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Veniaminof

Stratovolcano in United States

Last Eruption: 2021

Key Facts

Elevation

2,507 m (8,225 ft)

Type

Stratovolcano

Location

56.170°, -159.380°

Region

Aleutian Ridge Volcanic Arc

Total Eruptions

24

Max VEI

VEI 6

Rock Type

Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone

Location

Loading map...

Eruption Timeline

2021 CENotable

Most recent confirmed eruption

2016 CEVEI 3

Historical eruption (estimated)

2013 CEVEI 1

Historical eruption (estimated)

1993 CEVEI 1

Historical eruption (estimated)

1981 CEVEI 3

Historical eruption (estimated)

1961 CEVEI 2

Historical eruption (estimated)

1931 CEVEI 2

Historical eruption (estimated)

1916 CEVEI 2

Historical eruption (estimated)

1901 CEVEI 1

Historical eruption (estimated)

1894 CEVEI 3

Historical eruption (estimated)

1889 CEVEI 3

Historical eruption (estimated)

1887 CEVEI 3

Historical eruption (estimated)

1880 CEVEI 1

Historical eruption (estimated)

1865 CEVEI 1

Historical eruption (estimated)

1860 CEVEI 2

Historical eruption (estimated)

1857 CEVEI 3

Historical eruption (estimated)

1847 CEVEI 1

Historical eruption (estimated)

1817 CEVEI 2

Historical eruption (estimated)

1805 CEVEI 1

Historical eruption (estimated)

Overview

Veniaminof, on the Alaska Peninsula, is truncated by a steep-walled, 8 x 11 km, glacier-filled caldera that formed around 3,700 years ago. The caldera rim is up to 520 m high on the north, is deeply notched on the west by Cone Glacier, and is covered by an ice sheet on the south. Post-caldera vents are located along a NW-SE zone bisecting the caldera that extends 55 km from near the Bering Sea coast, across the caldera, and down the Pacific flank.

Historical eruptions probably all originated from the westernmost and most prominent of two intra-caldera cones, which rises about 300 m above the surrounding icefield. The other cone is larger, and has a summit crater or caldera that may reach 2. 5 km in diameter, but is more subdued and barely rises above the glacier surface.

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 Eruptions24HighHighly active volcano
Maximum VEIVEI 6CatastrophicGlobal climate impact potential
Recent Activity5 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: 312070
  • Evidence: Eruption Observed
  • Epoch: Holocene

About the Photo

A scoria cone on the Veniaminof western summit caldera floor was the source of the dark lava flow that melted through glacial ice. This photo was taken from the SE on 15 June 1984, two months after the eruption ended, and shows the rim of the 8 x 11 km wide caldera in the background. The caldera rim contains Cone Glacier on the west side (to the far left) and is overtopped by glaciers on the south and SE sides.

Photo by Betsy Yount, 1984 (Alaska Volcano Observatory, U.S. Geological Survey).

Basic Information

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