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Harrat Rahat

Rahat, Harrat

Volcanic field · Saudi Arabia · 1744m

The northern part of Saudi Arabia's largest lava field, 20,000 km2 Harrat Rahat, is seen in this NASA International Space Station image (N to the top left). Harrat Rahat extends for 300 km S of the city of Madinah (Medina), the light-colored area at the top-center. Although basaltic scoria cones are more common, small shield volcanoes and lava domes are also present. The most well-known eruption took place in 1256 CE, when the large dark-colored flow seen extending to the upper right traveled 23 km to within 4 km of Madinah.
The northern part of Saudi Arabia's largest lava field, 20,000 km2 Harrat Rahat, is seen in this NASA International Space Station image (N to the top left). Harrat Rahat extends for 300 km S of the city of Madinah (Medina), the light-colored area at the top-center. Although basaltic scoria cones are more common, small shield volcanoes and lava domes are also present. The most well-known eruption took place in 1256 CE, when the large dark-colored flow seen extending to the upper right traveled 23 km to within 4 km of Madinah. · Photo: NASA International Space Station image ISS001-344-27, 2001 (http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/). · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Volcanic field
Country
Saudi Arabia
Region
Arabia-Central Asia Volcanic Regions / Western Arabia Volcanic Province
Elevation
1744m
Coordinates
23.080, 39.780
Last eruption
1256
Tectonic setting
Intraplate / Continental crust (> 25 km)
Landform
Cluster
Major rock type
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Geological summary

Harrat Rahat, Saudi Arabia's largest lava field, covers 20,000 km2 and extends for 300 km S of Madinah (Medina). Four coalescing lava fields erupted from offset NNW-trending vent systems comprise the field, which has an average width of 60 km. Lava flows extend as far as 100 km W of the axis of the field. Basaltic scoria cones dominate, but the volcanic field has also produced silicic trachy-basaltic to trachytic rocks. Small shield volcanoes and lava domes with associated pyroclastic flow and surge deposits are also present. Activity has migrated to the north over time, resulting in eruptions near Madinah. The best-known eruption took place in 1256 CE, when a 0.5 km3 lava flow erupted from six aligned scoria cones and traveled 23 km to within 4 km of Madinah.

From Wikipedia

Ḥarrat Rahāṭ is a volcanic lava field in the Hejazi region of Saudi Arabia. In 1256 CE, a 0.5 km3 (0.12 cu mi) lava flow erupted from six aligned scoria cones, and traveled 23 km to within 4 km of the Islamic holy city of Medina; this was its last eruption. There were earlier eruptions, such as in 641 CE, which made finger-like flows to the east of the 1256 CE flow. It is the biggest lava field in Saudi Arabia. Nearby is Al Wahbah crater.

Wikipedia · CC BY-SA · Read full article →

Eruption history

Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions
641~706 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 21227~1292 · 2 eruptions · max VEI 364177196710971227

Detailed timeline

  1. 1292VEI ?Geological estimate
    1292 – Ongoing
    Near Madinah
  2. 1256VEI 3Observed
    1256-06-05 – 1256-07-27
    Fissure 20 km SE of Madinah
  3. 641VEI 2Observed
    641 – Ongoing
    West of Madinah

External links

⚠ For reference only. Not for emergency response.