Tanaga
Stratovolcano(es) in United States
Key Facts
Elevation
1,806 m (5,925 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano(es)
Location
51.885°, -178.146°
Region
Aleutian Ridge Volcanic Arc
Rock Type
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Tectonic Setting
Subduction zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
Tanaga volcano, the second largest volcanic center of the central Aleutians, is the central and highest of three youthful stratovolcanoes oriented along a roughly E-W line at the NW tip of Tanaga Island. Ridges to the east and south represent the rim of an arcuate caldera formed by collapse of an edifice during the Pleistocene. Most Holocene eruptions originated from Tanaga volcano itself, which consists of two large cones, the western of which is the highest, constructed within a caldera whose 400-m-high rim is prominent to the SE.
At the westernmost end of the complex is conical Sajaka, a double cone that may be the youngest of the three volcanoes. Sajaka One volcano collapsed during the late Holocene, producing a debris avalanche that swept into the sea, after which the Sajaka Two cone was constructed within the collapse scarp.
Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment
Primary Hazards
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 | 112 years ago | Historical | Historically active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in North America Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 311080
- •Evidence: Eruption Observed
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
The three E-W-trending summit cones of the Tanaga volcanic complex, Sajaka, Tanaga, and East Tanaga (from left to right) are seen from the summit of Takawangha volcano. Tanaga is the central and highest of three at the NW tip of Tanaga Island. The ridge to the lower left is part of a caldera rim that formed by the collapse of an ancestral Tanaga edifice during the Pleistocene.
Photo by Michelle Coombs, 2003 (Alaska Volcano Observatory, U.S. Geological Survey).
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.