The 2.5-kilometer-wide summit crater of Pinatubo volcano (1486 m asl), located about 90 km northwest of Metro Manila, central Luzon, was formed by a climactic eruption on June 15, 1991. In 2014, we can climb to the summit along the O'Donnell River on the northern slope within one day. This photo was taken in April 2006 from northern crater rim where this route terminates. The lake extends behind the cliff to the left. After the climactic eruption, a lava dome formed within the crater, which has been submerged in the lake. The lake water is an impressive cobalt blue. Hot springs are discharging from the bottom of the lake and the shore. The significant fracture rock mass in the background is the remaining part of the lava dome formed before the eruption. The people on the lakeshore in the foreground are tourists with a guide enjoying a beautiful crater-lake.
(Photograph and explanation: Mitsuru OKUNO and Tetsuo KOBAYASHI)
