Explore Mayon Volcano, Philippines

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Mayon Volcano (2,421 meters), also known as Mount Mayon, is an active stratovolcano in the province of Albay, in the Bicol Region, on the island of Luzon, in the Philippines. Mayon is the most active volcano in the Philippines having erupted over 48 times in the past 400 years. Renowned as the "perfect cone" because of its almost symmetrically conical shape, Mayon forms the northern boundary of Legazpi City. Local folklore refers to the volcano as Bulkang Magayon (Bikol: 'Beautiful Volcano'), after the legendary heroine Daragang Magayon (Bikol: 'Beautiful Lady'). Mayon is one of the most exciting mountains to climb in the Philippines; beautiful to behold at a distance but the slopes have hidden risks. Its rocks may be dislodged with a careless foot and turn into a dangerous avalanche. The safest approach is from the northwestern slope starting at the 762 m Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) research station and the Mayon Resthouse is located. There is a narrow 8-kilometer paved road linking this area to the main highway. Like other volcanoes located around the ring of the Pacific Ocean, Mayon is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. It is located on the eastern side of Luzon, beside the Philippine Trench which is the convergent boundary where the Philippine Sea Plate is driven under the Philippine Mobile Belt. Where a continental plate or belt of continental fragments meets an oceanic plate, the lighter continental material overrides the oceanic plate, forcing it down into the Earth's mantle. Magma may be forced through weaknesses in the continental crust caused by the collision of the tectonic plates. One such exit point is Mayon.

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