92 ADAMS. 



in elevation. The lowest points on the floor of the crater are about on a 

 level with the water of Taal Lake. Visitors usually ascend the eastern 

 side of the crater rim where it is low and near the shore; the most 

 desirable time to make the ascent being about dawn and the rj.ni should 

 be reached by sunrise. The descent into the crater is by a steep zigzag- 

 path, but presents no serious difficulties. During the first cool hour or so 

 of the morning the vapors lie low over the lakes in the crater. On 

 sunny days as the sun warms the air, the steam begins to ascend and 

 the vapor and sulphur fumes are wafted about so that the view is not 

 so clear and travel in some parts of the crater is made difficult and even 

 dangerous. When the atmosphere is warmed by the sun, the steam from 

 the green lake usualty rises and forms a mushroom shaped cloud which 

 soon becomes detached from the column of vapor which forms its stem. 

 As the heat of the day advances the vapors become more attenuated and 

 are blown about by the rising wind, but before this time the visitor 

 should have left the crater if he wishes to avoid an arduous climb in the 

 hot sun. On days when the sky is cloudy, the crater may be explored 

 more at leisure. 



Two lakes lie within this crater. They are usually called the yellow 

 lake and the green lake. During the rainy season there is a third tem- 

 porary red lake. The yellow lake receives the natural drainage of the 

 crater. It appears to be shallow and is hot, but does not boil. The green 

 lake gives off steam from its surface and near its southern border boils 

 violently as if over a vent. A circular crater is located to the south of 

 the green lake. On its floor there are several boiling mud spots from 

 which but little vapor rises. On the south border of the yellow lake 

 there is a cone, called the red cone, because of the color of its crater. 

 It is broken down on the south side and drains around its eastern base 

 into the yellow lake. A vent from which steam issues with great force 

 occurs on its northern outer base. The yellow lake now extends to this 

 vent but formerly was separated from it by a narrow isthmus. There is 

 a remnant of an older, large crater rim which forms a crescentic ridge 

 rising southeast of the yellow lake and curving around to the south of 

 the green lake, passing between the green lake and the crater with the 

 mud spots. Visitors to the volcano usually travel on this ridge when 

 exploring the crater of Taal, since it affords a fine view and an easy 

 means of approaching the principal points of interest. The ridge is 

 very narrow between the green lake and the crater containing the mud 

 spots and care must be taken that the wind is not blowing the steam and 

 sulphur fumes in such a direction as to cause them to inconvenience or 

 overcome the visitor. There are small cracks in this ridge from which 

 sulphur fumes issue and at its western end, which is south of the green 



