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Makushin Volcano

Makushin

Stratovolcano · United States · 1800m

Makushin is a glaciated volcano on northern Unalaska Island. This 2 March 1987 view from the NE shows a small plume originating from a vent on the left side of the broad summit and drifting about 3 km WNW. The summit contains a 2-km-wide caldera. Minor explosive eruptions have occurred during historical time.
Makushin is a glaciated volcano on northern Unalaska Island. This 2 March 1987 view from the NE shows a small plume originating from a vent on the left side of the broad summit and drifting about 3 km WNW. The summit contains a 2-km-wide caldera. Minor explosive eruptions have occurred during historical time. · Photo: Photo by Harold Wilson (Peninsula Airways), 1987 (courtesy of John Reeder, Alaska Div. Geology Geophysical Surveys). · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Stratovolcano
Country
United States
Region
North America Volcanic Regions / Aleutian Ridge Volcanic Arc
Elevation
1800m
Coordinates
53.891, -166.923
Last eruption
1995
Tectonic setting
Subduction zone / Intermediate crust (15-25 km)
Landform
Composite
Major rock type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Geological summary

The ice-covered Makushin volcano on northern Unalaska Island is capped by a 2.5 km caldera. Its broad, dome-like structure contrasts with the steep-sided profiles of most other Aleutian stratovolcanoes. Much of the edifice was formed during the Pleistocene, but the caldera (which formed about 8,000 years ago), Sugarloaf cone on the ENE flank, and a cluster of about a dozen explosion pits and cinder cones at Point Kadin on the WNW flank, are of Holocene age. A broad band of NE-SW-trending vents cuts across the volcano. The composite Pakushin cone, with multiple summit craters, lies 8 km SW. Table Top (Pleistocene, 68 +/- 14 ka) and Wide Bay (Holocene) cinder cones are about 20 km ENE on the peninsula across the bay from the City of Unalaska. Frequent explosive eruptions have occurred during the past 4,000 years, sometimes accompanied by pyroclastic flows and surges. Geothermal areas are found in the summit caldera and on the SE and E flanks. Small-to-moderate explosive eruptions have been recorded since 1786.

From Wikipedia

The Makushin Volcano is an ice-covered stratovolcano located on Unalaska Island in the Aleutian Islands of the U.S. state of Alaska. With an elevation of 2,036 meters (6,680 ft), its summit is the highest point on the island. Makushin is one of the most active among the 52 historically active volcanoes of Alaska. It has erupted at least two dozen times over the past several thousand years, with the last eruption occurring in 1995.

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Eruption history

Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions
6650 BCE~6362 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?6362 BCE~6074 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 53768 BCE~3480 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 41751 BCE~1463 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?598 BCE~310 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?1131~1419 · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?1707~1995 · 21 eruptions · max VEI 36650 BCE4633 BCE2327 BCE310 BCE1707

Detailed timeline

  1. 1995VEI 1Observed
    1995-01-30 – 1995-01-30
  2. 1993VEI 1Observed
    1993-08-16 – 1994-01-19
  3. 1987VEI 1Observed
    1987-03-02 – 1987-03-02
  4. 1980VEI 1Observed
    1980-05-01 – 1980-07-04
    SE side of summit
  5. 1952VEI ?Geological estimate
    1952-07-02 – Ongoing
  6. 1951VEI 1Observed
    1951-12-20 – Ongoing
  7. 1938VEI 2Observed
    1938-10 – Ongoing
  8. 1926VEI 2Observed
    1926-12-30 – Ongoing
  9. 1912VEI ?Geological estimate
    1912 – Ongoing
  10. 1907VEI ?Observed
    1907 – Ongoing
  11. 1883VEI 2Observed
    1883 – Ongoing
  12. 1867VEI ?Geological estimate
    1867 – Ongoing
  13. 1865VEI ?Observed
    1865 – Ongoing
  14. 1844 (±1 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    1844 – Ongoing
  15. 1827VEI 2Geological estimate
    1827 – 1838
  16. 1826VEI 3Observed
    1826-06 – Ongoing
  17. 1818VEI ?Geological estimate
    1818 – Ongoing
  18. 1802VEI 3Observed
    1802 – Ongoing
  19. 1792VEI ?Geological estimate
    1792-02-14 – Ongoing
  20. 1790VEI ?Geological estimate
    1790-06-07 – Ongoing
  21. 1768VEI 3Observed
    1768 – 1769
  22. 1150 (±500 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    1150 – Ongoing
  23. 550 BCE (±900 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 550 – Ongoing
  24. 1750 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 1750 – Ongoing
  25. 3650 BCE (±1850 yrs)VEI 4Geological estimate
    BCE 3650 – Ongoing
  26. 6100 BCE (±50 yrs)VEI 5Geological estimate
    BCE 6100 – Ongoing
  27. 6650 BCE (±200 yrs)VEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 6650 – Ongoing

External links

⚠ For reference only. Not for emergency response.