Mayon Volcano is an active stratovolcano. The current cone was formed through pyroclastic and lava flows from past eruptions. Mayon is the most active of the active volcanos in the Philippines, having erupted over 49 times in the past 400 years.
It is located on the eastern side of Luzon, beside the Philippine Trench which is the convergent boundary where the Philippine Sea Plate is driven under the Philippine Mobile Belt. Where a continental plate or belt of continental fragments meets an oceanic plate, the lighter continental material overrides the oceanic plate, forcing it down into the Earth's mantle. Magma, formed where the rock melts, may be forced through weaknesses in the continental crust caused by the collision of the tectonic plates. One such exit point is Mayon.
Like other volcanoes located around the rim of the Pacific Ocean, Mayon is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire.
It is of particular interest to me because of the recent activity beginning during my last trip in December 2009 to the Philippines to finish this documentary. More so because of its history involving the aswang folklore. I've posted a segment from my "The Aswang Phenomenon" Documentary featuring the volcano.
Updates on the Mayon Volcano can be obtained from the National Disaster Coordinating Council of the Philippines.
A large eruption is predicted, which may change the shape of the mountain similar to the eruption of Mt. Saint Helen's.
