Japan’s Mount Aso, world’s largest strato-volcano stirs – alert level raised to 2

–KUMAMOTO, Japan — The Meteorological Agency on Monday raised the volcanic alert level for Mount Aso from 1 to 2, prompting local authorities in Kumamoto Prefecture to ban entry to areas within 1 km of the crater of Mount Naka, one of five peaks in the active volcano’s central cone group. The alert includes a warning for rocks ejected from Mount Naka in the off-limits areas. The move came after the mountain belched a small amount of volcanic ash Friday and experienced a small eruption Sunday. On Monday, a small eruption and a 500-meter-high column of volcanic smoke were observed at around 10 a.m. – Japanese Times

Mount Aso (阿蘇山, Aso-san?) is the largest active volcano in Japan, and is among the largest in the world. It stands in Aso Kujū National Park in Kumamoto Prefecture, on the island of Kyūshū. Its peak is 1592 m above sea level. Aso has one of the largest caldera in the world (25 km north-south and 18 km east-west). The caldera has a circumference of around 120 km (75 miles), although sources vary on the exact distance.

(c) ANN News 2011