Mount Iraya

{{Short description|Dormant stratovolcano on Batan Island, Philippines}}

{{Infobox mountain

| name = Mount Iraya

| other_name =

| photo =

Batanes Protected Landscapes and Seascapes Mt. Iraya as seen from Tukon Church.jpg

| photo_size =

| photo_alt =

| photo_caption = The mountain as seen from Tukon Church

| elevation_m = 1009

| elevation_ref = [http://volcano.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/update_VMEPD/Volcano/VolcanoList/iraya.htm Iraya], [http://phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/ Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429221123/http://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/ |date=April 29, 2011 }}.

| listing = {{nowrap|Active volcano in the Philippines}}
Ribu{{Cite web |title=World Ribus - Philippines|url=https://worldribus.org/philippines/ |access-date=2024-12-22 |website=World Ribus|date=February 25, 2023 }}

| location =

| country = Philippines

| state = Cagayan Valley

| state_type = Region

| region = Batanes

| region_type = Province

| map = Philippines Batanes#Luzon#Philippines

| map_alt =

| map_caption = Location within Batanes

| map_size =

| label =

| label_position =

| range_coordinates =

| coordinates = {{coord|20|27|59|N|122|00|42|E|type:mountain_region:PH_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| coordinates_ref =

| topo =

| type = Stratovolcano

| volcanic_arc = Luzon-Taiwan Arc

| age =

| last_eruption = 1454

| first_ascent =

| easiest_route =

| mapframe = yes

| mapframe-wikidata = yes

}}

Mount Iraya, is an active stratovolcano on Batan Island, and is the highest point in the province of Batanes, Philippines. It is adjacent to another volcanic edifice, Mount Matarem.

Location

Iraya is located on Batan Island, one of the islands in the province of Batanes, in the Luzon Strait, north of the island of Luzon, in the Philippines.

It is the northernmost active volcano in the Philippines.

Physical features

Iraya is a heavily forested stratovolcano, with an elevation of {{convert|1009|m|ft}} asl, and a base diameter of {{convert|5500|m|ft}}.

Volcanic activity

While Mount Iraya last erupted in 1454, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) still considers it as one of the active volcanoes in the Philippines.

In 1998, volcanologists recorded seismic swarms which led them to form a monitoring network on Batan Island for several months. After the swarms of tremors had diminished, the temporary stations in Barangay San Joaquin in Basco, Batanes and another near the crater, were pulled out. Seismicity or any activity relating to Iraya is still monitored by the Basco Seismological Station.

Volcanoes of the Philippines are all part of the Pacific ring of fire.

Mythology

Mount Iraya is a sacred mountain for the Ivatan people. There are two contrasting tales regarding the mountain. The first tale states that the mountain is a mother looking over her children - the Ivatans - to ensure their protection.{{Cite web|url=https://vengoingplaces.wordpress.com/2015/01/06/birthday-special-paying-homage-to-mt-iraya/|title = Birthday Special: Paying Homage to Mt. Iraya|date = January 6, 2015}} On the other hand, the second tale states that if a ring of clouds appear on top of the mountain, Iraya is notifying the people for preparation due to an inevitable death of an elder, usually due to natural causes.{{Cite web|url=https://lakwatseros.wordpress.com/2016/10/24/mount-iraya-mother-mountain-of-batanes/|title=Mount Iraya: Mother Mountain of Batanes|date=October 24, 2016}}