Mayon fumaroles

The fumaroles are located near the summit crater of Mount Mayon, an active stratovolcano in Albay province, Philippines. Because the volcano is highly active, viewing them up close requires strict adherence to local hazard zone rules and is often restricted due to the threat of sudden steam explosions.

The fumaroles are a persistent reminder that Mount Mayon is an active volcano, but they are part of its normal geothermal release system. Volcanologists from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) monitor changes in these gas emissions and temperatures to predict if an actual eruption is imminent.

Safety depends entirely on the current volcanic alert level issued by PHIVOLCS, which frequently restricts access due to rockfalls and pyroclastic flows. During lower alert levels, guided hikes are sometimes permitted, but the extreme danger near the fumaroles means very few expeditions go all the way to the crater.

Mount Mayon is renowned worldwide for its remarkably symmetrical cone, which is typical of stratovolcanoes formed by alternating layers of solidified lava and volcanic ash. This perfect shape is the result of thousands of years of highly viscous andesitic lava eruptions building up consistently around the central vent.