Mount Iraya, is an active stratovolcano on Batan Island and the highest point in the province of Batanes, Philippines.
| Mount Iraya | |
|---|---|
 The mountain as seen from Racuh a Payaman in Mahatao | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,009 m (3,310 ft)[1] |
| Prominence | 1,009 m (3,310 ft)  |
| Listing | Active volcano in the Philippines |
| Coordinates | 20°27′59″N 122°00′42″E / 20.46639°N 122.01167°E |
| Geography | |
  Mount Iraya Location within Batanes .svg) Mount Iraya Mount Iraya (Luzon) .svg) Mount Iraya Mount Iraya (Philippines) | |
 | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | Cagayan Valley |
| Province | Batanes |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Stratovolcano |
| Volcanic arc/belt | Babuyan (Bashi) Segment of Luzon-Taiwan Arc |
| Last eruption | 1454 |
Location
editIraya is located on Batan Island, one of the Batanes Islands, in the province of Batanes, in the Luzon Strait, north of the island of Luzon, in the Philippines.
It is the northernmost active volcano in the Philippines.
Physical features
editIraya is a heavily forested stratovolcano, with an elevation of 1,009 metres (3,310 ft) asl, and a base diameter of 5,500 metres (18,000 ft).
Adjacent volcanic edifice is Mount Matarem.
Volcanic activity
editMount Iraya last erupted in 1454, and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) considers it as one of the active volcanoes in the Philippines.
In 1998, volcanologists recorded seismic swarms which led them to form a monitoring network on Batan Island for several months. After the swarms of tremors had diminished, the temporary stations in Barangay San Joaquin in Basco, Batanes and another near the crater, were pulled out. Seismicity or any activity relating to Iraya is still monitored by the Basco Seismological Station.
Volcanoes of the Philippines are all part of the Pacific ring of fire.
Mythology
editMount Iraya is a sacred mountain for the Ivatan people. There are two contrasting tales regarding the mountain, the first tale states that the mountain is a mother overlooking her children (the Ivatans) for their protection,[2] while the second tale states that if a ring of clouds appear on top of the mountain, Iraya is notifying the people for preparation due to an inevitable death of an elder, usually due to natural causes.[3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Iraya, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology Archived April 29, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ "Birthday Special: Paying Homage to Mt. Iraya". January 6, 2015.
- ^ "Mount Iraya: Mother Mountain of Batanes". October 24, 2016.