Kurile Lake
Caldera in Russia
Key Facts
Elevation
81 m (266 ft)
Type
Caldera
Location
51.450°, 157.120°
Region
Kuril Volcanic Arc
Rock Type
Dacite
Tectonic Setting
Subduction zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
Kurile Lake caldera lies within the eastern part of the massive Pauzhetka caldera, but is considered as a separate volcanic system here. The low-rimmed caldera was formed in two stages during the late Pleistocene and early Holocene. The first caldera-forming eruption took place about 41,500 radiocarbon years ago.
The second episode of caldera formation occurred about 7,600 radiocarbon years ago during one of the largest known Holocene eruptions. A total of 140-170 km3 of material was ejected, and extensive thick pyroclastic-flow deposits from the caldera-forming eruptions cover the area. Ash fell more than 1,000 km away on mainland Asia.
The eruption resulted in the formation of an 8 x 14 km caldera, now largely filled by Kurile Lake. The steep-sided Serdtze Alaida (Heart of Alaid), which forms a small island rising 300 m from the caldera floor in the center of the lake, is a rhyodacitic lava dome that formed at the end of the caldera-forming eruption.
Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment
Primary Hazards
- Pyroclastic flows and surges
- Large explosive eruptions (VEI 4+)
- Ash fall and tephra deposits
- Lahars and debris flows
Risk Level
Geological Composition & Structure
Rock Types
Tectonic Setting
Age & Formation
Eruption Statistics & Analysis
| Metric | Value | Global Ranking | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Recorded Eruptions | Unknown | Low | Moderately active volcano |
| Maximum VEI | VEI Unknown | Minor | Local impact potential |
| Recent Activity | 8466 years ago | Historical | Historically active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in Northwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 300023
- •Evidence: Eruption Dated
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
This renowned exposure of pyroclastic flow deposits from Kurile Lake caldera has been named Kutkhiny Baty because of its erosional features. The pyroclastic flow deposit originated from the caldera-forming eruption of Kurile Lake about 7,600 years ago, one of the largest Holocene eruptions in Kamchatka. The deposit is about 100 m thick at this location on the Ozernaya River, 3 km W of Kurile Lake.
Photo by Oleg Volynets (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.