Close-up of million-year-old crater on Ly Son Island

TPO - The violent eruptions millions of years ago created the majestic volcanoes on Ly Son Island (Quang Ngai Province). These craters still retain their original basin shape, with undulating lava rocks creating a natural masterpiece that is rarely found anywhere else.

Cận cảnh miệng núi lửa triệu năm tuổi trên đảo Lý Sơn

Ly Son island district is located in the northeast of Quang Ngai province, 15 nautical miles from the mainland. The district has an area of about 10.3 km2 with over 22,000 people. Photo: Bui Thanh Trung

Ly Son district includes Big Island and Small Island. This area still has traces of 10 craters , of which 3 craters are located on the seabed. The craters were formed about 25 - 30 million years ago.

Among the 10 craters discovered in Ly Son island area, Thoi Loi mountain and Gieng Tien are the two most unique and majestic volcanoes on this island.

In January 2020, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism decided to rank 21 relics nationwide as national relics. Of these, 2 relics are the scenic spots of Tien Gieng Mountain and Thoi Loi Mountain.

Thoi Loi is the largest volcano on Ly Son Island. The peak is nearly 170m high, which is also the highest point on the island. This volcano has a base diameter of 1.4km and a mouth diameter of 0.35km.

The inner wall of Thoi Loi crater is steep and quite deep in the middle.

Thoi Loi crater was used to build a freshwater reservoir with a capacity of 270,000 m3, which was put into use in May 2012. This is an extremely important project because fresh water on the island is quite scarce.

After millions of years, the crater still retains its original basin shape and undulating lava rocks .

In addition to creating unique geological heritages, weathered volcanic lava has formed red basalt soil rich in minerals.

Standing on the top of Thoi Loi, almost the entire beautiful Ly Son island will be within sight of visitors.

The eruption of Thoi Loi volcano also created spectacular landscapes, especially the Hang Cau cliff.

A pair of lovebirds on a volcanic sedimentary cliff in Hang Cau.

Paragliding on Thoi Loi peak.

In the cluster of volcanoes in the west of Ly Son Island, the largest crater among them is Gieng Tien Mountain, 86 m high. The crater is shaped like a basin hundreds of meters wide with quite fertile red soil. Therefore, Gieng Tien volcano is always covered with trees all year round. Photo: Bui Thanh Trung

At the foot of the mountain is Duc Pagoda with many shrines carved deep into the Tien Gieng cliff. Here is a 27 m high statue of Quan The Am leaning against the cliff, looking towards the sea.