Mt. Mayon (Albay, Philippines) - Rank 09 as of June 13, 2008Mayon Volcano, also famous as "Perfect Cone" due to its almost perfectly cone shaped figure, is an active composite volcation which is located about 15 kilometers of Legaspi City, in the province of Albay.
The volcano got its name after a maiden, "
Mangayon" which means beautiful. This main landmark of the province of Albay stands
2462 meters high from the Albay Gulf. The upper slopes of the volcano are steep averaging 35-40 degrees and are capped by a small summit crater. On its sides, layers of lava and other volcanic material are found.Alternate pyroclastic and lava flows brought about the formation of its symmetric cone. Mt. Mayon is part of the "
Pacific Ring of Fire", just like other volcanoes located around the rim of the Pacific Ocean.
With about 47 times eruptions in the past 400 years, it is the most active volcano in the country. The first recorded eruption was in
1616, and the latest was a quiet eruption on 2006. The eruption on
February 1, 1814 is considered the most destructive where the volcano was belching dark ash. The town of
Cagsawa got buried when the volcano bombarded the town with
tephra. The result, only the
bell tower of the town's church remained above the new surface. This also resulted to burnt trees and damaged rivers. Ashes spitted by the volcano which accumulated to about 9 meters in depth, also affected proximate areas and resulted to a number of 2,200 perished Albay natives. Lasting seven days of raining fire, the longer eruption recorded on
June 23, 1897 .
Despite all these discouraging facts, the volcano is still regarded as an ideal destination for an ultimate climbing. On
July 20, 1938, it was proclaimed a
National Park by
President Manuel L. Quezon. The area is abundant with varieties of rare and endangered flora. Among them are the
Nepenthes rajali, commonly known as
pitcher plant, and
Cyatheaceae spp or
tree ferns which were listed in the
Convention of International Trade of Endangered Specied (CITES).
While many aspires to reach its summit,
PHILVOCS (Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology) advises visitors who have come only for sightseeing to stay at the viewpoint located at the mid part of the volcano. For more adventurous and dedicated climbers, make sure to consult with PHILVOCS for the precise volcanic activity. Accompanied by an experienced guide is also recommended. It would take about
2 days to get to the top and go back down the volcano. Those who love to get a great picture of Mt. Mayon, and enjoy the relaxing and refreshing warmth of hot spring baths can head to the town of Tiwi. Other activities visitors can indulge in includes bird watching and camping. A visit to Albay's ancient churches, caves Camalig, and beaches within the area are other points of interest.
The information featured here are from the following web references. You may check the links for additional information, including travel details and photo galleries.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayon_Volcanohttp://www.mayonecotourism.ph/http://www.camperspoint.com/article.php3?id_article=19http://www.worldisround.com/articles/53247/index.htmlTo vote for Mt. Mayon for the New 7 Wonders, visit:
http://www.new7wonders.com/nature/en/nominees/asia/c/MayonVolcano/To vote for other nominees, and for current live ranking information, visit:
http://www.new7wonders.com/or
http://www.new7wonders.com/nature/en/liverankingThe following images are from the following web sites:
