Description: On July 7, 2007, the Gamkonora Volcano on Halmahera, Indonesia, began releasing plumes of ash, according to a report from ABC News, Australia. Over the next few days, the volcano continued its activity, including ejecting flaming rocks. The activity forced the evacuation of some 8,600 residents. At 14:50 East Indonesian Time on July 9, the volcano erupted, according to ReliefWeb.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) flying on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this image of Gamkonora releasing a volcanic plume on July 10, 2007. Clouds obscure much of the view, but the plume’s beige color distinguishes it from the surrounding clouds.
Gamkonora is a stratovolcano composed of alternating layers of hardened lava, solidified ash, and volcanic rocks left by previous eruptions. Rising to a height of 1,635 meters (5,364 feet), it is the highest peak on the island of Halmahera. Its largest recorded eruption occurred in 1673, accompanied by tsunamis that overwhelmed nearby villages. |
