Mayon
Mayon is an active stratovolcano in Albay, Philippines, known for its nearly symmetrical cone and frequent eruptions.
Stratovolcano: A steep-sided volcano built from alternating layers of lava, ash, and other eruptive deposits. Mayon’s layered deposits and steep profile are characteristic of this volcano type.
1814 Mayon eruption: A catastrophic eruption of Mayon that buried Cagsawa and killed thousands of people. It is the volcano’s most notorious historical disaster and reshaped Albay’s landscape.
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology: The Philippine government agency that monitors volcanoes, earthquakes, and related hazards. PHIVOLCS issues Mayon alerts and interprets signs of volcanic unrest.
Cagsawa Ruins: The remains of a church in Albay, Philippines, partly buried during the 1814 Mayon eruption. The church tower became an enduring landmark associated with the eruption’s destruction.
Subduction: The descent of one tectonic plate beneath another into the mantle. Subduction beneath the Philippines generates magma that feeds Mayon.
1993 Mayon eruption: A Mayon eruption that produced pyroclastic flows and caused fatalities near the volcano. It demonstrated that dangerous flows can reach inhabited areas during an eruption.
Volcanic hazard map: A map showing areas threatened by volcanic processes such as lava, ash, and lahars. Mayon hazard maps identify zones where evacuation or restricted access may be needed.
Albay: A province in southeastern Luzon, Philippines, whose landscape and communities surround Mayon. Mayon is the province’s defining physical landmark and a persistent local hazard.
Andesite: A fine-grained volcanic rock with an intermediate silica content, common in subduction-zone volcanoes. Andesitic magma is associated with Mayon’s explosive eruptions and lava flows.
2006 Mayon eruption: An eruptive episode at Mayon marked by lava flows and rain-triggered lahars. It illustrates how heavy rainfall can turn volcanic deposits into secondary hazards.