful eruption of central vent of Dukono


Unfortunately, little information is available on Dukono in the english scientific literature, although activity reports and brief background information can be found on the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program website.

The summit of present-day Dukono is situated in a horseshoe-shaped depression opening to the N-NE. Dukono is a stratovolcano with deposits from pyroclastic fallout and flows and lava flows which range from basaltic to andesitic in composition. Eruptive periods have been documented in 1550, 1861-1869, 1901, 1933-1939, 1941-1942, 1945-1953, 1969, 1971 and 1978-2014(ongoing). It is likely that records are incomplete, since the volcano lies in a remote region. The 1550 eruption was powerful and produced extensive lava and pyroclastic flows, which filled in the straight between the mainland and Gunung Mamuya to the north. The 1933-1939 eruption emplaced large lava flows in 1933 which cover large areas immediately NE of the summit crater.

Map of Molucca Sea Region with Collision Zone and Volcanic Arcs indicated.

Based on data from Google Maps, MacPherson et al. 2003 (Geol. Soc. London, Special Publ. 219, p.207-220), Siahaan et al. 2005 (Proc. World Geol. Congress, 5pp).

Note: Only selected extinct volcanoes have been included in the map, many others exist in the Arcs.


Dukono Ash Clouds during Daylight

Dukono Volcano, Ash cloud following eruption Dukono Volcano, Ash cloud following eruption, Portrait orientation Dukono Volcano, Ash cloud following eruption

Dukono Volcano, Ash cloud following eruption Dukono Volcano, Ash cloud following eruption, close-up

Dukono Volcano, Ash cloud, Halmahera, Indonesia Dukono Volcano erupting, Halmahera Island, Indonesia

Dukono volcano erupting steam and ash Grey ash clouds from Dukono Volcano

Dukono Volcano in mist of ash Dukono volcano, ash and meteorological clouds mixing, portrait orientation Dukono volcano, ash and meteorological clouds mixing

Asha dn steam plume from Dukono volcano Dukono volcano steaming Wind swirly steam and ash cloud from Dukono volcano


Dukono at Night

Lightning and glowing volcanic bombs - Dukono volcano after powerful nighttime eruption

Aftermath of powerful eruption with copious lightning in ash cloud. Crater flanks are peppered with glowing lava bombs.


Dukono volcano at night with lightning in ash cloud Weird ash cloud in shape of clowns face, Dukono volcano Dukono volcano, ash cloud and strombolian activity at night

Lightning in ash cloud

"Clowns Face" ash cloud

Bombs fly out of base of ash cloud


Dukono volcano, Strombolian eruption at night Dukono volcano, Strombolian eruption in mist at night

Strombolian activity

Strombolian activity



Visit To Crater Rim / Close-ups of Vent

1933 lava deposits, Dukono volcano Climbing to crater of Dukono

Approaching 1933 lava deposits which separate ash plane from crater

Starting the ascent


On 1933 lavas from Dukono Approaching summit of Dukono volcano

View back towards camp after starting ascent

Climbing towards summit cone


Gunung Mamuya viewed from Dukono volcano. Volcanic bomb in foreground Small impact crater in eroded ash landscape. Dukono volcano summit cone

First bomb craters as approach summit

Approaching rim, small impact crater in foreground


Volcanic bomb crater on Dukono with Mamuya volcano in distance Volcanic bomb crater on Dukono with Mamuya volcano in distance Mamuya volcano viewed from Dukono, Halmahera, Indonesia

View over flank to Mamuya volcano

Volcanic bomb with Mamuya in distance

Nearby Mamuya volcano


Summit region of Dukono volcano Summit region of Dukono volcano with erosion furrows

View to east

North flank


Just below crater rim of Dukono volcano View into crater of Dukono volcano Impact crater of small volcanic bomb, Dukono volcano

Final few meters to crater rim

Bomb impact crater on rim (bottom right)

Fresh impact crater containing small bomb


Crater of Dukono volcano Crater of Dukono volcano, ash eruption.

Crater of Dukono volcano

Crater of Dukono volcano


Crater of Dukono volcano, fumaroles on inner crater wall Eruption in crater of Dukono volcano

Fumaroles on inner crater wall

Gas and ash eruption


Violently degassing vent on crater floor, Dukono volcano Eruption starting from vent on crater floor, Dukono volcano Violently degassing and spattering vent on crater floor, Dukono volcano

Small gas eruption. Pancake-like plug on vent clearly visible

Initial blast of eruption detailed below

Two-pronged gas eruption


Amazing detail of glowing lava, flying bombs and gas jets at erupting vent of Dukono volcano

Close-up (crop) of central vent erupting with tremendous high pressure gas and lava release


Glowing vent violently degassing and blowing lava into the air, Dukono volcano Glowing vent violently degassing and blowing lava into the air, Dukono volcano Glowing vent violently degassing and blowing lava into the air, Dukono volcano

High pressure jetting eruption (1/3)

(2/3)

(3/3)


Glowing vent violently erupting gas and lava, Dukono volcano Glowing vent violently erupting gas and lava, Dukono volcano Glowing vent violently erupting gas and lava, Dukono volcano

Close-up of above image

Close-up of above image

Close-up of above image


VIDEO OF VISIT TO SUMMIT INCLUDING ABOVE ERUPTION:




Fresh lava bomb with helmet for scale, Dukono volcano Lava bomb with impact crater, Dukono volcano Glowing inside of lava bomb, Dukono volcano

Fresh lava bomb on flank - Helmet for scale

Popping bottle on lava bomb (see video)

Glowing inside of lava bomb


Dukono - Landscape of Ash


Vegatation and ash, Dukono volcano Ash deposits eroded by floods, Dukono volcano Tree in ash, Dukono volcano

Abrupt border between vegetation and ash plane

Roots exposed by erosion following heavy rainfall

Tree growing in ash plane


Leaves coated in ash, Dukono volcano Plant in ash, Dukono volcano Leaves coated with ash, Dukono volcano

Ash on leaves

Lone plant growing from ash mound

Ash on leaves


Leaves coated with ash, Dukono volcano Leaves coated with ash, Dukono volcano

Ash on leaves

Ash on leaves


Ash sculpted by rain, Dukono volcano Ash sculpted by rain, Dukono volcano, portrait orientation Ash sculpted by rain, Dukono volcano, detail

Small stalagtite-like formations formed by ash and rainwater


Visitor Information:


Visitors wishing to climb Dukono volcano should travel to the town of Tobelo, where guides can be organized. Leaving the main road opposite the volcanic observatory north of Gunung Mamuya, one best rides by motorbike along the roads serving the plantations on the flank of the volcano. Finally, after about 10km one reaches a simple hut where the motorbikes are parked and starts to ascend along a small path. The ascent takes about 3 hours from this point.

Camps can be set up on the ash plane (Kawah Tanah Lapang) where one should stay on higher ground since the area is prone to flash floods.

The climb to the crater rim is over rough terrain and takes about another hour. Visitors should be aware that visits to the rim are potentially dangerous since large volcanic bombs may be thrown out of the crater which can cause fatal injuries. The author of this page does not encourage such visits.

Tobelo town, Halmahera, Indonesia Tobelo with ash from Dukono in distance

Tobelo Town main road

Evening view of weak ash cloud from Tobelo


Small restaurant in Tobelo, Halmahera, Indonesia Morninglight view of ash cloud of Dukono Volcano seen from Tobelo town

Typical small restaurant in Tobelo

Morning view of Dukono ash cloud from Tobelo


Dukono volcano viewed from main road Old bridge remains with Dukono volcano framed thereby Obtaining building materials from Dukono volcano drainage

View to Dukono from main road near observatory

View through arches of old bridge

Extracting building materials from drainage of Dukono


Dukono Volcano observatory Transporting rucksacks with mopeds, Dukono volcano

Turning towards Dukono trail with observatory in background

Moped transport


Dukono volcano framed by vegetation Flooding following torrential rain on Dukono volcano

Glimpse of Dukono summit through dense vegetation

Flooding following torrential rain triggered by ash cloud


Camping in ash on Dukono volcano Camping in ash on Dukono volcano

Camping on ash plane

Kitchen tent on ash plane


Seismometer in Dukono Volcano Observatory Swimming pool at Hot Springs near Dukono

Seismometer in Dukono Volcano Observatory

Swimming pool at Hot Springs near Dukono




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