About Sano, Wai
Sano, Wai is a caldera rising to 1,319 meters (4,328 feet) in Indonesia's Sunda-Banda Volcanic Regions. No historical eruptions have been recorded, though the volcano is classified based on geological evidence of past activity.
Geography & Climate
Sano, Wai is located in Indonesia, within the Sunda Volcanic Arc of the broader Sunda-Banda Volcanic Regions. Situated at 8.73° S, 120.01° E in the Southern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a tropical climate zone. With a summit elevation of 1,319 meters above sea level, Sano, Wai is a moderately sized peak that remains accessible to hikers and researchers for much of the year. The volcanic landform is characterized as a composite, which describes the physical shape and structure of the volcanic edifice as observed from the surface.
Geological Context
Sano, Wai sits in a subduction zone, where one tectonic plate dives beneath another, creating intense heat and pressure that generates magma. Subduction zones are responsible for many of the world's most explosive volcanoes and deadliest eruptions. For communities in Indonesia near Sano, Wai, this tectonic setting means the volcano is capable of producing powerful explosive eruptions, pyroclastic flows, and lahars that can threaten populated areas within tens of kilometers of the summit. The dominant rock type is dacite, an intermediate to silica-rich volcanic rock. This composition typically produces more viscous magma, leading to more explosive eruptions with ash columns and pyroclastic flows. Andesitic and dacitic magmas build pressure before erupting, which is why volcanoes with this rock chemistry are often associated with Plinian-style eruptions that can send ash tens of kilometers into the atmosphere and disrupt aviation across entire regions.
GVP Reference Summary
The Wai Sano composite volcano at the western end of Flores Island includes a 2.5 x 3.5 km elliptical caldera in the NW part of a larger 9-10 km edifice. The caldera contains Sanonggoang Lake, with a surface more than 200 m below the high point on the southern caldera rim. The Poco Sesok and Poco Dedeng peaks are near the center of the eroded massif. The area has been a target of geothermal investigations, and two solfataras are located at the SE shore of the lake. No eruptions have been reported or dated, but the area was mapped as Holocene (Ratman and Yasin, 1978).
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Sano, Wai.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Sano, Wai
Is Sano, Wai an active volcano?+
Sano, Wai is classified as active based on credible evidence of past eruptions. Although its last known eruption was in prehistoric times, volcanologists consider it capable of erupting again.
How high is Sano, Wai?+
Sano, Wai has a summit elevation of 1,319 meters (4,328 feet) above sea level. At 1,319 meters, it is a moderately sized volcanic peak, roughly comparable to Mount Vesuvius (1,281m).
What type of volcano is Sano, Wai?+
Sano, Wai is classified as a Caldera. Calderas are large volcanic depressions formed when a volcano erupts so powerfully that its magma chamber collapses, creating a basin that can be kilometers wide. They are often sites of some of Earth's largest eruptions.
Where is Sano, Wai located?+
Sano, Wai is located in Indonesia, in the Sunda-Banda Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Sunda Volcanic Arc. Its exact coordinates are -8.735° latitude, 120.007° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Sano, Wai?+
Sano, Wai can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. Indonesia may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.
