Gamalama

Gamalama is an active stratovolcano rising on the island of Ternate in North Maluku province, Indonesia. It is the highest point on the island and has a history of repeated eruptions that have influenced settlement patterns around Ternate.

The volcano is visited for views from the island and for studies of its activity, but access to upper slopes and the summit can be restricted during periods of unrest. Local communities live on the lower flanks and have historically adapted to periodic volcanic activity.

Historically Gamalama has produced frequent eruptions of varying size; it has been an active part of regional volcanic activity for centuries and remains monitored by Indonesian volcanological authorities. Eruptive episodes have sometimes produced ashfall on nearby islands and the city of Ternate.

Gamalama sits on Ternate island in the Maluku Islands (Moluccas), immediately inland from the main town of Ternate on the island’s coast. The landscape is tropical and island-based, with settlements clustered on the lower slopes and coastal plains.

• Active stratovolcano: Located on Ternate island, the volcano dominates the island skyline and has been the source of periodic eruptions and ash emissions that can affect local settlements and air travel.