Rhyann R.

Cabaraban

Teaching Science in Elem.Grades

EE12

D. Writing a Report

04/07/21

The Taal Volcano

Taal Volcano is a large caldera filled by Taal Lake in the Philippines. Located in the
province of Batangas, the volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in the country, with 34
recorded historical eruptions, all of which were concentrated on Volcano Island, near the middle
of Taal Lake.
History of Taal
Taal Volcano is part of a chain of volcanoes along the island of Luzon, which were
formed by two tectonic plates colliding over 500,000 years ago. Since the formation of this large
caldera (Taal Lake), subsequent eruptions created another volcanic island, within Taal Lake,
known as Volcano Island.

Over thirty eruptions have been recorded at Taal since the 16th century, mostly small
eruptions restricted to Volcano Island. However, occasional violent activity has affected the
entire region with the death toll estimated at over 5000 people. Because of its proximity to
populated areas and its eruptive history, Taal Volcano was designated a Decade Volcano.

Volcano Island (in Lake Taal)

Taal Volcano is the smallest active volcano in the world. Its unexplained shape and
location on an island within a lake within an island, makes it a unique geologic wonder,
enthralling thousands of tourists and geologists yearly. This island covers an area of about 23
km², and consists of forty-seven different overlapping cones and craters. It is one of the active
volcanoes in the Philippines and part of the “Pacific Ring of Fire”.

Permanent settlement in the island is prohibited by the government. Despite the warnings,
poor families have settled on the island, risking their lives, earning a living through tourism,
fishing and farming crops from the rich volcanic soil.

Crater Lake (on Volcano Island)

The lake’s water is a diluted form of sulphuric acid with high concentration of boron,
magnesium, aluminium and sodium in salt form. Its average depth measures 20m. Swimming is
allowed in the lake.
Vulcan Point (an island in the Crater Lake on Volcano Island in Lake Taal)
In 1911 a devastating eruption claimed over a thousand lives. The deposits of the eruption
drastically changed the floor of the main Crater Lake creating Vulcan Point. Vulcan Point is the
world’s largest island within a lake on an island within a lake on an island. (An island in the
Crater Lake on Volcano Island in Lake Taal on the island of Luzon)

Lake Taal (freshwater lake)

Lake Taal is a large freshwater lake with a high sulphuric content. In the 18th century
large eruptions sealed Taal Lake from the sea, eventually leading its waters to become non-
saline. The lake is only 2.5 metres above sea level and its surface area measures over 230 square
kilometres. The lake is fed by over 30 rivers but has only one outlet, the Pansipit River which
drains into Balayan Bay in the South China Sea.

For decades Taal Lake has been used and abused by local communities, to its detriment.
Most of the abuse has been in the form of overfishing and exploitation, with the deployment of
fish cages for aquaculture-profit. With the ever increasing scarring of the mountainsides and
valleys for housing projects, the removal of the forests and the pollution of the rivers and streams
that feed the Taal Lake, are now Taal Lake’s greatest enemies.

Pansipit River (sole drainage outlet of Taal Lake)

The Pansipit River is the sole drainage outlet of Taal Lake. The river has a very narrow
entrance at Lake Taal and stretches nine kilometres before emptying into Balayan Bay. The
lake’s freshwater population of giant trevally conduct its annual migration run through the river.
At one time, more than 80 different species of fish were found to inhabit the river’s waters, either
as a migratory channel or as a permanent residence. This once included Taal Lake’s now-extinct
population of bull sharks.

The construction of fish cages has long been a problem for the river’s natural ecology. Fish
cages, oftentimes spanning the width of the entire river; physically block the natural migratory
paths of fish species that move between the lake and the sea. Over the years, numerous measures
have been attempted to curb the growing number of illegal fish cages in the river.
TIMELINE: Taal Volcano eruptions since 1572
As of January 2020, Taal Volcano has erupted 34 times in 448 years.

MANILA, Philippines – Taal Volcano is one of the 24 active volcanoes listed by the
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). It is also one of the world’s
lowest and deadliest volcanoes.Located in Batangas, a province 60 kilometers south of Manila,
Taal Volcano and the area around it have become one of the most frequented vacation spots in
Southern Luzon. Although it is classified as an active volcano, it hasn’t erupted in 43 years or
since 1977.

The volcano consists of multiple stratovolcanoes and craters. Since 1572, it has recorded 34
eruptions.The eruptions were not all similar. Most of them were caused by the interaction of
magma and water (phreatic and phreatomagmatic). Others were caused by the rising of bubbles
formed by the fusion of gas inside the volcano (strombolian).In phreatic eruptions, only
preexisting solid rock fragments are ejected. In contrast, phreatomagmatic eruptions shoot out
magma.

Here’s a timeline of Taal Volcano eruptions, according to Phivolcs.

 1572 – A phreatomagmatic eruption occurred at the main crater of the volcano.

 1591, 1605 to 1611, 1634, 1635, 1641, 1645 – Separate eruptions occurred in these
periods at the main crater. In 1591 and 1641, the eruptions were classified as phreatic.
Tephra or rock particles and fragments were also visible in the 1641 incident.

 1707 – Taal Volcano erupted at its Binintiang Malaki crater or its largest flank cone
that’s visible from Tagaytay City. It is said that the Binintiang Malaki was formed during
this eruption. It was classified as phreatic, and shock waves were also reported. Another
eruption occurred in the area in 1715.

 September 21, 1716 – An underwater, phreatomagmatic eruption occurred at Calauit,

which is located at the eastern shore of the Taal Volcano island.
 1709, 1729 – Separate eruptions occurred at its Binintiang Munti crater. The 1709
incident was classified as phreatomagmatic.

 1731 – An underwater eruption happened in Pira-Piraso, or the eastern tip of the island.
This was classified as phreatomagmatic. Flowing mixture of gas and ejected rock
fragments were reported, as well as falling of rock particles.

 August 11, 1749 – The main crater had a phreatomagmatic eruption and was recorded as
“very violent” by Phivolcs. It affected residents of Taal Volcano Island and lakeshore
towns of Taal, Sala, and Tanauan.

 May 15 to December 5, 1754 – A phreatomagmatic/plinian eruption took place,

characterized by a “very violent” explosion accompanied by falling and ejection of rock
particles. A plinian eruption is characterized by continuous gas blasts and explosive
ejection of viscous lava.

This incident is considered Taal Volcano’s biggest eruption yet and lasted almost 7
months. It buried 4 towns in Batangas under ash, volcanic rocks, and water. Ashfall
registering 100 to 110-centimeter deposits was reported, as well as shock waves and acid
rain.

 1790, 1808, 1825, 1842, 1873, 1874, 1878, 1903, 1904 – Separate eruptions occurred at
the main crater. The 1808 and 1874 eruptions were classified as phreatomagmatic, while
the 1878 and 1904 were phreatic.

 January 27 to February 10, 1911 – A phreatic and “very violent” eruption occurred at
the main crater, causing rock particles and fragments to fall and shoot out of the volcano.
Phivolcs recorded 1,335 casualties in this incident.

There were also 25 to 80-centimeter thick deposit of ashfall, acid rain, shock waves,
and cracking and sinking of land.
 September 28 to 30, 1965 – Taal Volcano erupted at Mt Tabaro, leaving 200 casualties,
according to Phivolcs. The eruption was phreatomagmatic and violent, characterized by
falling of rock fragments, ashfall with 25-centimeter thick deposit, and acid rain.

 July 5, 1966; August 16, 1967 – Separate phreatomagmatic eruptions occurred again at
the Mt Tabaro crater. Both incidents caused rock particles to fall from the volcano and
shoot out in projectile motion.

 January 31, 1968; October 29, 1969 – The only Strombolian eruptions of Taal Volcano
were recorded on these dates, which both happened at the Mt Tabaro crater. Lava flow
and fountaining happened in both incidents.

 September 3, 1970; September 3, 1976; October 3, 1977 – The last 3 eruptions that
occurred before the 2020 explosion. These eruptions were similar in nature – they all
took place at the Mt Tabaro crater and were all phreatic.

Taal Volcano hasn't erupted since 1977, as confirmed by Renato Solidum,

Department of Science and Technology undersecretary for disaster risk reduction and
climate change adaptation. However, there had been volcanic unrest recorded in 2011,
2012, and 2014. – Rappler.com