🌋VolcanoAtlas

Great Sitkin

Stratovolcano in United States

Last Eruption: 2025

Key Facts

Elevation

1,740 m (5,709 ft)

Type

Stratovolcano

Location

52.076°, -176.130°

Region

Aleutian Ridge Volcanic Arc

Total Eruptions

9

Max VEI

VEI 2

Rock Type

Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone

Location

Loading map...

Eruption Timeline

2025 CENotable

Most recent confirmed eruption

2022 CEVEI 1

Historical eruption (estimated)

2017 CEVEI 1

Historical eruption (estimated)

2012 CEVEI 2

Historical eruption (estimated)

2009 CEVEI 1

Historical eruption (estimated)

1997 CEVEI 1

Historical eruption (estimated)

1977 CEVEI 2

Historical eruption (estimated)

1970 CEVEI 2

Historical eruption (estimated)

1958 CEVEI 3

Historical eruption (estimated)

Overview

The Great Sitkin volcano forms much of the northern side of Great Sitkin Island. A younger volcano capped by a small, 0. 8 x 1.

2 km ice-filled summit caldera was constructed within a large late-Pleistocene or early Holocene scarp formed by massive edifice failure that truncated an older edifice and produced a submarine debris avalanche. Deposits from this and an even older debris avalanche from a source to the south cover a broad area of the ocean floor north of the volcano. The summit lies along the eastern rim of the younger collapse scarp.

Deposits from an earlier caldera-forming eruption of unknown age cover the flanks of the island to a depth up to 6 m. The small younger caldera was partially filled by lava domes emplaced in 1945 and 1974, and five small older flank lava domes, two of which lie on the coastline, were constructed along northwest- and NNW-trending lines. Hot springs, mud pots, and fumaroles occur near the head of Big Fox Creek, south of the volcano.

Eruptions have been recorded since the late-19th century.

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

  • Pyroclastic flows
  • Lava flows
  • Volcanic bombs and ballistics
  • Lahars and mudflows

Risk Level

Population at RiskModerate
Infrastructure RiskHigh
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 Observed

Eruption Statistics & Analysis

MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
Total Recorded Eruptions9LowModerately active volcano
Maximum VEIVEI 2MinorLocal impact potential
Recent Activity1 years agoVery RecentCurrently active

Monitoring & Alert Status

Monitoring Networks

Global Volcanism Program
International eruption database

Current Status

Active
Recent volcanic activity detected. Continuous monitoring in place.

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: 311120
  • Evidence: Eruption Observed
  • Epoch: Holocene

About the Photo

Great Sitkin in the Andreanof Islands is seen here from Finger Bay on Adak Island. The edifice was constructed within a caldera, part of which forms the high snow-covered peak to the right. The post-caldera cone contains a 0.8 x 1.2 km ice-filled summit crater. The rim forms the irregular summit on the left horizon. A lava dome 400-600 m wide was emplaced through a glacier in 1945.

Photo by Fred Zeillemaker, 1982 (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, courtesy of Alaska Volcano Observatory).

Basic Information

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