Mount Batur, the UNESCO Caldera Geopark in Bali Highlands

Mount Batur or Gunung Batur is an active volcano located at the center of two concentric calderas in Bali Island, Indonesia. In line of north west of Mount Agung creating the Bali Island highlands. Mount Batur also have significant influence for the local livings in Bali Island. The Batur caldera inhabit 15 villages distributed inside and around the caldera outer line where the locals largely rely on agriculture for income. The fertile soils around Mount Batur which supporting the agriculture industry in the area have significant correlation with the volcano eruption activities. 

Administratively, Mount Batur located in Bangli Regency, Bali Province, Indonesia. Geographical position of Mount Batur is 08°24'34'' South Latitude and 115°22'30'' East Longitude. Global Geopark Network mention that Batur UNESCO Global Geopark covers an area of 370.5 square kilometers, at an altitude of 920-2.152 m above sea level, including the outer-caldera wall surrounds the inner-caldera wall, Mount Batur and the Batur Lake

Batur Geopark includes two volcanic calderas and presents a complete volcanic landscape with caldera walls, cones and craters, geothermal phenomena (fumaroles, hot springs), a lake, lava flows, pyroclastic flows and tephra.The Mount Batur south east side which is the larger 10×13 km caldera contains a caldera lake named Lake Batur. Both the larger caldera, and a smaller 7.5 km caldera were formed by a collapse of the magma chamber down where the first larger collapse taking place about 29,300 years ago. Mount Batur second inner caldera collapsing taking place about 20.150 years ago. But another estimation of the inner caldera's formation date, was about 23.670 and 28.500 years ago, formed during emplacement of the Bali or Ubud ignimbrite.

Batur volcano type is similar with it neighbor volcano Mount Agung volcano type, Stratovolcano which also known as a composite volcano, a conical volcano built up by many layers of hardened lava and tephra. 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 as Mount Batur calderas. Two cataclysmic eruptions that occurred about 29.000 years and 20.000 years ago produced an outer-caldera (old) and inner-caldera (young), respectively, from which the grand Mount Batur landscape scenery originate.

Documented Mount Batur eruption was 22 times since 1804 to the latest eruption in 2000. Mount Batur 1968 eruption left substantial lava field which now called Black Lava and Black Sands which is clearly visible from Kintamani, a town on the southwest ridge of the caldera. The Batur Lake in south east side of Mount Batur have impacted by historical eruptions which have been characterized by mild-to-moderate explosive activity sometimes accompanied by lava emission. Basaltic lava flows from both summit and flank vents have reached the caldera floor and the shores of Lake Batur over its history.

Mount Batur geological features are providing great resources for the local economy of the UNESCO Global Geopark which mainly based on agriculture and tourism. The area known for its nature products, Kintamani sweet orange and civet coffee, in addition to wooden craft, bamboo and wood carving. The Kintamani dog is a local species, native to the island of Bali and originating from Sukawarna Village, Batur. The beautiful landscape and stunning scenery of Mount Batur Geopark have been driving the development of eco-tourism industry in the Bali Island Highlands.