Wudalianchi
Volcanic field in China
Key Facts
Elevation
597 m (1,959 ft)
Type
Volcanic field
Location
48.722°, 126.150°
Region
Central East Asia Volcanic Province
Rock Type
Trachybasalt / Tephrite Basanite
Tectonic Setting
Intraplate
Location
Loading map...
Overview
The Wudalianchi volcanic field, named for a string of five scenic lava-dammed lakes, consists of 14 cinder cones capping a 500 km2 shield-like lava plateau in NE China. The volcanic field, whose name means "Five Connected Pools" was formed during five eruptive cycles from the early Pleistocene to historical time. Its ancient name was "Nine Hills," which after the historical eruptions now number 14 hills.
The cinder cones were erupted through basement sedimentary and granitic rocks and show a preferred alignment along three chains at the intersection of NE- and NW-trending lineaments. In addition to the historical cinder cones of Laoheishan and Huoshaoshan, Xilongmenshan and Donglongmenshan are Holocene in age. The freshly preserved cones of Laoheishan and Huoshaoshan were formed during eruptions in 1720-21.
Fissures at the base of the two new cinder cones fed glassy pahoehoe and aa lava flows that covered 65 km2 and formed the five lakes of Wudalianchi at their eastern and northern margins. Renewed eruptions took place in 1776.
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 | 250 years ago | Historical | Historically active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in Eastern Asia Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 305030
- •Evidence: Eruption Observed
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
The Pleistocene Nangelaqiushan scoria cone contains a 500-m-wide flat-bottomed crater, is one of many cones forming the Wudalianchi volcanic field in Manchuria, NE China. The cones show a preferred alignment along three parallel NE-SW trends. The Wudalianchi volcanic field was named for five scenic lakes dammed by lava flows during a 1719-21 eruption, which formed two new scoria cones and produced a 65 km2 lava field.
Photo courtesy of Jim Whitford-Stark, Sul Ross State University, Texas (published in Feng et al., 1979).
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.