Forces of Nature- Gunung Agung

I am always mesmerised by Mount Agung in Bali: I can see why the Balinese revere this mountain. She rarely emerges from the clouds. Nusa Lembongan affords more opportunities to photograph her glory, especially if you walk to the high points in the centre of this small island, which lies off the south east coast of Bali. Many visitors are too busy charging around on motorbikes, seemingly oblivious to this powerful mountain.Mount Agung or Gunung Agung last erupted in 1963-1964 and is still active, with a large and very deep crater which occasionally belches smoke and ash. From a distance, the mountain appears to be perfectly conical, despite the existence of the large crater.

The eruption initially sent debris 10 km into the air and generating massive lava flows, devastated numerous villages, killing approximately 1500 people. Further flows caused by heavy rainfall after the eruption killed an additional 200, followed by a second eruption killing a further 200 inhabitants.

The lava flows missed the Mother Temple of Besakih. The saving of the temple is regarded by the Balinese people as miraculous and a signal from the gods that they wished to demonstrate their power but not destroy the monument the Balinese faithful had erected.