Mount Gamalama

Mount Gamalama is an active stratovolcano that forms the entire island of Ternate in North Maluku, Indonesia. Rising to approximately 1,715 meters, it is the highest peak on the island and dominates the landscape of Ternate City. Notable for its frequent historical eruptions and fertile slopes planted with cloves and nutmeg, it offers forested hiking trails to the crater rim with panoramic views over the Maluku Sea and neighboring islands.

Visitors can expect a strenuous hike from base villages such as Moya, Marikurubu or Loto through clove plantations and dense tropical forest to rocky volcanic slopes and the summit crater area. The trail involves steep, rugged terrain and is typically done with a local guide starting in the early morning. From higher elevations and the rim, visitors can see Ternate City, Tidore, Halmahera and the surrounding sea, and observe the active crater landscape.

Mount Gamalama is one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes with recorded eruptions since 1538. A major eruption in 1775 caused significant damage to settlements on Ternate. Its fertile volcanic soils supported the historic spice trade that made the Sultanate of Ternate a major regional power. The volcano is continuously monitored by the Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG).

The mountain is regarded as sacred by local communities on Ternate and features in local traditions and folklore. Its slopes are cultivated with cloves, nutmeg and other crops central to the island's cultural identity and livelihood.