Gunung Guntur, the Thunder Volcano, Garut Regency, Indonesia

Gunung Guntur from the south looking north. Most recent lava flow clearly visible. Note the lava flow coulees on the flank to the right of center. Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Cut, Corroded and Collapsed – Gunung PAPANDAYAN (🇮🇩)

“Vulkan Papandajan auf Java” (1905). Painting by the German zoologist and naturalist Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919).

G. Papandayan seen from the north. Complete mountain range on the left; zoom into the main crater with the head scarp of the 1772 collapse on the right. (© GMaps)

Papandayan is the volcano you can actually see on satellite images (e.g. Google Earth) even from a view point 800 km above ground – it is the white patch of a collapse scar that stands out in stark contrast from the dark green forest. The volcano sits at the southern end of the Kendang-Papandayan mountain range.

G. Papandayan is generally said to be 2665 m high but there seems to be some confusion as to location and actual height