About Besar
Besar is a stratovolcano? rising to 1,900 meters (6,234 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
Besar is located in Indonesia, within the Sunda Volcanic Arc of the broader Sunda-Banda Volcanic Regions. Situated at 4.44° S, 103.67° E in the Southern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a tropical climate zone. With a summit elevation of 1,900 meters above sea level, Besar 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.
GVP Reference Summary
The Gunung Besar stratovolcano in SE Sumatra was characterized by Neumann van Padang (1951) as a solfatara field (Marga Bajur or Bayur) on the NW and N foot of the edifice. The crater was noted as having an "unimportant" sulfur deposit in its crater and vapor exhalation. The remaining edifice consists of about 50% of a crater rim completely open to the E, with three small domes or cones, the largest of which contains a small pond in a summit crater. The geothermal area was described by Neumann van Padang (1951) as including four small solfatara fields: Gemurah Badas (8 x 10 m with hot springs and sulfur gas exhalation), Gemurah Bubur (large basin of boiling water formed between 1930-40), Gemurah Keningan (boiling mud springs, very active 1938-40), and Gemurah Ilahan (2 km upstream of Badas with geyser-like mud springs and dead trees). A "phreatic steam eruption" in April 1940 was noted from Gemurah Ilahan. Hochstein and Sudarman (1993) considered the Marga Bayur geothermal system to be associated with a degassing magma reservoir because "radiometric dating of the youngest tuff deposits (unpublished data, Pertamina files) showed that [the volcano had been] active during the last 30 kyr." This geothermal prospect has been studied but not yet developed.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Besar.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Besar
Is Besar an active volcano?+
Besar is not currently classified as active. Its activity evidence is listed as "unknown." No recorded eruptions have been documented. However, no volcano is ever considered permanently extinct.
How high is Besar?+
Besar has a summit elevation of 1,900 meters (6,234 feet) above sea level. At 1,900 meters, it is a moderately sized volcanic peak, roughly comparable to Mount Vesuvius (1,281m).
What type of volcano is Besar?+
Besar is classified as a Stratovolcano?. Stratovolcano? volcanoes have distinct geological characteristics that set them apart from other volcanic types.
Where is Besar located?+
Besar is located in Indonesia, in the Sunda-Banda Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Sunda Volcanic Arc. Its exact coordinates are -4.437° latitude, 103.671° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Besar?+
Besar 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.
