Alaid
Stratovolcano in Russia
Key Facts
Elevation
2,285 m (7,497 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano
Location
50.861°, 155.565°
Region
Kuril Volcanic Arc
Total Eruptions
15
Max VEI
VEI 4
Rock Type
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Tectonic Setting
Subduction zone
Location
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Eruption Timeline
Most recent confirmed eruption
Historical eruption (estimated)
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Overview
The highest and northernmost volcano of the Kuril Islands, Alaid is a symmetrical stratovolcano when viewed from the north, but has a 1. 5-km-wide summit crater that is breached open to the south. This basaltic to basaltic andesite volcano is the northernmost of a chain constructed west of the main Kuril archipelago.
Numerous pyroclastic cones are present the lower flanks, particularly on the NW and SE sides, including an offshore cone formed during the 1933-34 eruption. Strong explosive eruptions have occurred from the summit crater beginning in the 18th century. Reports of eruptions in 1770, 1789, 1821, 1829, 1843, 1848, and 1858 were considered incorrect by Gorshkov (1970).
Explosive eruptions in 1790 and 1981 were among the largest reported in the Kuril Islands.
Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment
Primary Hazards
- Pyroclastic flows
- Lava flows
- Volcanic bombs and ballistics
- Lahars and mudflows
Risk Level
Geological Composition & Structure
Rock Types
Tectonic Setting
Age & Formation
Eruption Statistics & Analysis
| Metric | Value | Global Ranking | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Recorded Eruptions | 15 | Moderate | Moderately active volcano |
| Maximum VEI | VEI 4 | Major | Regional impact potential |
| Recent Activity | 4 years ago | Very Recent | Currently active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in Northwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 290390
- •Evidence: Eruption Observed
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
An ash plume rises above Alaid on 30 April 1981, at the peak of an eruption that began on 27 April (seen here from the N). The plume extended 2,000 km to the SE. The volcano has a 1.5-km-wide summit crater and numerous cones across the lower flanks. Explosive eruptions in 1790 and 1981 were among the largest in the Kuril Islands.
Photo courtesy of Anatoli Khrenov, 1981 (Institute of Volcanology, Petropavlovsk).
Authority Sources
Related Volcanoes
Basic Information
This page shows basic data from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. For more detailed information, visit the official Smithsonian page.