Chirinkotan
Stratovolcano in Russia
Key Facts
Elevation
724 m (2,375 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano
Location
48.980°, 153.480°
Region
Kuril Volcanic Arc
Total Eruptions
11
Max VEI
VEI 3
Rock Type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Tectonic Setting
Subduction zone
Location
Loading map...
Eruption Timeline
Most recent confirmed eruption
Historical eruption (estimated)
Historical eruption (estimated)
Historical eruption (estimated)
Historical eruption (estimated)
Historical eruption (estimated)
Historical eruption (estimated)
Historical eruption (estimated)
Historical eruption (estimated)
Historical eruption (estimated)
Historical eruption (estimated)
Overview
The small, mostly unvegetated 3-km-wide island of Chirinkotan occupies the far end of an E-W volcanic chain that extends nearly 50 km W of the central part of the main Kuril Islands arc. It is the emergent summit of a volcano that rises 3000 m from the floor of the Kuril Basin. A small 1-km-wide caldera about 300-400 m deep is open to the SW.
Lava flows from a cone within the breached crater reached the shore of the island. Historical eruptions have been recorded since the 18th century. Lava flows were observed by the English fur trader Captain Snow in the 1880s.
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 | 11 | Moderate | Moderately active volcano |
| Maximum VEI | VEI 3 | Moderate | Local 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: 290260
- •Evidence: Eruption Observed
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
The 3-km-wide island of Chirinkotan is the emergent summit of a volcano that rises 3 km from the floor of the Kuril Basin. It lies at the far end of an E-W-trending volcanic chain that extends nearly 50 km W of the central part of the main Kuril Islands arc. Historical eruptions have been recorded here since the 18th century, including one observed by Captain Snow.
Photo by R. Bulgakov, 1990 (Institute of Marine Geology and Geophysics, Yuzhno-Sakhalin).
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.