Description of the attraction
Taal Volcano is an active volcano located 50 km south of Manila in the Batangas province. It is located in the center of the lake of the same name with an area of 243 sq. km. The view of the volcano from the Tagaytay Ridge is one of the most picturesque and attractive in the Philippines. The top of the volcano rises 984 feet above the surface of the lake. The last time Taal erupted was in 1977, but even today you can see how hot vapors periodically erupt from its crater, and seismologists regularly record underground activity.
Taal is just one of many volcanoes located off the west coast of the Philippine island of Luzon. But this smallest volcano in the world is part of the famous Pacific Ring of Fire - a chain of volcanoes that surround the greatest ocean on the planet.
You can get to Taal from Manila by boat - the journey takes only 45 minutes. It will take another 15-20 minutes to climb to its top, where you can admire an amazing, in some way primitive spectacle - streams of steam erupt from the walls of the volcano to the surface, and a small lake seethes in the depths of the crater. From the top of the volcano, a panoramic view of the surrounding Taal Lake and its surroundings opens up. If time permits, it is worth ordering a tour of the lake and visiting the fish ponds located on its shores.
Taal "woke up" several times - since 1572, 33 eruptions have been recorded. According to rough estimates, these eruptions claimed the lives of 5 to 6 thousand people. The largest eruption took place in 1754 - it lasted 200 days!
It is forbidden to settle at the foot of the volcano due to the danger of an eruption, however, despite this, many poor families still build shacks here in order to somehow feed themselves, growing crops on fertile volcanic soils, while risking their own lives.
