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Davis Lake

Volcanic field in United States

Last Eruption: -2790

Key Facts

Elevation

2,163 m (7,096 ft)

Type

Volcanic field

Location

43.570°, -121.820°

Region

High Cascades Volcanic Arc

Rock Type

Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone

Location

Loading map...

Overview

The Davis Lake area contains three andesitic Holocene cinder cones and associated fresh-looking lava flows along a N-S line at the base of a group of Pleistocene basaltic andesite shield volcanoes east of the crest of the Cascade Range, south of the Mount Bachelor volcanic chain. The northernmost lava flow created a natural barrier forming Davis Lake and lies at the western base of the Pleistocene Davis Mountain shield volcano and at the SW end of Wickiup Reservoir. The two southern flows are in a flat-lying area straddling Crescent Creek between Hamner and Odell Buttes.

The middle lava flow was erupted from a small breached cinder cone on the lower southern flank of Hamner Butte and was radiocarbon dated at 4,740 years before present. The southernmost lava flow originated from a cone at the ENE base of Odell Butte. All three lava flows were probably erupted at about the same time.

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

    Risk Level

    Population at RiskModerate
    Infrastructure RiskModerate
    Aviation RiskSignificant

    Geological Composition & Structure

    Rock Types

    Primary
    Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
    Silica Content
    Intermediate (57-63% SiO₂)

    Tectonic Setting

    Subduction zone
    Formed by oceanic plate subduction, typically producing explosive eruptions due to water-rich magmas.

    Age & Formation

    Epoch
    Holocene
    Evidence
    Eruption Dated

    Eruption Statistics & Analysis

    MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
    Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
    Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
    Recent Activity4816 years agoHistoricalHistorically active

    Monitoring & Alert Status

    Monitoring Networks

    Global Volcanism Program
    International eruption database

    Current Status

    Normal
    No recent activity. Routine monitoring continues.

    Nearby Volcanoes in North America Volcanic Regions

    Regional Volcanic Activity
    The North America Volcanic Regions contains multiple active volcanic systems. Cross-regional magma interactions and tectonic stresses can influence eruption patterns across the entire arc. Monitor regional seismic activity and volcanic alerts.

    Quick Info

    • Smithsonian ID: 322100
    • Evidence: Eruption Dated
    • Epoch: Holocene

    About the Photo

    Three small scoria cones oriented along a N-S line produced large andesite lava flows. The northernmost flow formed the natural dam that created Davis Lake (right) and the two other flows are located behind Hamner Butte in the background. The middle flow has been radiocarbon dated to about 5,050-5,600 years old; the other two are considered to have erupted at around the same time and are possibly surface manifestations of the same dike.

    Photo by Lee Siebert, 1995 (Smithsonian Institution).

    Basic Information

    This page shows basic data from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. For more detailed information, visit the official Smithsonian page.